Non-formal education - Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

egain self-esteem, strengthen capacities and seek for new opportunities. Moreover, opening of the
CECs changed the style of life and thinking for many memebrs of the communities: the centres become
the only places in the settlements for public gathering, meetings where everyone used to treat one
another with respect and dignity, express own opinions without any fear and shyness and accept
other`s ideas. Joint participation in the activities for IDPs and locals, representative of different national
minorities (e.g. Armenias and Azeris) as well as community meetings and exchange of information
highly contributed to the formation of integrated, healthy and advanced civil society.
These non-formal education institutions serve as an important anchor to the civic, educational,
business, artistic and other energy growing in the communities. They address the needs of area
residents by providing educational opportunities, leading to development of basic competencies,
important skills and career advancement, in a supportive environment that encourages a lifelong quest
for knowledge. Educational projects for beneficiaries aim at developing of skills which help them to
overcome social disadvantage, prepare them for the world of work and help them to cope with rather
severe life experience and difficult reality.
In addition, goal of such institutions is to offer an adequate and safe, free and open space to
population for all community based initiatives, meetings, information sharing, various educational
activities and training programmes, youth initiatives and consultations.
In order to ensure continued operation of the Centres and sustainability of the initiated activities
the local community based organizations were formed on the bases of Community Education Centres
undertaking ownership of the premises at the end of the project. The newly established organizations
maintained close liaison with the local municipalities as well as with other stakeholders to support
further implementation of the programs. All the six centres are successfully functioning contributing to
poverty reduction, social cohesion and sustainable development of their respected regions. Currently
the Centres have several sources of funding: self-financing, funding from local self-government and
support from international organisations.
Beneficiaries. In 2005 the Institute for International Cooperation of German Association of
Universities – dvv international conducted the survey in order to determine the engagement of the
adult population in the lifelong learning process. 25-62 aged adults were questioned during the survey.
74% stated that they have not deepened their professional knowledge in the recent years, 6% of the
population noted that they have taken short courses of vocational training and for raising qualification,
as well as participated in lecture-seminars and training programs, 21% were reading special handbooks
for vocational education, 10% tried to enhance their skills through self-teaching, and 1% was engaged
in programs for acquiring academic degree. As stated above, no up-to-date statistical information
is available nowadays, but it is obvious that number of people engaged in non-formal education is
increasing substantially.
The chart below shows the most targeted beneficiaries in non-formal education 37
Youth/children
23%
Internally displaced
oersons (IDPs)
18%
Other (teachers,
active members of community,
civil servants, etc.
6%
Women
15%
Socially
unprotected
(unemployed)
20%
National
minorities
18%
37
Based on estimations available in the study “Non-governmental organisations in Georgia.Development Dynamic and
Tendencies” by. Centre for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia, 2010
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