Georgia Today Education - Issue 004

EDUCATION www.georgiatoday.ge

Issue no: 004

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• OCTOBER 2016

• PUBLISHED MONTHLY

PRICE: GEL 2

In this issue...

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FOCUS

Dublin Library Docs Show Interest of British King & Queen in Georgian Battles

ol European School Pupils on the EU PAGE 6

“My School Book” from ON OPPORTUNITIES FINCA Bank

& INNOVATION

Silicon Valley Tbilisi is ready to help train and employ Georgian students

New Tourism Development Fund for Georgia

BY NATIA LIPARTELIANI

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eorgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili announced that the country’s Co-Investment Fund will establish a USD 680 million Tourism Development Fund for 8 large-scale projects in Tbilisi, Guria, Adjara and Samegrelo (Megrelia).

Kvirikashvili said he hopes the Fund will be a major turning point in the development of Georgia’s tourism sector, especially by creating new tourism hubs in less economically developed regions of Georgia.

“Georgia has a lot of potential for promoting the tourism industry. We can become a distinct destination on the global tourism map…Aware-

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Georgian-Born Entrepreneur’s UK Smoothie Company Hits Big Time PAGE 8

Schools in Georgia Unite under Learn in Georgian Initiative PAGE 9

ness and interest towards Georgia are growing every day and the Tourism Development Fund is the right step towards achieving this goal,” Kvirikashvili said.

The PM also announced that multifunctional retail and tourism complexes would be constructed near Tbilisi’s central Freedom Square, Sololaki Ridge and Tabor Mountain.

Exclusive Interview with Olympic Champion in Weightlifting Lasha Talakhadze

The Tabor complex will include a recreational zone and golf course that will employ up to 20,000 people.

The Tourism Development Fund was established to help foster the rapid development of Georgia’s tourism and hospitality infrastructure .It will also help improve the quality of service provided by the PAGE 15 hospitality industry.

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Dublin Library Docs Show Interest of British King & Queen in Georgian Battles What’s That?

Unique – nothing else like it Commanded – told Ensure – make sure, be certain Admired – liked Battle skills – talent for war Pursued – chased, followed quickly Gems – jewels (like diamonds, rubies etc.)

Inaccuracy – not correct, mistake Valuable asset – useful Diplomatic power – a government able to deal with its neighbors and people fairly and strongly written and nobody in Georgia knew It seems that King Henry VIII and about them until August. Some of Queen Elizabeth admired the Georthe letters are written in Latin, and gians for their battle skills. Here the others in English. is one example of what is written: The Ambassador of Georgia in the ‘’25,000 Georgians met the Persians Republic of Ireland, Giorgi Zura- on their return, but not being able bishvili, embassy representative, to encourage on them to fight again, Natia Kalandia, and Art Palace direc- pursued them... When they came tor Giorgi Kalandia, are helping to to a fast river, they went into it and bring the documents from Ireland lost more than 4,000 men and 30 to Georgia. gems, which were after recovered Cartu Fund funded a project to by the Georgians.” translate and research historic doc- While the letters might show a lituments, starting with those about tle historical inaccuracy here and King Erekle II (King of Kakheti from there, their uniqueness is without 1744 to 1762, King of Kartli and question, and when translated and Kakheti from 1762 until 1798). The printed into Georgian, they’ll prove project will ensure that soon hun- a valuable asset. Of special importhat ruled over the British Isles: dreds of European documents about tance is the fact that it appears

BY VAZHA TAVBERIDZE King Henry the VIII (ruled 1509- Georgia, dated from the 16th to 18th Georgia was once considered a dip1547) and Queen Elizabeth I (ruled century, will become available for lomatic power by the greats in the researchers and scholars to read. West. he National Library 1558-1603). of Ireland has given Both of them were interested in the Art Palace of Georgian news and commanded Georgia 16 unique their ambassadors in Constantinohistorical documents ple to send them details of what that were preserved in the library. was happening in the Kartl-Kakheti The documents are royal letters and Samegrelo provinces.

The British Library receives a copy of every publication connected to two famous monarchs Each of the 16 documents is hand-

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Food for Thought  Why is it important to understand historic relations between Georgia and other countries?  How would you compare the Georgia of the past with Georgia now?  What’s in YOUR National Library?

Info Box

produced in the UK and Ireland The collection includes more than 150 million items, in most known languages, with 3 million new items added every year (manuscripts, maps, newspapers, magazines, stamps, prints and drawings, music scores, and patents).

There are 625 km of shelves, which grows by 12 km every year. If you went there and saw 5 items each day, it would take you over 80,000 years to see the whole of the collection. The world’s earliest dated printed book there is the Diamond Sutra (Chinese, year 868).

