OSCE Mission to Georgia supports exchange programme for ethnic Armenian students

TBILISI, 30 September 2008 - Sixteen ethnic Armenian students from the Javakheti region started 11th grade in schools in neighbouring Adjara this month as part of an exchange programme organized by the OSCE Mission to Georgia.

The aim of the programme, implemented in co-operation with the Education Ministry and the Union of Youth Centres of Georgia, is to promote the integration of ethnic Armenian young people living in Georgia.

The 16-year-old students, nine boys and seven girls, were selected from the Akhalakalaki and Ninotsminda districts of Javakheti, a region mainly populated by ethnic Armenians.

The students will spend three months in Sarpi, Gonio, Khelvachauri, Kakhaberi and Charnali studying in Georgian schools and living with Georgian families.

"The students from Javakheti and the directors of the recipient schools as well as the host families are all enthusiastic about the project. With the co-operation of the Ministry of Education, we expect to increase the number of students participating in the programme next year and even to expand it to other regions of Georgia," said Lola Ansede, the OSCE Mission to Georgia's Democratization Officer.