Georgia Today Education - Issue 010

EDUCATION www.georgiatoday.ge

Issue no: 010

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• OCTOBER 2017

• PUBLISHED MONTHLY

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In this issue...

NASA Scientists Meet European School Students & Faculty PAGE 3

ISET: Quick and Dirty Decisions Are Not Always Smart!

PAGE 4

FOCUS ON GEORGIA IN SPACE This autumn was the 40th year since the Chakrulo song was sent into space. Meet the men who helped make it happen- in Tbilisi to inspire other entrepreneurs to PAGE dream big!

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Financial Literacy Matters PAGE 9

Sharing Success: 661 Companies to Participate in 2017 Business Awards PAGE 12

Prime Minister & Tbilisi Mayor Open New Metro Station

P

rime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and Tbilisi Mayor Davit Narmania opened the new University metro station

this month.

The Prime Minister congratulated Tbilisi citizens and those who worked on the successful completion of the project, which was started in 1985 and from 1993 was put on hold for almost 20 years. The construction of the station restarted in 2015.

The new University station is fully equipped with modern security systems and complies with the highest international standards. Tbilisi Metro remains one of the most popular transport methods in the city, with 350,000-400,000 passengers using it on a daily basis. The new station is expected to serve an

additional 15,000 passengers per day. The two parallel tunnels from Delisi to Vazha-Pshavela metro stations are now operating.

“I hope the University metro station will become an example of how urban transport can be developed, which is crucial for both city dwellers and for visitors,” Kvirikashvili said.

44 metro wagons and three metro stations have been renovated in recent years, while an additional three metro stations are currently under reconstruction.

The Prime Minister noted that the city now has 143 Euro-standard, ecological buses and the renovated Turtle Lake cable car is up and running.

The government plans to launch larger infrastructural projects.

“In 2017, we had a 36% growth in infrastructural projects, made possible by cutting administrative expenses and working with financial institutions,” the PM noted, saying that from the second quarter of 2018, lots of projects are to be launched simultaneously, bringing a 89-90% growth compared to 2016. “I’m sure the next year will see a growing dynamic and serious development,” the Prime Minister said.

The University station construction project was realized with the financial investment of 84 million

by Asian Development Bank and the construction works were carried out by Spanish company Cobra Assignia.

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OCTOBER 2017

Everyone Equal on the Tbilisi Stage What’s That?

REVIEW BY MAKA LOMADZE

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n September, at the Nodar D u m ba d ze C h i l d re n’s Theater, the world-famous performance ‘Gala’ by French choreographer Jerome Bel, took place within the framework of the international program of the Contemporary Dance Festival.

Gala is considered one of the best choreographic works of recent years on the contemporary dance stage.

It has been seen at numerous festivals and on many stages all over the world. It usually unites 20 local professionals and amateurs from different social levels and from different age groups. In the Tbilisi case, the participants were aged 6 to 79. The performance shows how dance can unite a diversity of people.

“I’m a member of Catharsis Mercy House,” Jemal Nemsitsveridze, experienced amateur-dancer and the oldest participant in the project, told GEORGIA TODAY before the performance. “I was chosen by TV project ‘You’ve Got Talent’ which made me feel both happy and full of a sense of responsibility. I’ll be dancing Salsa tonight with ballerina Eka Surmava. I’ve participated in various contests of ballroom dance in Georgia, but I have never seen

such a program. It is a novelty, done to a very high level.”

“Lots of artists abroad are interested in discovering Georgia. If there are resources, goodwill and possibility, they come here with pleasure,” Giorgi Spanderashvili, Manager of the Contemporary Dance Festival, told us. “The Children’s Theater let us use the hall free of charge. This is a performance of a unique format, made with the participation of a lot of people coming from different social levels and ages. There are only 5-6 professionals. This is a performance about each and every person, covering many human issues. There is a choreographer involved, but in most cases the participants make their dances themselves. In other words, they are free to interpretation,” he said.

The show was full of humor, fed by the individuality of each amateur performer, wearing their own costumes, and bringing together people of different age, nationality, sexual orientation and (dis)ability. Everyone was everyone’s friend, all dancing and having fun together, bringing laughter and joy to the spectators.

The performance was supported by the Swiss Cooperation Office (SCO) in South Caucasus, the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection, and Tbilisi City Hall.

Info Box Jérôme Bel (born 1964) is a French dancer and choreographer, whose characteristic choreographic style is known as “non-dance” - provocative and entertaining pieces influenced by performance art and which challenge some of the conventions of performance. His work has been shown at Tate Modern, London; the Centre Pompidou, Paris, and MoMA, New York.

Considered – people think it is Numerous – many Amateurs – non-professional Diversity – mix of different types Novelty – something new Abroad – in other countries Interpretation – understand and do as they want

Photo: Gala, by Jerome Bel. Photo by Herman Sorgeloos

Food for Thought  Why is it good to do projects that involve so many different people (different ages, abled and disabled, amateur and professional…)?  What other projects, apart from theater, could bring together different people?

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NASA Scientists Meet European School Students & Faculty Info Box

BY JOE BLAKE

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n September 29, the European School community welcomed two disting uished NA SA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) scientists to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the legendary Voyager space probe and Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission. NASA is responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research.

John Casani, a leader in the development and management of spacecraft for over 50 years and the Voyager Project Manager, visited with Robert Manning, Chief Engineer of the Mars Exploration Rover, and Ramaz Bluashvili, President of the Nova Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Education.

Voyager is the only human-manufactured vehicle to leave our solar system. It is now 13 billion miles from the sun and has inside it important artifacts of human culture and civilization. One of those

artifacts is a recording of the Georgian polyphonic song ‘Chakrulo’ (See page 6).

The Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission is an ongoing robotic space mission involving two Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity and began in 2003 when the rovers were sent to explore the Martian surface and geology. MER-A Spirit was active until 2010. MER-B Opportunity is still active.

Casani and Manning told European School students about NASA space exploration and its importance for all Mankind, and encouraged the students and their science teachers to continue to dream the BIG DREAM that has inspired man since the launch of the first satellite Sputnik in the late 1950s and culminated with the Apollo 11 Mission spaceflight that landed the first two humans on the Moon in 1969. They emphasized the accomplishments of science and the need to continue exploring and colonization of the planet Mars and/or the Moon by current and future astronauts.

American High School student Paata Kaloiani, Grade 9, stated, “I

Food for Thought  Do you think it’s more important to explore space or to spend the money finding ways to improve life on Earth?  Would you go to live on the moon or Mars if you could?

Why (not)?  Imagine you live on Mars. Write about ONE day in your life.

President Eisenhower established NASA in 1958 with a civilian (not military) orientation encouraging peaceful applications in space science.

NASA has conducted many manned and unmanned spaceflight programs since then. Unmanned programs launched the first American artificial satellites into Earth orbit for scientific and communications purposes, and sent probes to explore the planets of our solar system, starting with Venus and Mars. Manned programs sent the first Americans into low Earth orbit (LEO), won the Space Race with the Soviet Union by landing twelve men on the Moon from 1969 to 1972 in the Apollo program, developed a semi-reusable LEO Space Shuttle, and developed LEO space station capability with the cooperation of several other nations including post-Soviet Russia. Go here to find out more about NASA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA always wanted to be an astronaut or to have something to do with space and science, but then I realized how hard it was to make my wish come true. Now I’m thinking to incorporate my love for Biology and Chemistry into my childhood dream…I liked the lecture; the theme was interesting and the way they presented it was inspiring.”

“The event was really an eye-opener regarding the amount of work, time, and effort that goes unnoticed behind each voyage, and the contributions that I as a student can make to these

voyages,” said International Baccalaureate student Diya Matthew, Grade 11. “The engineers said that even subjects like Biology, English and Chemistry have a place at NASA; that everyone who is ready to use their minds for the greater good, along with a plan to finance it, is always welcome at NASA in Florida or the JPL (Jet Propulsion Lab), in southern California.”

After the presentation and a Q&A session, the visitors toured the school and enjoyed a reception in their honor.

What’s That?

Distinguished – important Responsible – things they must do Vehicle – method of transport Artifacts – examples, objects Culminated – concluded, ended Accomplishments – achievements, successes Incorporate – mix, combine

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OCTOBER 2017

ISET: Quick & Dirty Decisions Are Not Always Smart!

The ISET Economist, a blog about economics in Georgia and the South Caucasus by the International School of Economics at TSU (ISET) informed about the quality of various educational programs on offer, as well as future labor market needs.

As a result, students are often matched to the wrong educational programs and occupations, wasting many years of their life, as well as public and private resources.

BY LAURA MANUKYAN

W

hen my mom was my age (24), she already had a ring on her finger, two kids, and a very clear idea about her life. I am not yet married, but I have already made at least one very important decision: to become an economist. I made this choice at 22, after trying a bank job (that I hated). But many of my friends are stuck with the educational and professional choices they made very early in their lives, before knowing who they were and what they could achieve.

I’ve always thought that getting married and making such important decisions early was unique to the South Caucasus and other postSoviet countries. So, I was surprised to find that in other, much more developed, countries young people are also sometimes forced to “specialize” very early.

At 31, Philip is a Master’s student at Tilburg University in the Netherlands. He has spent the last 15 years of his life acquiring various specialized vocational and higher education qualifications only to understand that he wants to do something else in his life.

I met Philip at a summer school in St. Petersburg. Like any other Dutch kid, when he was 12 he had to take an ability test (CITO), the results of which determined what kinds of educational programs he could enroll in. As he wasn’t the cleverest student, his choices were limited to lower or middle level vocational education programs. At 16, with a VMBO (low) diploma, Philip’s choices were again limited: the 4th year of HAVO (middle diploma) or a professional community college. He chose the college, and found himself studying how to sell cars (“sales management” was the program’s official title). Four

BETTER LATE!

year later, at 20, he decided to get an undergraduate degree (in “small business and retail management”).

After four more years, and an additional investment in math skills, Philip enrolled in a research university. He started his BA at the University of Tilburg at the age of 25, and at 31 is about to graduate with a Master’s degree.

The road to Philip’s educational hell may have been paved with excellent intentions from Dutch education policymakers (to help people make the right educational choices early on in their lives). His path to a career may be an exceptional case, the result of a radical mismatch between one’s ability (as measured by formal tests) and expectations. Nevertheless, educational ‘profiling’ early on in children’s lives is certainly risky.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT OUR “PREFERENCES”?

In economics theory, people are supposed to know what they want when faced with any choice. In reality, individual preferences are constructed in a process of soul searching and self-discovery. In other words, people can only find their preferences by trying and experiencing different things, making mistakes and correcting them. This

is known in economics literature as preference construction theory.

Preferences are constructed at the time of choice, based on prior experience.

This may be true about the choices we make when buying the next car or smartphone. Yet, it seems to be just as true in the case of complicated educational and occupational choices. What young schoolboys and girls think they want to be at the age of 15 or 16 may be very different from what they understand they want to be at 25. It follows that education systems should be designed not to lock young people into rigid educational tracks (“car sales”) too early in their lives, before they fully understand their educational preferences. The system should allow for a trial-and-error experimentation with different subjects and vocational skills, allowing them to move from one specialization to another over time.