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Silicon Valley Tbilisi: International Recruiting, Training & Education Participants of the Recruiting Platform Project

Info Box Silicon Valley is a nickname for the southern part of the San Francisco Bay area in California, the United States of America (USA). There you can find many of the world’s largest high-tech corporations (including Apple Inc., HP, Google and Netflix) and thousands of startup companies.

BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI & NATIA LIPARTELIANI

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ver 10 million jobs are now available for local job-seekers through a newly established international job recruitment platform at Silicon Valley Tbilisi.

Silicon Valley Tbilisi is a complex in the city center that will have Tbilisi’s University of Business and Technologies, an IT Academy, as well as laboratory and research centers within one space.

The new recruitment project, started by the Business and Technology University, is a chance for Georgian job-seekers to be registered and find jobs anywhere in the world without even leaving the country.

GEORGIA TODAY contacted the manager of the project, Mikheil Batiasvhili, to find out more.

theoretical knowledge but lack practical knowledge: they study 4-year Bachelor’s degrees then do a Master’s for 2 years and only after that can they get practical experience, by which time they usually need to be re-trained. We want to give them both practical and theoretical knowledge in business and technology. We’re working on more than 100 agreements and partnerships to help grow up a future generation that has the right skills and knowledge for today’s global and local market conditions.

many jobs, for example in the USA, Britain or France, that can be done from Georgia. We have exclusive access to several information bases with around 10 million Design & IT vacancies posted every day. Our employment and re-training programs aim to help students get such distance jobs.

THE UNIVERSITY OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGIES OPENS NEXT YEAR. TELL US ABOUT IT The University starts next year but lots of re-training programs will be introduced before then. The annual fee will be around 2250 GEL- the cheapest we could make it as we want the university to be available to as many students as possible.

WHICH COMPANIES ARE There will also be scholarships for INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT? academic excellence. The UniverSilknet, Georgian Airways, Micro- sity is very well-equipped with the soft, Mercedes-Benz…and more! latest technology and it’s right in They are ready to give jobs to well- the center of Tbilisi in an ecologitrained students from Georgia. cally clean zone.

satile and advanced. We’re also planning a Sunday business school for kids.

HOW IS THE GEORGIAN SILICON VALLEY SIMILAR OR DIFFERENT FROM THE AMERICAN SILICON VALLEY? The USA Silicon Valley has existed for nearly 100 years. It is very difficult to compare with it because we are just starting now. However, we want to get our students integrated quickly into the world market so that we are not behind the innovations that are happening in the world right now. Silicon Valley in Georgia is very much aimed at the global market.

DO YOU THINK GEORGIA HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME AN IMPORTANT EXPORTER OF TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS? Yes. We have made several studies and found that the level of computTELL US ABOUT YOUR THERE WILL ALSO BE A MIDDLE erization in the country is quite NEW INTERNATIONAL JOB high. Now we need training or reSCHOOL. WILL IT HAVE A RECRUITMENT PLATFORM training. The tourism sector got a TECHNOLOGICAL PROFILE? In today’s globalized digital world, Yes. We want to prepare a new gen- boost recently- now it’s the turn of distance working is very popular. eration that is technologically ver- technology and innovation.

HOW DID YOU COME Where you are in the world doesn’t UP WITH THE IDEA? In Georgia, students have a good actually matter anymore. There are

Food for Thought  How does the internet make our lives easier?  With a distance job you can work from home. What are the advantages/disadvantages of working from home?  Imagine life without internet. How would your life be different? Write down your ideas and send them to us at Georgia Today.

What’s That?

Job-seekers – people looking for work Recruitment – employing, giving work to someone Lack – not having (enough) Skills – abilities, talent Distance – far away, not close to Access – enter, connect to Versatile – flexible, adaptable, able to do many things Boost – increase, help to be better or bigger

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The Guivy Zaldastanishvili American Academy in Tbilisi: Fun, Learning & Charity Combined

BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI

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he Guivy Zaldastanishvili American Academy in Tbilisi is definitely the kind of school that inspires you to be a student all over again, or, if you are still at school, to become a part of its big, welcoming “learn through fun” community.

Located on Lisi Lake and offering a spacious building equipped to fulfil your every study need, and with a vast expanse of green area, the school currently boasts 290 students of grades 9 through 12. Notwithstanding its name, American Academy is designed for ambitious Georgian students who are proficient in the English language- all classes except the Georgian and Russian are conducted in English.

With a focus on student-centered, interactive learning processes that foster critical thinking and an independent approach to developing problem-solving and communication skills in students, the Academy is on a mission to “develop knowledgeable, compassionate individuals; lifelong learners who are well prepared to study at university level for successful lives and careers.”

