The Central Election Commission (CEC) and LEPL Centre for Electoral Systems Development, Reforms and Trainings (Training Centre), in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia, are launching a new educational initiative. The project, “I Am My School’s Election Ambassador,” is designed for students in grades VII–X of public schools.

The aim of the study program is to promote democratic values among adolescents, enhance electoral culture, and develop critical thinking skills.

The program includes a three-day interactive course. In addition to theoretical knowledge, students will explore the essence of democratic elections, the fundamentals of media literacy, and the importance of informed decision-making through practical simulations and role-playing activities. The initiative seeks to foster the development of skills and competencies essential for shaping informed and responsible citizens.

The project also aims to strengthen students’ role in the process of school self-government elections. Participants will be awarded certificates and granted the status of “School Election Ambassador,” which will further motivate them to promote electoral culture among their peers.

Today, on March 26, the Deputy Chairperson of the CEC and the Director of the Training Centre attended the preparatory phase of the project, during which trainer capacity-building activities were conducted.

“I believe that the CEC and the Training Center are laying the foundation for an important educational initiative. In the modern era, it is becoming increasingly difficult to identify disinformation without media literacy. Within the framework of this program, students will become familiar with tools for detecting manipulative information, which is crucial for making informed decisions,” stated the Deputy Chairperson of the CEC, Giorgi Sharabidze.

“Our goal is to support the development of young people into active citizens from an early school age. Electoral behavior is a habit that begins within the school environment. The program will strengthen students’ civic competencies. We would like to thank the Ministry of Education for its support,” noted the Director of the Training Centre, Natia Zaalishvili.

The pilot phase of the educational program will cover 50 public schools in Tbilisi, with plans to expand the project nationwide in the future.