Luckily, it took me less than 15 years to discover my own calling in life. For some people of my generation, however, this discovery may never come, or come very late, as in Philip’s case. In both Georgia and Armenia, educational choices are made very early, at 17, when students take the Uniform National Exams. In addition to not knowing themselves, the majority are poorly

In Israel, students are usually over twenty (20-24) when they begin their university studies. Israel is exceptional in that it requires every boy and girl to go through a compulsory military service at the age of 18 (three years for boys, two for girls). The median age of Israeli students obtaining an undergraduate degree is 27. Yet, Israel has one of the best-educated populations in the world. About 46% of all Israeli adults hold at least an undergraduate degree, while the average is 33%.

Georgia and Armenia do not recruit girls into the military. Both countries allow their young male citizens to defer military service if they enroll at university or college. Thus, perhaps inadvertently, the military conscription systems in both countries are encouraging young males to make educational choices very early in their lives, at military service gunpoint.

A much superior option for both South Caucasus nations may be to introduce a short mandatory civil or military service (of, say, one year) for both girls and boys. Young people could be given the choice of volunteering options ranging from helping people with disabilities and elderly, to working in socially important enterprises, to military service.

A year spent in service to the community would, on the one hand, allow people more time to mature, gain experience and get to know themselves. On the other hand, it represents a great way to learn basic civic virtues that are as important as the professional skills, knowledge and information one acquires at a university.

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Turn Your Dreams into Goals with FLEX

BY DAVIT JINTCHARADZE

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rom mid-September to October 28, the Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX) testings will take place in all regions of Georgia. Established in 1992, each year FLEX high school foreign exchange allows around 80 Georgian students to spend one school year in the US, attending local high schools and living with host families. Originally created to strengthen intercultural relations, it has promoted leadership and communication skills among Georgian youth.

MAKING YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE IS NEVER EASY Two years ago, the thought of crossing the border of Georgia wasn’t even in my head. Of course, I wondered about the outside world, but I satisfied my curiosity by reading articles about foreign countries and watching American movies. Back then, I couldn’t imagine that a Georgian teenager could become part of those American movies himself. To my surprise, a year later, I found myself in the middle of Central Valley in the heart of California.

There aren’t many fully-funded exchange programs for high school students. I found the FLEX program while surfing the web, and did not believe the description. Offering a chance to study in the US for free,

it also guaranteed a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Though I was a little skeptical, I applied.

Essays, English tests, applications and an interview: just some of the processes I had to go through to become a finalist. Then 8 months waiting for the phone call to say I was going to spend my next year in the US. Then the excitement about the future trip, visa papers and the uncertain voice inside, saying that I was going to spend a year away from my family and friends, in a completely different country across the ocean.

But I felt adventurous and eager to start my new life. After the long flight, the US shocked me right from the airport: it felt like the whole country was smiling at me. My uncertainty was blown away when I saw that people were open to making new friends and learning about other cultures and experiences. The welcoming host family, delicious cuisine from all over the world, and people interested in Georgian culture definitely made my year-long trip special.

The year also brought challenges and advanced my leaderships skills.

While overcoming each of the challenges, like the language barrier and culture shock, I found myself ready to return to Georgia with new ideas, skills and possibilities. My journey was not only about spending time in the US, seeing the amazing streets of LA and the Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco, it was also about coming back and sharing my experience. With a

What’s That?

Curiosity – when you want to know more Fully-funded – everything paid Skeptical – doubtful, not really believing Adventurous – not scared of change Eager – motivated Overcoming – passing the problems Language barrier – when you speak a different language from those around you Mindset – opinions, perspective

Info Box The Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program offers high school students (15-17 years) an opportunity to learn about the people and culture of the United States (US) through international exchange, while attending a US high school and living with a US host family.

The FLEX program is funded by the US Government and aims to promote respect for cultural diversity, provide opportunities for personal development and engage in community service, as well as improve mutual understanding between our countries by allowing young citizens to observe and experience the US way of life for an academic year, as well as help teach Americans about their own countries and cultures.

Now in its 23rd year, FLEX has provided scholarships to over 23,000 secondary school students. In 2016-17, 800 students studied in the US on the FLEX program, from which 80 spots were given to Georgians.

Secondary school students with disabilities are invited to participate in the competition. Approximately 10-15 students with disabilities are invited to the US under this program each year. fresh mindset and better understanding of the world around; I came back as a better person.

If one teenager can improve something in his or her country, many can do more. So, if you see yourself

as a young, active and adventurous person wanting to learn about the US culture and share yours – apply for the FLEX selection process.

Dreams can always come true if you turn them into goals!

Food for Thought  Imagine a year away from your family and country.

What good things can you imagine? What bad things?

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OCTOBER 2017

NASA’s Rob Manning & John Casani Come to Georgia to Celebrate Chakrulo Anniversary

BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI

B

ack in 1977, famous American scientist Carl Sagan decided to send the Georgian polyphonic song ‘Chakrulo’ on a gold disc into space with 26 other musical masterpieces from around the world, with NASA’s Voyager spacecraft mission.

John Casani, Voyager’s Project Manager, and Rob Manning, Chief Engineer of the Mars program at NASA, met with Georgian Startupers at Techno Park Tbilisi as part of their trip to Georgia for the 40th anniversary of the launch of the Voyager spacecraft which sent Chakrulo into outer space.