GEORGIA TODAY met Ketevan Topadze and Nino Gambashidze, two of the many enthusiastic teachers who have been working at the Academy since day one.

According to Ms. Topadze, the school aims to constantly motivate

its teachers to come up with new extra-curricular activities and it was with this that the idea of the summer school program came about.

The American Academy Summer School is for students of Grade 6 through 10, offering intermediate and advanced levels of study in English or Georgian language and math. But its major emphasis is on studying subjects that are slightly off the traditional scale and which bring more fun to learning, with such inspiring classes as the Art of Branding, History of Religion, Film History, and more. A drama class is planned for next year, giving participants the chance to learn English through acting.

The Summer School also welcomes students from socially deprived families and their participation is financed either by the American Academy or through other grants.

“We have an ambitious plan to

eventually expand the Summer School regionally and gain international exposure, but it’s a long-term project that still needs to be worked on,” Ms. Topadze told us.

The Summer School program includes an internship program, too, giving a unique opportunity for Academy students who already have their bachelor degrees to work as volunteers at the Academy teaching selected courses of their choice.

Additionally, the American Academy offers a mentoring program that is specially designed for bachelor students interested in careers in teaching, letting them learn from experienced professionals through a three week study course on curriculum-making and assessment methodologies.

As if the Summer School is not enough to whet your taste buds for something fun, there’s also the weekly Saturday School!

GEORGIA TODAY spoke to Ms. Gambashidze to find out more.

“The Saturday School is a totally unique project not seen anywhere else in the world. A kind of charity club, there are seven weekly sessions twice a year, with over 30 courses and more than 80 Abkhazian IDPs (internally displaced persons) involved.”

The idea of founding the Saturday School came up in 2009 when American Academy students visited the Abkhazian refugee settlement near Tbilisi Sea and the students became inspired to help out the youth liv-

ing there.

Classes in the Saturday Schools are conducted by students of the Academy and vary in subject and discipline- from sports to handicraft lessons. Participants choose what they want to learn from the presentations made by their student “teachers.” The maximum number of students in each class is 15.

“I never attend these classes as a teacher, because I want my ‘colleagues,’ my students, to get the full experience of being a teacher and to feel free and independent while doing it.”

One of the missions of the Summer and Saturday programs is to help break down artificial social barriers and make the quality education available to talented and promising students from a broad range of backgrounds. In this regard, the Academy is committed to awarding full scholarships to children from those programs who meet the school’s entry requirements. Currently, the Academy is funding two students who successfully gained places at the American Academy last year.

From next year the Guivy Zaldastanishvili American Academy in Tbilisi will introduce a new 8th Grade program, bringing the Academy in line with the Georgian curriculum. This news comes as a delight to the many aspiring young students throughout the country wanting to get in on a program that challenges your perception on learning and to have fun while doing it!

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European School Pupils on the EU

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very year at the beginning of May, European S c h o o l ce l e b ra te s Europe Day. The school welcomes many guests from different local international organizations, diplomats and politicians- says Aleko Giorgidze, CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) coordinator at the European School.

“Students of the school form groups and each group represents a European country and has to learn about the country they represent. The groups are free in their choice how to represent the country; it can take the form of informative posters, dressing in national costumes, learning dances and songs... But they all have to cook national dishes of the chosen country for their friends to taste.”

WE ASKED STUDENTS OF THE EUROPEAN SCHOOL WHAT THEY THINK OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Kate Gabaidze (14, International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program) The European Union is a governmental organization which consists of many countries. These countries are proud that their citizens have a good quality of life; their governments think how to improve their education system, to implement progressive ideas and not to damage good traditions. These countries are friends and they solve different issues together. After integration, Georgia will get the opportunity to trade with other countries from the EU, shipping will be easier, the economy will be influenced, and the Georgian currency Lari can be changed to Euro.

These changes will help Georgia to develop faster. As for me, joining the EU means a lot because it gives me and the students of my age the opportunity to travel without a Visa when borders are open; young people will increase their knowledge, become open-minded and they will understand global perspectives. Also, after joining the EU, access to high quality education for Georgian citizens will be easier.

Dudu Nikolaishvili (16, International Baccalaureate Diploma Program) In my opinion, Georgia being part of the EU is great! Not only can we get more recognition; we can develop faster. We can become more popular and stronger, show people who

What’s That?

