Exchange Spurs Environmental Health Activism in Georgia
USAID’s Community Connections (CC) program alumnus Karlo Amirgulashvili, head of the Georgian Nature Lovers Society, credits his three-week CC visit to Ohio with helping him understand the importance of raising community awareness on issues related to environmental protection and its connection to health. Amirgulashvili returned to Georgia convinced that he and his colleagues needed to be more proactive in involving citizens in decision-making on environmental health issues.
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Karlo Amirgulashvili talks to journalists about his U.S. experience and the conference he organized
Photo Credit: Community Connections |
In order to get people talking, Amirgulashvili organized a one-day conference on December 22, 2007, in Telavi to share his and his CC colleagues’ U.S. experience with those interested in environmental health issues. CC alumni and representatives of the local community, including professors from Telavi State University, ecology and biology specialists, journalists, environmental activists, doctors, and Georgian Nature Lovers Society members participated. Amirgulashvili gave a presentation on his CC experience and shared several examples of how American organizations take action on environmental health issues. He discussed the St. Elizabeth Health Center’s environmental protection programs, the Center for Ohio River Research and Education’s environmental education programs, the U.S. Department of Energy’s restoration of the area surrounding a uranium processing facility, and the Community Health Services Division’s lead prevention and elimination programs.
CC program alumna Manana Juruli spoke about the negative effects of common working conditions on human health effects, not commonly known in Georgia. Throughout the conference, participants were invited to ask questions, make comments, and discuss the issues. At the event’s conclusion, participants agreed to act as a working group and hold meetings once every three months discuss ongoing projects, issues, and achievements in the environmental and health fields.
USAID’s Community Connections program, implemented by Project Harmony, Inc., offers practical training and internship opportunities in the U.S. for entrepreneurs, small and medium business representatives, local government officials, legal professionals, NGO leaders, art managers, educators, and other Georgian professionals. The program exposes participants to the day-to-day functioning of a free market system, encourages public-private partnerships in Eurasia by including both private and public sector participants on U.S. visits, and creates links between U.S. and Georgian regions and communities. Since the program’s inception, Community Connections alumni have worked together to strengthen community and professional ties within Georgia.
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