“Celebrating the anniversary of the Chakrulo launch in Georgia is a symbol of the great friendship between the US and Georgia,” said Ramaz Bluashvili, film director, producer and researcher, and the man who brought the famous NASA scientists to Georgia to celebrate Chakrulo Week in Tbilisi.

“One of the real symbols of the partnership between the US and Georgia is this idea that Carl Sagan chose this treasure of Georgian culture, this polyphonic song Chakrulo, and it speaks so much about what

unites Georgia and the United States and us all as humans,” said Ian Kelly, US Ambassador to Georgia.

“We’re very excited to be here,” said Manning. “Georgia is making an environment where creative people work together to invent new ways of thinking, new products, new ways of doing work, and that’s exactly where innovation takes place. You don’t tell them how to make their product; you just set up the right environment where they can invent,” he added.

“Carl Sagan put together a small team of people to produce a record including music and photographs showing life on earth as it exists all over the world, and one of the things that was important for him was music,” Casani said.

“There are different stories about how Chakrulo got chosen. The one that I know was that Russia wanted to have a Russian song but the people choosing didn’t like their song very much and so they went to the Folk Song Consultant in the United States who said ‘if you want music from that part of the world, the best you can get is from Georgia’,” Casani recalled.

Chakrulo Week, supported by TBC Bank, was on from September 25 to September 28 and saw numerous activities to celebrate the anniver-

Info Box The Voyager Golden Record contains 115 images plus a calibration image and a variety of natural sounds, such as those made by surf, wind, and thunder, and animal sounds including the songs of birds and whales. The record also features musical selections from different cultures and eras, spoken greetings in fifty-nine languages, other human sounds, like footsteps and laughter (Carl Sagan’s), and printed messages from President Jimmy Carter and UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim. The items were selected for NASA by a committee chaired by Carl Sagan of Cornell University.

What’s That?

Masterpieces – special works of art, music, etc.

Launch – send up into space Spacecraft – rocket, machine for flying in space Invent – make something new Numerous – many Findings – results, conclusions sary, including a documentary screening on the history of the Voyager mission made by Emmy-nominated director Emer Raynolds, a meeting

with John Casani, Rob Manning’s presentation on the Mars Program research and findings, and a concert from the Erisioni ensemble.

Food for Thought  Do you think the Voyager Golden Record was worth it?

Will it say the right things about life on Earth today?  Make a time capsule (a box containing thing representing life on Earth now for future generations to find). What will you put in it?

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OCTOBER 2017

Irishman Climbs Kazbegi, 6 Years after a Major Back Operation

BY KATIE RUTH DAVIES

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n 2001, doctors told Fergal Hingerty he had chronic sciatica caused by spinal deterioration from an old back injury. He had a choice: a dangerous major operation that might leave him in a wheelchair, or spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

He chose the 9-hour operation and not only recovered, but then started hiking and mountain climbing. After climbing almost all the highest mountains in the UK, he chose Georgia and Mount Kazbegi as his latest life challenge.

GEORGIA TODAY met with Fergal in Tbilisi the day he returned from the 4-day climb, pink-nosed, tired-eyed and suffering from a ‘mountain cough’.

“I should be feeling exhilarated, but I’ve barely slept,” he says with a smile.

Kazbegi was recently named by Business Insider UK among the ‘Top 10 Places to Do in Your Lifetime’.

DID YOU MAKE IT TO THE TOP? “Yes! But not easily. We left the cabin at 2AM in the dark wearing headtorches. I got a little dehydrated although I drank a lot of tea. The problem at the hut (3700m and 7 hours’ hike from the village of Stepantsminda) is there’s no fresh water. Everything has to be boiled and reboiled, as it comes from the glacier so it’s full of sand.

Another issue was pacing. When hiking, you get into a rhythm. When the guide started walking faster, that rhythm got broken and I started hyperventilating. But it didn’t last long.

I also broke one of my crampons. The guide was able to fix it, thankfully, or I’d have been stuck- no up, no down, and I would have let down the team climbing with me.

We went up through 40 mileper-hour winds, temperature minus 20, all the way to the top, zigzagging past crevasses and with a horse-ride across a deep glacial river.”

KAZBEGI IS THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN (5,047 M) YOU’VE CLIMBED TO DATE. WHAT’S NEXT? “Some Iranians I met in the hut invited me to climb Iran’s highest- Mount Damavand (5,610m above sea level), a sleeping volcano.”

Food for Thought  Have you ever climbed a mountain or tried mountain hiking? What equipment do you need? What kind of personality do you need to have?

Info Box Kazbegi was first climbed in 1868 by British men Douglas William Freshfield, Adolphus Warburton Moore and C. Tucker of the Alpine Club, with the guide François Devouassoud. They were followed by the female Russian alpinist Maria Preobrazhenskaya, who made the climb nine times starting in 1900.

What’s That?

Spinal deterioration – his back was not working Wheelchair – a chair with wheels for disabled people Exhilarated – very happy Dehydrated – not enough water in your body Pacing – how fast you move Stuck – unable to move Let down – disappointed, made them unhappy Rescue – save, protect, help from danger Admiration – respect HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE HIKING IN GEORGIA? “The views were absolutely incredible. There were just two negativesthe sanitation at the hut and the rescue team.

I met climbers from Iran, the UK, Canada, South Africa, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, Israel, France- all kinds of people from all kinds of places wanting to climb Kazbegi, but if you don’t have a good mountain rescue, then you’re going to have a very serious problem. There is a rescue team based in Stepantsminda, and the helicopter from Rooms hotel helps if needed- but to get from the village to the hut is a 7-hour hike. From there to the peak is another 7 hours.”