Proud – felling happy and satisfied with what you have done Trade – selling and buying products Influenced – affected, changed Afraid – scared, frightened of Distinctive – different, unique Cross-roads – point of connection between different places Sustainable – able to continue for a long time

Info Box The European Union (EU) is a politico-economic union of 28 member states that are located primarily in Europe. It has an area of 4,324,782 km2 and an estimated population of over 510 million. Covering 7.3% of the world population, the EU in 2016 generated a nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of $16.477 trillion. 26 of the 28 EU countries have a very high Human Development Index, according to the United Nations Development Program. In 2012, the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

we are, our culture, and ourselves become more open about the world.

While some Georgians are afraid of losing our culture, I want to calm them down and with these words: Every year we, European School students, celebrate Europe Day, in which we learn more about European countries, their culture, their traditions, and cook their national food. And after researching how to cook traditional dishes from different countries, I understood that most of them have similar ingredi-

ents, while they all have distinctive looks and tastes.

Kato Bakradze (17, American High School section of European School) Georgia has historically been a part of Europe and a cross-roads of culture and commerce. EU integration will reconnect us with our past while pushing us towards a more globalized future. I hope integration will help us progress in a sustainable and modern way going forward.

Food for Thought  Why does Georgia want to be part of the EU?  In June 2016, the people of the UK voted to leave the EU. Why do you think this is?  What do you think of the EU? What are the positives and negatives of joining it?

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“My School Book” from FINCA Bank

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ასის ჩვენი კლ

INCA Bank Georgia has created an interactive book for kids called “My School Book”.

The book content is designed for children from 7 to 14 and the focus is made on the promotion of financial literacy and business skills development. The book covers topics like: What is money? Why do we save? and offers stories of successful businessmen, recipes for business, quizzes and more!

“This is a unique and very interesting project. Financial inclusion, financial capability and sustainable livelihoods a re essential components of full economic citizenship. To contribute to economic development within Georgia, educational components like this are very important to ensure that children from a very early age are well equipped with the basics of financial literacy,” says Mariam Esebua, the Head of the Marketing Department of FINCA Bank Georgia.

The content and illustrations of

the book are created to encourage interaction with classmates who will make projects together as a group. “There are a lot fun tasks and questions in the book, and kids can contact us with their feedback and to share their thoughts, through our special e-mail. There will be special prizes and awards for the most active and creative kids

Info Box World Savings Day was established on October 31, 1924, during the 1st International Savings Bank Congress (World Society of Savings Banks) in Milan, Italy. The Italian Professor Filippo Ravizza declared this day the “International Saving Day” on the last day of the congress.

World Savings Day (or World Thrift Day) was established to inform people all around the world about the idea of saving their money in a bank rather than keeping it under their mattress!

წიგნი

ჩვენი წიგნი ს ი ს ა ლ კ

who do special activities from the book,” says Esebua.

The book will be sent to FINCA Bank employees and their kids will take the book to their schools so

What’s That?

Promotion – advertising, telling people about something (event, product…)

Literacy – knowing, understanding Inclusion – included, part of Capability – able to do Sustainable livelihoods – jobs that you can keep for many years and be comfortable in Equipped – given the tools or information they need

that more than 8,000 children in almost all regions of the country will get to use the book, learn the basics of finan-

cial literacy, and have fun. The presentation of the book will be held during World Saving Week in the last week of October.

Food for Thought  Why is it good to save money?  Why might it be bad to save money under your mattress?  Why is it good to save money in a bank account?

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Georgian-Born Entrepreneur’s UK Smoothie Company Hits What’s That?

Big Time Info Box Did you know? Coca-Cola was invented in 1886 by a pharmacist named John (Doc) Pemberton. He invented many drugs, but none of them was successful. Soda fountains (machines selling soft drinks) were getting popular. He used kola nuts, a source of caffeine, and coca leaves to make a syrup which was then mixed with sugar and water. But Doc had no idea how to advertise and in the first year it did badly. Frank Robinson registered Coca-Cola’s formula with the patent office, and designed the logo. In 1891 Asa Griggs Candler took over and made the business a success. At one time Coca-Cola syrup was sold as a drug to stop headaches and tiredness! Doc Pemberton died in August 1888 without ever knowing how successful his syrup would be.

BY TAMAR SVANIDZE

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h re e ye a rs a go, inspired by his mom’s recipes for fresh smoothies, Georgianborn Guka Tavberidze decided to start a business in the UK’s health food industry.

Naming his new start-up “Savse,” Georgian for “full”, chosen to show the nutritional qualities of his product, Guka is on his way to becoming one of Britain’s newest entrepreneurial success stories.

‘I wanted my customers to experience something ultra-healthy like I have been drinking all my life,”

Guka told the BBC. Guka, 28, went to the UK with his family in 1994. He later dropped out of Roehampton University, where he was working on a degree in English literature.

