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Inspiring Ways to Engage Young People – Study Visit to Georgia

June 29, 2026

In the middle of June, one member of our organization, together with two members of the local Synergy group, travelled to Georgia as part of an Erasmus+ KA2 project. During the visit, we learned from the programmes and experience of our partner organization, DRONI. The main goal was to discover the methods and good practices they use to successfully reach, engage, and motivate young people in their local community.

Where did it all start?

In Cristuru Secuiesc, our organization, leads monthly Synergy meetings, where representatives of local institutions and organizations come together. Through presentations, discussions, and joint activities, participants learn from one another and work together to create more opportunities for everyone in the community, especially young people, to take an active role in the cultural and social life of the town and the surrounding region.

After several years of successful cooperation, this local initiative grew into an international Erasmus+ partnership project called “Synergy of Practices to Counter Civic Apathy Among Young People in Central and Eastern Europe.” The project brings together organizations from Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine to learn from each other’s work through study visits, exchange experiences, and develop new methods that encourage young people to become more active in their communities.

During our visit to Georgia, we discovered many inspiring initiatives, but what impressed us the most was the enthusiasm and motivation of the local young people.

Although Georgia is not part of the European Union and young people often have fewer opportunities than their peers in EU countries, this has created a strong interest in non-formal education and the programmes offered by youth organizations. Everywhere we went, we could feel their curiosity, commitment, and willingness to learn.

Kornis Melinda, a member of the Synergy group, shared one of her favourite experiences: “One of the most inspiring practices was DRONI’s DroniCoins strategy. Young people receive virtual coins for volunteering and participating in different activities. Later, they can exchange these coins for different rewards and learning opportunities. It is a creative way to motivate young people and encourage active participation.”

We also visited the public library in Zugdidi and one of its community branches, where young volunteers organize reading clubs, book walks, lecture series, and even a Night at the Library programme, all without financial rewards or complicated bureaucracy. Their dedication showed how much can be achieved when young people are trusted and given ownership.

Our hosts also introduced us to the Eurobus initiative, which organizes educational trips across the Caucasus region. During these trips, young people learn about volunteering, Erasmus+, and international opportunities.

We were not only observers during the visit, we also became active participants. Each international team prepared a workshop and delivered it to local groups in a rotating format. As Melinda described: “It was a great experience to work directly with the local young people. Their interest, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn were truly inspiring.”

The following day, in Batumi, we also had the opportunity to see how Eurobus activities can be adapted for young people with special needs. We explored different games and quizzes and discussed how they can be used in inclusive youth work.

Of course, the visit was not only about professional learning. We also experienced Georgian hospitality and traditions: At the library, we tasted elarji, a traditional Georgian dish made from just two ingredients: cornmeal and stretchy local cheese. Our hosts also organized a khachapuri cooking workshop, where we prepared one of Georgia’s most famous dishes ourselves.

This study visit was much more than a professional experience, it was also a personal development. It reminded us that meaningful youth participation starts with creating opportunities for young people to learn through experience, build communities, and take an active role in shaping their environment.

We are returning home with many new ideas and practical methods that we would like to adapt to our own community. The experiences and good practices we gained will be used in the future to strengthen our local communities and to engage and involve young people even more effectively. We came home with plenty of new ideas. Who knows, maybe in the near future we will even develop a city-wide reward point system for active young people…