Fergal told us about a two-man volunteer Polish rescue team based at the Meteora Bethlemi Hut within the frames of the ‘Safe Kazbek’ project. All rescuers, equipment and service is possible thanks to sponsors and donors.

The Meteora Bethlemi Hut doesn’t have toilets or showers. A new hut is being built and will open in 2018. The $400,000 ‘Altihut’ complex will offer a café/restaurant, beds for 30 people, toilets, showers, a shop, equipment, mountain guides, and will accommodate mountain rescue services. The main users will be hikers, mountain bikers, ski tourers and climbers.

“It’s not easy going up there,” Fergal says. “And now I have great admiration for people who climb Everest, or any mountain over 7000 meters: 3-4 weeks moving, boiling water, going to toilet outside in minus 20.

With Kazbegi, it was nearly too difficult for me but I never give up. 50% of climbers don’t get to the top; the wind is often too strong and the storms can be too dangerous to even try to climb in, but the view over the glacier is something special. Nothing was going to stop me from getting to the top, even if I had to do it on my hands and knees. And when you look back up at that mountain from Kazbegi. Wow. Yeah. It’s a big achievement”.

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FINANCIAL LITERACY Presented by

Financial Literacy Matters What’s That?

BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI

F

INCA Bank is actively involved in implementing the financial literacy strategy carried out by the National Bank of Georgia, aiming to increase financial literacy in society. A wellinformed customer makes the right decisions and is protected from excessive debts as well as being financially stable.

Through its numerous activities focused on increasing financial literacy, last year FINCA Bank published the “My Classroom Book” with which children from 7 to 14 years of age learn how to start a business, how to make savings, how to plan and manage a budget, and other f inancial themes, all told in an entertaining way. For three years, FINCA Bank staff have been volunteering throughout the regions of Georgia, giving classes to children in the primary stages of school

on the topics of business skills, savings, budgeting and more.

Approved by various surveys, it is known that children from very early ages can easily learn about making savings, managing budgets and acquiring skills to make the right financial decisions- and parents have an important role, too!

Balance: a sum of money that we have on our bank account.

Example: If you have 80 Lari on your bank account, it means your balance is 80 Lari.

Current Account: a bank account on which you can make different transactions and operations, from adding money to your existing balance, to making a transaction from one account to another, withdrawing money, or exchanging money (from Lari to USD, for example).

ATM Machine: an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) is a machine from which you can withdraw money from your bank account. ATMs usually work 24/7.

Currency Conversion: conversion of a sum of money from one currency to another. For example, you can convert Lari to USD or vice-versa. If you plan to travel abroad, you will definitely need to convert the currency.

Operator: a bank employee who serves the customer.

Operators inform the customer on banking products and offers various services, like, for example, putting a sum of money into an account for you.

WHAT IS FINANCIAL LITERACY? “Financial literacy is a combination of awareness, knowledge, skill, attitude and behaviour necessary to make sound financial decisions and ultimately achieve individual financial wellbeing,” says the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

WHY IS FINANCIAL LITERACY IMPORTANT? A financially literate society means a well-informed consumer, decrease of debts in the country and financial stability of society, which is crucial for the development and successful future of the country.

Food for Thought  Why is a bank account better for saving your money than, say, under your bed?  Why do people sometimes get into debt?

Info Box Did you know?

In 1946, in New York, Banker John Biggins invented the first credit card.

• The first ATM was invented by John Shepherd- Barron in 1967 in London. They say John got the idea while he was in a bath, just like Archimedes!

• On September 5, 1874, Ilia Chavchavadze was appointed the Chair of the Board of the first Georgian Bank, and he led the first Georgian Bank for 32 years.

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Polyphony & Georgian Audio Archives Presented in the British Library

BY KATIE RUTH DAVIES

T

he Georgian Embassy in London and the British Library opened the Sound Festival on September 30 in the British Library.

Enjoyed by some 350 attendees, the event saw Georgia represented by the Rustavi Ensemble, singing not only songs from its own polyphonic repertoire, but also a num-

ber of those recorded over a century ago by Gramophone. Sound Curator Will Prentice told the story of the British Gramophone company and its short but productive work collecting and recording the folk music of the Caucasus in the early 20th Century. It is thanks to the company that there is such a well-preserved archive of recordings, even more remarkable considering the difficulties of recording onto wax cylinders.

Gramophone opened their first Tbilisi office in 1901 and continued

expanding across the region until 1915 when World War 2 necessitated its closure.

“The British Library shelters not only Georgian books and unique manuscripts but also such recordings,” Georgian Ambassador to the UK, Tamar Beruchashvili, told GEORGIA TODAY. “Before the concert, a seminar was held by

Georgian Designers Participate in Vogue Talents

BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI

T

wo Georgian clothing designers, Mach&Mach and George Keburia, are participating in the Vogue Talents/Who is on Next project, initiated and organized by Italian Vogue and Swarovski.

Mach&Mach is a Georgian brand created by sisters Gvantsa and Nina Matcharashvili. George Keburia made his first collection in 2010.

International pop stars have frequently been seen wearing both Mach&Mach and Keburia.

Aiming to promote young designers and their brands internationally, Vogue Talents helps them find new markets for their products and establish important contacts.

The Georgian designers were chosen for Vogue Talent along with Cecile Bahnsen from Denmark, Okhtein and Matteo Ciampalini from Italy, Julia Seeman from Sweden, Peet Dullaert from Netherlands, Designer duo from Egypt Mounaz and Aya Abdel Raouf; and Snow Xue Gao from China. All had to present their collections with Swarovski crystals, the best examples to be part of the Vogue and Swarovski capsule collection that will hit stores this autumn.