He spent the next several years in and out of different jobs but started researching the smoothie market in June 2011 when he remembered the ones his mother, Nino, made for him as a child.

“I had no professional experience and no degree. I was just a normal guy with the dream of wanting to do something on my own,” he said.

Guka said what makes his smoothies different from his competitors- he uses high-pressure processing

Inspired – had an idea Recipes – instructions how to make a food dish Nutritional – the good things in food Entrepreneurial – trying to start a business even if there are risks Success – winning, doing well Dropped out of – left without finishing Powder – crushed and dried (fruit and vegetables) Invested – gave money while expecting to make more money back

instead of high-temperature treatment, so the flavor and nutrients stay.

“What I found was a lot these fruit drinks are not as healthy as the labels say – sometimes it is not actual fruit or vegetables, but just powder,” Guka said.

“I went to see my mother in September 2011 and told her we needed

to start marketing her smoothies and make a business,” said Guka.

His uncle invested £250,000 and with his mother’s recipes Guka started to build his company in January 2013.

In just three years, Savse is now a USD 13 million-dollar company, with sales growing by 600 % in the last 12 months.

Apophis is coming!

Food for Thought  Do you eat and drink healthily?  Why do you think Savse got so popular so quickly?  Would Savse be so popular in Georgia?

BORED WITH YOUR TEXTBOOKS ALREADY? Then slip this between the covers - but don’t let the teacher see!

THE VAMPIRE WARS SAGA (1, 2 + 3) AVAILABLE IN ALL GOOD BOOKSHOPS THROUGHOUT GEORGIA!

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GEORGIA TODAY OCTOBER 2016

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Schools in Georgia Unite under Learn in Georgian Initiative

Georgian Language Olympiad. Source: School Lyceum Skhivi

BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI

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he fastest way to get to know the history, culture and traditions of a foreign country is to learn its language, and language is the ultimate tool which makes it possible for an individual to integrate into society, and be a member of a community and environment that may often feel unfamiliar or challenging.

It has been the recent initiative of several private schools in Georgia to partner within the Learn in Georgian initiative: Private Demirel College, , Kutaisi Niko Nikoladze School, Tbilisi Skhivi School, Rustavi Shota Rustaveli School, Marneuli David Agmashenebeli School and Shahin School in Batumi. Most of them were founded after the signing of a cooperation agreement in economic, educational, science and sports between Georgia and Turkey in 1992.

As such they prioritize Georgian language teaching in their schools as a way to facilitate the inclusion of non-Georgian speaking students who represent national minority groups in Rustavi and Marneuli.

GEORGIA TODAY met Mustafa Emre Cabuk, Power Attorney of the School Founding Partners, and Director of the Skhivi School, Eka Chikobava, to find out more.

Demirel Private College and Skhivi are following the Georgian National Curriculum guidelines set by the Ministry of Education of Georgia (MoE) in teaching Georgian language to Turkish students.

The Skhivi School was established as a primary school, but after renewing its authorization this year, now takes students from grades 7 to 12.

Of the 320 students studying at Skhivi, 250 are Georgian and 70 are

What’s That?

Integrate – join in, be a part of Challenging - difficult Initiative – idea, project Facilitate – make easier National minority – an ethnic group that is smaller in number than the main group in a nation (Azerbaijanis in Georgia, for example) Strictly – seriously Turkish. Strictly following the rules of the Georgian National Curriculum, Skhivi School pays close attention to teaching the Georgian language, increasing it from a regular five hours to nine in the first and second grades and to eight hours in the third and fourth grades.

“It wasn’t an easy change but the children and their parents are happy,” Ms Chikobava says. “Many of the students have just started learning Georgian and teachers assist them every day. Since the majority of families come from Turkey, they don’t speak Georgian and help from the dedicated teachers is highly appreciated.”

“We hope that by the end of the year, Turkish students will be able to fluently read and write in Georgian,” says Mr Cabuk. “For speaking practice we have joint activities with both Georgian and Turkish students.”

“It is vital to speak the language of the country you live in,” says Mr Cabuk, “and the school is making every effort to make sure the Turkish families coming to Georgia have that opportunity.”

Ms. Chikobava told us about the annual Georgian language contest (Olympiads): “It is a large scale event where up to 4000 students participate (first to the sixth grades) with the nominations of Best Reader, Best HandWriting and Best Poetic Reading part of the competition. “We’re happy to have a multi-ethnical community of students. Although teaching Georgian to a foreign student can be challenging, their enthusiasm and willingness is rewarding and makes it easier,” Ms. Chikobava says.

The teaching process is combined with fun and new technologies. The school assesses the individual needs of a student and each student’s lan-

guage proficiency, then sets the teaching plan accordingly. The text books used in class are those recommended by MoE. “Our pupils are extremely tolerant and friendly to each other. The atmosphere at school is very healthy, with students helping each other while learning,” Ms. Chikobava says.

Alongside the Olympiad, the school also organizes weekly activities in each subject with Georgian language week one of the longest- featuring Georgian arts and folklore, with students making presentations and exhibitions.

All 146 students of the David Agmashenebeli Private Lyceum in Marneuli are Azerbaijani but that doesn’t hold them back in Georgian Olympiads, says Deputy Director Ketevan Chanturia, “One of our students recently won the Georgian language Olympiad in the Poetic Reading category.”

And it’s not the only school to be able to boast Georgian-language success as, in its 13 years of operation, Demirel has seen 103 of its pupils win Gold at Olympiads.

Across the board we can see the motivation and energy of both the teachers of these schools and the pupils themselves- enjoying learning Georgian, the language of the country they live in, and proving again and again the success of their efforts.

Food for Thought  Why is integration important?  Imagine a new student joins your class. How could you facilitate their integration?

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Gaming for a Living.

Meet Mark Rein-Hagen, Tbilisi’s Resident Game Master

BY JOSEPH LARSEN

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e live in difficult times. Technological changes are dramatically altering the global economic landscape, and not in ways that obviously benefit working people. Gone are the large industries and healthy annual wage increases. As innovations in telecoms and robotics make more professions obsolete, the phrase “job security” sounds more like a memory than reality. Young people around the world are struggling to find their place in an economy doesn’t seem to want them.

But there is a silver lining. The new, post-industrial economy creates as much as it destroys, and the internet has opened limitless doors for creative, enterprising, tech-savvy individuals. Fortunately for Tbilisi-based role playing game creator Mark Rein-Hagen, he came to understand the creative economy long before it became a cliché.

“Any job worth doing requires creativity. If you’re creative, you’ll be able to do anything,” Mark tells me as we chat in the office in his apartment. Two employees type away on computers. Role playing games, cards, children’s toys, and books in several languages – both fantasy and non – give the room an air of comfortable clutter.

Mark learned early in life that he wanted to spend his life creating role playing games and fantasy content. The beginning of this story, in fact, is a cliche itself. One weekend, Mark’s father (a small-town Minnesota Lutheran minister and theologian) invited a colleague over for Sunday dinner. After the meal the guest asked if father and son would like to play ‘Dungeons and Dragons’. Father approved, and son never looked back: “I knew at that exact moment what I wanted to do with my life. I immediately started designing my own adventures.”

Mark Rein-Hagen had a dream, and that was to go to Hollywood, work as a writer, and see his imagination come to life on screen.

What’s That?

Altering – changing Benefit – help Obsolete – no longer useful or needed Struggling – finding difficulty Silver lining – a positive side Savvy – with knowledge of role playing game (see Info Box) Creative economy – a way of making money for the economy by being creative (art, film, etc.)

Cliché – so common it is not interesting, predictable Clutter – a mess, disorganized Breakthrough – success after a long time trying Settle – start to live

Most people struggle well into their 30s before finding professional success, if ever, but success came fairly early for Mark. His first release, a role-playing game called ‘Ars Magica’, came during his undergraduate studies at Saint Olaf College in Minnesota. It took him nine months to create.

His second game, ‘Vampire: The Masquerade’, coming in 1991 four years after his debut release, left a permanent mark on the entertainment industry. “It was a huge breakthrough,” Mark says. “It had a major effect on what came after. ‘Twilight’ takes a lot from it. Stephanie Meyer was a player.”

Still in his early 20s, Mark got a job writing for ‘Kindred: The Embraced’, a FOX TV series that ran for eight episodes in 1996. The show was loosely based on ‘Vampire: The Masquerade’, but Mark wasn’t happy with the finished product. FOX’s producers had their own vision for the series, a vision that Mark didn’t agree with: “The show wasn’t as good as it could’ve been if they’d listened to me more.” He worked in Hollywood for four years but eventually became disillusioned and decided to leave. “It was the goal of my life, but finally I just left,” he says.

Mark and his wife, who is Georgian, met in New York.

After marrying, the couple planned to settle in San Francisco, but ended up in Tbilisi.

Mark shows me some of the things he and his various companies have created over the years. There are graphic books, endless piles of game cards, even videos. The latest work ‘I Am Zombie’, released in 2015, presents the origin story of a race of zombies called the Amirani.

According to the game’s accompanying literature, the Amirani hail from right here in Georgia.