The designers’ works were presented at Morando Palace in front of the editors of Italian Vogue Emanuele Farneti; American Vogue, Anna Wintour; and Nadya Swarovski, member of the Executive Board and Head of Corporate Communications and Design Services at Swarovski.

British musicologists, the rector of the Georgian conservatoire, singer Katie Melua, and representatives of the supporting Georgian Chanting Foundation. ‘Georgian Polyphony Past & Present’ was the theme of the seminar, with a presentation of the audio archives. Georgian wine, of course, was also served,” she told us.

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GEORGIA TODAY

OCTOBER 2017

Sharing Success: 661 Companies to Participate in 2017 Business Awards Info Box TBC Bank this spring introduced a new Startuper program for new businesses. Nika Kurdiani, Deputy CEO, TBC Bank, explains: “First comes a person with an idea who makes a prototype and finds the first client, gets enough money from the first client to make another prototype and, with his own capital, starts production. Second comes sales: if you’ve been able to sell your product for the first three months and you’ve already established that cycle, the risk that you won’t be selling it for the fourth month becomes lower and that’s when we offer our help with a loan. We will not offer loans at the idea level, but as soon as the startup gets going, we’re there. We also offer startupers non-financial components, too: • Training in marketing, finance and developing startups • Networking and educational events • One-to-one consultations for startupers • Startuper web-catalogue • Media support

BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI

T

he annual Business Awards, a project launched by TBC and Geocell, aim to promote the idea of doing business in Georgia, with its main slogan being #გააზიარეწარმატება (share the success). The companies enrolled in the project share their success stories through

social and other media with the above hashtag.

661 companies are registered for the Business Awards 2017. Winners in 7 categories will be selected by a jury and announced in December.

233 companies are registered in the Startuper of the Year category, 230 companies are listed in the Small Business of the Year category, 142 in Innovative Business of the Year, 132 in Georgian Product of the Year, 95 in the Tourist Business of the

What’s That?

Annual – every year Slogan – message Enrolled – registered Announced – revealed, shown Independent – not influenced or financed by others Participating – part of, joining Monetary – money Solely – only Give up – stop Capital – finances Enormous – very big

Nika Kurdiani, Deputy CEO, TBC Bank

Year and 42 as the Agro Business of the Year.

Each category will have three finalists chosen by an independent jury, with the PR and marketing campaigns for the finalists to be run by project organizers TBC and Geocell.

While all the winners will be selected and announced at the TBC Business Awards Ceremony in December, the Startuper of the Year winner will be chosen through the online voting which is to start in November.

“The fact that we’re continuing the Business Awards for a second year is already hugely important, and the number of participants is growing,” said Nika Kurdiani, Deputy CEO, TBC Bank.

80% of the companies registered this year are participating for the first time- a total of 1200 companies in the two years of the project, a number which, as Kurdiani pointed out, is pretty impressive.

Like last year, the Business Awards 2017 will have no monetary prizes, as the format of the Business Awards is solely focused on popularizing successful business stories within the country.

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success,” said the Deputy CEO, quoting Henry Ford to illustrate the idea behind the Business Awards project, focusing on supporting as many business initiatives in the country as possible.

Geocell is supporting the Innovation Award and Social Entrepreneurship nominations.

“Even participating is a success: that’s your victory, your effort, your struggle to improve your operations, your businesses already being noticeable. We see how successfully you’re growing and developing your ideas for the better future of your companies and customers,” Pavel Smalinski, Geocell’s CEO said.

“Whenever you have an idea, and you’re inspired by it, my advice is to never ever give up, no matter how difficult it may seem from the beginning; whether it’s gaining the capital to start, finding business partners, or doing market research, because that idea could bring you enormous success,” Mamuka Khzaradze, Chairman of the Board at TBC Holding said.

Food for Thought  How important are awards for businesses? Why?  If you could set up your own business, what would it be?  Present your business idea to others. Try to find business ‘partners’ and write a plan how to make your business a success in three months (step-by-step, what would you do to make it a success?)

EDUCATION

GEORGIA TODAY OCTOBER 2017

13

Brain Food & Books at the Knowledge Café in Tsnori, Kakheti

BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI

T

wo hours outside Tbilisi, in the large village of Tsnori, Kakheti region, a three-floor house is being renovated to open as a new home for the Knowledge Café, a multi-functional library, meeting spot and café, and the only one in the area so far. It was opened in 2016

by Nana Bagalishvili and her friends from Tsnori.

“There were no public spaces in Tsnori, unlike in Tbilisi, where people could meet,” Nana told GEORGIA TODAY. “So, me and my friends, all from Tsnori and having studied together in Tbilisi, decided to do something about it. We had no experience or special skills in organizing: we just got together, 25 of us, and from 2011 to 2016 organized events on the street: from book presentations to Halloween celebrations!”

They finally got GEL 19,000 funding from the Children and Youth Development Fund to rent a building and get furniture to set up the Knowledge Café social enterprise.

There’s a bookstore where you can buy books for the cheapest price in Georgia, a multi-media library, a

Info Box The Knowledge Café is also a nominee for the TBC/Geocell Social Enterprise of the Year at the Business Awards 2017 (See page 12). “No matter whether we win or not, we’re excited to participate, as we’re interested in getting in touch with other social enterprises,” Nana told us. center for informal education, and a café called “Smart Taste” (Chkviani Gemo). All the books in the library and the computers were donated.

“We want to share knowledge and experience from center to region.

Nothing social happens here in

What’s That?

Social enterprise – A social enterprise is a business created to further a social purpose in a financially sustainable way.