Mark created characters modeled on his creative team members and friends in Georgia. But ‘I Am Zombie’ is much more than a celebration of Mark’s adventures in Georgia. It has an agenda: “I want to bring tourists to Georgia,” he says.

Info Box ROLE PLAYING GAME A role-playing game (RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players act out these roles within a story, either through literal acting or through a process of decision-making or character development. Actions taken within many games succeed or fail according to a system of rules and guidelines.

Food for Thought  Are computer games good or are they a waste of time?  How could Georgia’s creative economy be developed?

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GEORGIA TODAY OCTOBER 2016

Batumi’s Modern Street Art & Freedom of Expression

BY MARIKO NATSARISHVILI

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atumi is the ultimate cultural hub, where ethnicities and religions disappear and freedom of expression rules. Art has been part of Georgian culture for centuries, and it can be seen everywhere - from the citycenters to the villages.

Time-damaged buildings are brought back to life with color in different images; some of them cultural, with traditional details, others funny or more realistic. Each of Batumi’s street artworks has its own

story that people can relate to.

Street Art first appeared on the walls of Batumi in 2013 and it has since become popular all over Adjara.

Many well-known artists, including Gela Tsuladze, were so impressed that they started an annual Street Art Festival two years ago with the support of the Adjaran Government.

The most popular street artwork in Batumi is “Selfie” by Dr. Love, on the side-wall of the Batumi State University. It is a beautiful painting of the sea; a young girl in a bikini diving into the water and taking a selfie.

As Natia Sirabidze, Deputy Minister of Education, Culture and

Food for Thought  Do you like graffiti?  Should people who put graffiti on buildings be punished? If yes, how?  The writer said, “Street Art helps to change old perceptions.” How do you think it does this?

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What’s That?

Hub – important connection point Disappear – are not important, stop being seen Expression – the way you show how you feel Relate to – understand Benefit – good for people Requirement – something you must do Perceptions – ideas, points of view Tolerate – accept something that you might not like

Sport of Adjara says, “All these paintings become a tourist destination. Both locals and foreigners like to take pictures in front of them. The more people coming to see the paintings, the more people promoting it on social media, the more popular the place becomes and the greater the economical benefit the region has.”

This year the Street Art Festival

had 4 Georgian and 2 foreign artists. The only requirement for the artists was to work in the 3D style; otherwise, the festival has no limits and artists are free to express themselves and communicate with the people how they want. The Festival inspires a love of Street Art and helps to change old perceptions and push people to move forwards, to grow, to love and to tolerate.

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EDUCATION

GEORGIA TODAY OCTOBER 2016

East Point’s Bowling Center Lebowski to Hold a High School Tournament Food for Thought  The competition aims to promote a healthy lifestyle.

What else can make your lifestyle healthy?

F

rom October 17 through December 23. East Point’s Bowling Center Lebowski is going to hold a high school tournament for 8-12 grade pupils from up to 120 schools.

The aim of the project is to promote a healthy lifestyle, increase interest towards sporting activities in youth, and to support communication between stu17 dents.

The tournament will be divided into four stages: three qualifying rounds and the finals.

Teams will be made up of five pupils to represent each class from their school.

A total of 25 students, or

October - 23 December

THE BIGGEST

SCHOOL BOWLING tournament in Lebowski

What’s That?

Promote – advertise, make popular Divided – separated, split Declared – announced, made Memorable – special, unforgettable Sponsors – companies or people helping to finance an event

five teams, will be declared winners, each from their respective class.

All members will be given memorable prizes, while the finalists and semi-finalists will get special prizes from the sponsors.

To register, pupils should apply to their school administration no later than October 12. Participation in the tournament is free.

Info Box The Lebowski Bowl Club was established at East Point Mall in 2015 and is enjoyed by over 1,400 visitors a month- both experienced bowlers and casual fun-loving players.

Lebowski Bowl Club offers 12 professional bowling lanes, 4 pool tables and 2 Russian pyramid tables, darts and table football, VIP rooms for bowling and billiards, a conceptual café with a diverse menu for every taste, big-screen TVs for live sporting events, friendly staff and a pleasant environment in the best traditions of The Big Lebowski.

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EDUCATION

4 Men Convicted of Bride Kidnapping in Georgia’s Adjara Region

GEORGIA TODAY OCTOBER 2016

Info Box Bride kidnapping is a practice in which a man abducts the woman he wishes to marry. Bride kidnapping has been practiced around the world and throughout history. It continues to occur in countries in Central Asia, the Caucasus region, and parts of Africa, and among peoples as diverse as the Hmong in Southeast Asia, the Tzeltal in Mexico, and the Romani in Europe.

In most nations, bride kidnapping is considered a crime rather than a valid form of marriage.

What’s That?

Convicted – the judge decided he was guilty Bride – girl who will get married Kidnapping – taking a person without their permission Sentences – the amount of time they must stay in prison Abducted – taken, kidnapped Victim – the person who is hurt Pressure – made to feel you must do something

Food for Thought

BY NICHOLAS WALLER

A

court in Georgia’s Adjara region has convicted four men of bride kidnapping.

Three of the men were given sevenyear sentences, while the fourth was given an eight-year prison term for having been found with drugs.

According to the court’s records, the four men kidnapped a young woman in the region’s Black Sea resort of Kobuleti in November 2015.

The victim said she was abducted at gunpoint by one of the defendants, but managed to send a message from her mobile phone to her sister.

Bride kidnapping cases continue to happen in Georgia’s rural areas.

Though exact numbers are not known, non-governmental activists estimate that hundreds of women are taken and forced to marry their abductors each year.

The practice of bride kidnapping in the Caucasus dates back hundreds of years and remains common in certain communities throughout Georgia and is widespread in the

North Caucasus republics of Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushe Is bride kidnapping wrong? Why? tia.  What is a good age to get married? Why? In Georgia, bride kidnapping usually involves an abductor, often with friends, who force the target girl to the police about their kidnapping get in their car. Once in the car, the she is then forced to marry. victim may be taken to a remote Human Rights Watch has reported because of social and family presarea or her captor’s home where that victims often refuse to go to sure.

EDUCATION

GEORGIA TODAY OCTOBER 2016

Exclusive Interview with Olympic Champion in Weightlifting

BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE AND GIORGI CHANISHVILI

L

asha Talakhadze, a 22-year-old Georgian, recently won Gold in the Rio Olympic Games, losing a world record for snatch but setting a new one for total (473kg). He has been training, as per his family’s tradition, almost half his life, following in the footsteps of his father before him. GEORGIA TODAY got a chance to meet him.

YOUR DAD WAS A WELLKNOWN WEIGHTLIFTER OF HIS TIME. HOW MUCH HAS HE HELPED YOU IN YOUR SPORTING CAREER? He helped me a lot. He was a very strong athlete himself – winner of medals and other awards.

YOU ARE IN A PERFECT PHYSICAL SHAPE. HOW

RIGID IS YOUR DAY-TO-DAY REGIME? WHAT DOES YOUR WORKING DAY LOOK LIKE? Weightlifting is a huge part of my very busy life. I’m in training day in, day out which practically leaves no time for me to relax- sport totally dominates my life.

Lasha Talakhadze Olympic Gold are in place.

I have a plan to deepen my education in the future.

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU MOST LIKE TO DO ASIDE YOU HAVE ACHIEVED ALL YOU FROM WEIGHTLIFTING? COULD IN SPORTS. WHAT IS THE I love to spend my free time with NEXT STAGE OF YOUR SPORTING DREAM? my family, which I adore.

I’ve got all the titles I could earn so far but I want to appear in almost every YOU HAVE IMPRESSED THE YOU DID ALL SIX MOVEMENTS PUBLIC WITH YOUR WITS, NOT high-level competition in the world.

ONLY WITH YOUR PHYSICAL OF THE OLYMPIC EVENT STRENGTH. HOW DID YOU DO YOU EVER SMOKE WITHOUT MUCH DIFFICULTY. MANAGE TO DO THIS? OR DRINK ALCOHOL? WHY DID YOU AND YOUR I love reading. Often, at training Never! And I never will. That said, COACH NOT ORDER sessions, I read books when I’m not I wouldn’t say no to a glass of a good HIGHER WEIGHTS? THE fighting. I always have a couple in wine on special occasions. But that’s IRANIAN ATHLETE BEAT my backpack. all!

YOUR WORLD RECORD BY JUST ONE KILO. DO YOU WHERE DID YOU GO ARE YOU THINKING OF REGRET YOUR CHOICE? GETTING MARRIED ANY I don’t regret anything. These TO HIGH SCHOOL AND TIME SOON? OR WOULD things happen in sporting life on COLLEGE? DO YOU WORK MARRIAGE GET IN THE a regular basis. The weights we TO MAKE MONEY? ordered were optimal – the result I graduated from high school in WAY OF FUTURE SPORTS talks volumes about that. Didn’t I western Georgia and then contin- TRIUMPHS FOR YOU? overpower the greatest Persian ued my education in a special col- I have no special plans or thoughts weightlifter? What matters is that lege of physical education and sports in that direction because sport is all my new world records and my where I majored in coaching skills. number one for me right now.

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George Sharashidze COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT

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GEORGIA TODAY

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