Informal – casual, fun, not as serious as in school Donated – given Hanging out – spending time Dependent – needing help/support from others Volunteers – working/helping for no pay Share – let somebody use what is yours Screenings – showing films Adapted – changed so it can be used Pop into – visit for a short time Game-changers – people who make a difference

Tsnori; the only place you can go is the local shop. Before the Knowledge Café opened, youth here were hanging out on the streets or in each other’s homes,” Nana says.

“We wanted to be a social enterprise because we don’t want to be fully dependent on donors- we’ve managed to operate with no additional funding for our educational projects for a year since our opening in 2016,” Nana tells us.

The Café team has already organized more than 100 educational and cultural activities in the Knowledge Café, lots of their projects realized with the help of volunteers locally and even some coming from other towns and villages in the region to help.

“This is a space for anyone who wants to share their experience and knowledge with others. We recently hosted the Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources Protection of Georgia, Mariam Jashi, and the Minister of Agriculture is to come,” Nana says, adding that even local businessmen hold meetings at the Café.

The Knowledge Café also offers regular film screenings, book readings for children and special activities for the older members of the local population.

“At first, adults came along only because their grandchildren were, and then we decided to engage them, too, and came up with the idea of collecting their stories about how Tsnori looked in the past. It was interesting both for us and for them,” Nana says.

The Knowledge Café is running a social campaign collecting money for bricks to build a new building of their own, as the house they are currently renovating is rented and is not adapted for wheelchair users.

If you happen to be passing by Tsnori, or even if you’re not- be sure to pop into the Knowledge Café.

From views over the Alazani Valley and Caucasus Mountains to delicious home-made churchkhelas, and cheese with crispy Kakhetian bread, you’ll be sure to take something special home with you. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to meet the brilliant Nana Bagalishvili and teamundoubtedly game-changers in their region.

And if YOUR town or village has nothing for youth, why not set up your own ‘Knowledge Café’? Contact Nana on Facebook- she’ll be happy to give you advice! https:// www.facebook.com/tsodniscafe/

Food for Thought  What is there for youth to do in YOUR community?  Why is it important that people who live in the regions are as informed as people who live in the cities?  How can information be well spread throughout the country?

14

EDUCATION

GEORGIA TODAY

OCTOBER 2017

Georgian Language Young Golden Luka Added to Google Conquers World Stages Speech App INTERVIEW BY MAKA LOMADZE

BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI

W

ith the recent update to the Google’s speech recognition this summer, the Georgian language has been added to voice typing, along with 30 other newly added languages from around the world, covering more than a billion people. As Daan van Esch, Technical Program Manager, states, with this update, Google’s speech recognition supports 119 language varieties in Gboard on Android.

He said that speech recognition will support ancient languages such as Georgian, alongside Swahili and Amharic, and many Indian languages “on our quest to make the Internet more inclusive,” Daan van Esch notes.

“To incorporate 30 new language varieties, we worked with native speakers to collect speech samples, asking them to read common phrases.

This process trained our machine learning models to understand the sounds and words of the new languages and to improve their accuracy when exposed to more examples over time,” he says.

The new languages added are now also available in Cloud Speech API and will soon be available with the other Google apps and products, with the Translate app included.

National Statistics Office Says Georgian Population Decreased

BY THEA MORRISON

T

he National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat) released a summary of Georgian population statistics for January-July 2017, which show that the Georgian population has decreased.

The Geostat data shows that at present there are 3,718,200 persons in Georgia.

Specialists believe that the main reason for the reduction of the population is an increase in mortality, decrease in birth rate and migration abroad.

The data of January-July 2017 shows that the mortality rate exceeded birth rate by 1.6%. The highest percentage of deaths is seen in the mountainous regions of Georgia.

However, Geostat says that birth rate increased in a few regions of Georgia, namely in Tbilisi, Kvemo

Kartli and Adjara.

During the first six months of 2017, 9,435 children were born in Tbilisi, 2,714 children in Adjara and 2,681 children in Kvemo Kartli. In all three regions, the birth rate significantly exceeded the death toll.

The lowest birth rate was observed in the Racha-Lechkhum, Kvemo Svaneti region – 114.

The highest death rate was observed in Tbilisi and the lowest in RachaLechkhum, Kvemo Svaneti.

In total, during the first six months of 2017, 25,543 births, 25,954 deaths, 10,680 marriages and 5,031 divorces were observed throughout the country.

L

uka Okrostvaridze, 26, stage name Luka Okros, is one of the brightest representatives of his generation of young artists. On September 10, he won the 3rd prize at the 11th Scottish International Piano Competition in Glasgow. He was the only one to represent Georgia in this contest among 23 pianists from 15 countries. Okros is also the first prize winner of several major international competitions, including the Hannover Chopin Piano Competition (2017), Hong Kong International Piano Competition (2016), and the Iturbi Prize in Spain (2015).

In the last two years, Okros has won an award from the Hattori Foundation (UK), the Tillett Trust (UK) and the Verbier Festival Piano Award

by Tabor Foundation in Switzerland.

He says he is very proud to represent Georgia globally. In August, he was invited to the Oxford Piano Festival and to BBC Radio 3 for an interview and live performance. GEORGIA TODAY met him to find out more.

HOW DIFFICULT WAS THE PATH TO SUCCESS?

effort, along with the help and support of kind and generous people, to give me a chance to be a musician.

IF NOT A MUSICIAN, WHAT WOULD YOU BE? I’d probably be a photographer, cinema director or historian, as I love history. If politics was cleaner and had better morals, I’d go for governing, as I have ideas and a will to help people.

HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU PLAY EVERY DAY? I’d say 3-5 hours a day. I never practice more than 6 hours, as I believe that your mind should be able to analyze what and how you do during practices.

DO YOU TAKE HOLIDAYS AND HAVE A PRIVATE LIFE? Since 2012, I’ve only had 6 days off, but I can’t stop practicing. If you don’t practice one day, you hear it, if you don’t practice two days – your family knows it, but after three days – the entire world knows you had a break!

I believe I’m an open person. I love to communicate with people, share ideas and emotions. My Instagram profile has almost 40,000 followers, and I often make live streaming, answering all direct questions personally. It’s great to find creative and interesting people all over the world.

I was born in 1991. I’m sure lots of people in Georgia remember the terrifying 90s, and I know how it is to live in poverty, having eggs or potatoes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Music helped me survive.

It’s not easy to be a musician, especially nowadays when arts and music are going through hard times. Imagine that you have no Friday evenings or weekends, no holidays or even birthdays: every moment belongs to music and its schedule! You travel a lot, but not for rest, have to remember lots of musical notes and practice, practice, practice! You have to WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS be a professional and responsible FOR THE FUTURE? for everything you do.

In October and November, I have a big Asian tour: performing and givHOW DID YOU BECOME ing master-classes in Hong Kong, WORLD-FAMOUS AT Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and India. In January, I’ll travel to Harbin SUCH AN EARLY AGE? Hard work and luck. I also had very (China), to represent Georgia at the caring parents who discovered my Habin International Piano Competipassion for music when I was only tion. For winter - spring 2018, a Eurofour years old and made a lot of pean tour is planned.

EDUCATION

GEORGIA TODAY OCTOBER 2017

15

Zoe Whittaker, Formula 1 Test Pilot to Promote Georgia’s Tourism Potential

by Archil Talakvadze, member of Georgian Parliament and had a joint test-race with Georgian champion, oe Whittaker, one of pilot driver David Kajaia. Whittaker the few women For- also met Giorgi Alibegashvili, ChairAmbitious – when you want something that is difficult mula 1 racers in the man of Tbilisi City Council, to talk to get world, came to Georgia about future partnership possibiliExpanded – grew this summer to launch ties. her new project ‘Race with Zoe “The concept of the project is to Influenced – affected, helped Whittaker,’ which will promote promote Georgian tourism in the Commercialized – made only to make money West,” Kamarauli says. “We want Georgia’s tourism potential.

Authenticity – original, old, genuine feel The idea came when she visited Le to attract a slightly different cateItinerary – plan, schedule Monde’s famous 24-hour race in gory of people with it, as Georgia France. Zoe’s Georgian friend, Berdia has the potential to be able to host Kamarauli, founder of the UK-based classic car races, bringing yet another Cenimex (a British import-export dimension for promoting Georgian company specializing in Georgian tourism abroad.” wine export to the UK), suggested The summer visit was just the that Zoe taste Georgian wine, beginning and is said to have received “because, of course, French wine is high interest from potential Georgian and foreign partners, including good, but Georgian is better.”

It was an ambitious statement some big media outlets in the UK. which surprised Whittaker. Then “With Motor sports, Georgia can came the idea of promoting the easily become a center for organGeorgian wine route by organizing izing international sports events,” a rally, which later expanded into Kamarauli says. “Georgia has many a project for promoting Georgian possibilities, and we shouldn’t focus on promoting just food and wine”. tourism. warnings that the country wasn’t still has that authenticity. In TbiDuring her trip to Georgia, Zoe “I had no idea that Georgia prosafe, I decided to get in my car and lisi, I’m surprised at the mix of old visited the International Motor Park duced wine. I wanted to see the come,” Whittaker said when she and new,” Whittaker added. “I really in Rustavi, where she was hosted country for myself and, despite was here. “I’m amazed. The people want to promote Georgian tourism are so friendly. Every person I’ve to the outside world with my new met has welcomed me like I’m fam- project, ‘Driving with Zoe Whitily; the countryside is absolutely taker,’ as Georgia has so much to stunning and the agriculture here, offer people.” with all those walnuts and tasty The project will start in June 2018, Zoe Whittaker’s decision to become a racer was influ- pomegranates, is just outstanding,” and before that, Whittaker says she’ll she says. be back in Georgia for more explorenced by her father’s racing. She has had a career in For“Everything is getting so commer- ing prior to setting her race itinermula 1 British-American racing and attended classic car cialized nowadays, and Georgia ary.

BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI

What’s That?

Z

Info Box

rallies, like Paris-America, having spent around 20 years racing all over Europe.

“I want to get more women into racing to stop the stigma [of it being a man’s sport],” she told GEORGIA TODAY. She says woman are better drivers, “women are very calm and we have more patience. More and more women are earning enough of their own money now that they can afford classic cars,” she says.

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George Sharashidze COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT

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Editor-In-Chief: Katie Ruth Davies

Journalists: Tony Hanmer, Zaza Jgarkava, Maka Bibilashvili, Dimitri Dolaberidze, Maka Lomadze, Tim Ogden, Joseph Larsen, Vazha Tavberidze, Nugzar B. Ruhadze, Nino Gugunishvili, Thea Morrison Photographer: Irakli Dolidze

Food for Thought  Do you think motor racing can be made more popular in Georgia?  Is it good or bad to encourage more tourists to come to Georgia? Why? Website Manager: Tamzin Whitewood Website Copy-Editor: Gabrielle Guerrier Layout: Misha Mchedlishvili Webmaster: Sergey Gevenov Circulation Managers: David Kerdikashvili, David Djandjgava

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