NGO-Media Monthly Meetings at the Horizonti Foundation

Media and NGOs Discuss Upcoming Elections – Keystone for Cooperation

On the 27th of November there was a joint meeting of NGOs and media representatives to discuss the role and involvement of non-governmental organizations in the Georgian elections and on-going processes. This meeting was sponsored by the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Tbilisi and initiated by the Horizonti Foundation for the Third Sector. Many interested media representatives, include regular media staff and freelance journalist accepted the opportunity to participate in the program. The underlying aim of the meeting was to define the role of the two sectors in future Georgian elections and delineate their strategies and responsibilities in this important sphere of civil society.

The turnout for the meeting was very high with the majority from the NGO sector (more than 30 organizations) and of the Fourth Estate (from “Mtavati Gazeti”, “Axali Epoqa”, Georgian Times – both English and Georgian issues, and “SakarTvelos Respublika”). More wanted to attend but were occupied with breaking news of the various scandals occurring in Tbilisi and Georgia in the post-election period. The format of the meeting was a spontaneous discussion of recent events. It was not necessary to invite key speakers since the participants assumed this role themselves. The exchanges were shape and critical and the differences of opinion added flavor to the dynamics of the event. The sincerity and openness of the guest demonstrated that the media is making great strides in protecting their most cherished right of free speech.

Counting down from 45 days to new elections, which are scheduled for January 4, 2003. Passions are high and expectations great. It is paramount that media and the NGO sector understand their important role in keeping focused on the correct position. The NGO and media should keep on the right since ongoing processes are accompanied with high passions. And in their attempt to keep the right position in the face of artificially created violations, these two alien sectors should stand together and defend the mission they strive for – serving people and supporting the democratic development of Georgian civil society.

Both journalists and NGO representative underlined that it is less important to weight whom and in what capacity participated in the Rose Revolution. And in this sense, it is of utmost importance to evaluate in how effectively they will implement their direct responsibilities and obligations, both separately and jointly. The same is true in terms of media conduct. It’s high time to draw a line between the task of the Journalist (reporter) ends and where his or her responsibility (for influencing public opinion) begins.

In an environment of elevated passions, heated with political and social undercurrents, it is essential that media and NGOs be counted as members of civil society in standing firm for the implementation of the rule of law in Georgia. Rule of Law demands the active involvement of relevant NGOs in the monitoring of the election process and that a free media will not be threatened. Consequently closer cooperation between Media and the NGO sector will provide a large barrier to any attempt of “rigging election” and violating basic human rights. The repeated message of the participants underscored the vital importance of mass media as the keystone linking NGOs and Media together in bringing about sustainable democratic changes in Georgia.

Two NGOs Won in Horizonti Raffle

Some 30 Georgian NGOs participated in the raffle. Two winner organizations are:

• Nodar Dumbadze Foundation (Supports protection of Georgian cultural heritage and popularization of Georgian culture outside its borders)

• Center for Social and Psychological Aid “Ndoba” (Supports assistance for those experiencing psychological crisis in adaptation to complicated conditions and how to reduce negative consequences of the crisis).

The video studio of the Foundation free of charge will produce video clips for these organizations. The clips will cover the mission and activities of the winners, along with the services their organizations provide for the public.

Issue No. 4 of the Journal, Social Policy in Georgia Published

NGO – Mass Media Meeting at Horizonti

The business meeting between non-governmental organizations and the mass media was held in “Horizonti” office on October 30, which was supported by American PR section and initiated by “Horizonti” Foundation. The topic of the meeting was “Ageing – The Forgotten Topic in Georgian Development Programs”. Some 20 NGOs, 10 journalists and TV Imedi participated in the meeting.

The NGOs, studying problems of the elderly submitted to the journalists the information so far not disclosed to the public on such painful issues as actual social status of the elderly in Georgia and the state social policy designed in regard to them. The journalists also learnt about the Madrid Assembly (II World Assembly) dedicated to the problems of the elderly and about the international action plan, designed to solve the above problems.

TV Imedi will prepare plots on two NGOs (Georgian Caritas and Samani Association) that actually take care of elderly and improve their social conditions through the financial support from international organizations.

Publications

Horizonti Foundation presents the 2nd issue of a quarterly journal "Social Policy in Georgia." SPG journal is published by the Horizonti Foundation with financial support of Mercy Corps and CARE International in the framework of Georgia Community Mobilization Initiative (GCMI), a USAID-funded program.

Electronic version of the publication in English, Georgian and Russian can be downloaded from the website of the Horizonti Foundation at: http://www.horizonti.org/00_Oll/06_2_Magazines.html

or from the Reports/Statistics section of the AG website at: http://www.assistancegeorgia.org.ge/common/categories/statistics.html#Multi

WINNERS OF THE COMPETITION OF COALITION PROJECTS

On January 17, 2003 Horizonti’s Grants Committee selected the following two projects out of 27 for financing in the framework of the Georgian NGO Coalition Grants Program:

1. Coalition for Improvement of the Economic Condition of the Kakheti Population; the project is intended to support sustainable use of bio-resources of the Kakheti Region.

The coalition includes the following NGOs: Caucasus Scientific-Research Center for Animal Behavior, Georgian Open Humanitarian Institute for Health, Economy and Insurance, Ghalghi, the Union for Eco-Genetic Security, “People of Sighnaghi” CBO, Alvani-2000 CBO, The Center for Analytical Development, and Social and Environmental Expertise.

The Ministries of Environment and of Rural Economy, along with Alvani administration and “Dali Mountain” Ltd. are the project participants.

Project budget: the equivalent of $25,000.

2. Monitoring of Health Programs and the Increase of Access to the Medical Aid in Georgia; The project is intended for increasing the volume of medical aid to the population of Georgia through intensifying of implementing State Health Programs.

The coalition includes the following NGOs: the Union for Protection of Rights of Medical Doctors and Patients, the Association of Medical Students, the Network for Protection of the Constitution, Business Consortium Association, “The Paradigm of a Healthy State”, the Association for Public Health.

The Ministry of Labor, Health and Welfare along with the Committee of Health and Social Issues at the Parliament of Georgia participate in the project.

Project budget: the equivalent of $24, 299. 94.

HORIZONTI RAFFLE WINNER

On January 23, 2003 the Horizonti Foundation for the eighth time raffled the opportunity for a free service offering to produce video clips for service-oriented NGOs in Georgia.

Some 18 Georgian NGOs participated in the raffle. A winner organization is the NGO House of Imereti Region. The free clip is produced by the Horizonti Video Studio and covers the organization’s activities.

The next raffle will be announced by NGO News bulletin.

PROMOTION OF CITIZENS’ RIGHTS AND PARTICIPATION IN DECISION-MAKING PROCESS

The live TV programs, dedicated to the citizens’ rights to receive information on ongoing government policy and to participate in the decision-making process, are being broadcast through Akhaltsikhe and Telavi TV stations. Qualified lawyers, along with the journalists, host the TV programs. Local citizens participate in these programs through direct telephone calls voicing their concerns and sharing their opinions.

Along with coverage of the citizens’ rights, the lawyers and journalists are hosting the live TV programs, which highlights the importance of the citizen participation, transparency of the local governing bodies and budgeting processes and showing better ways for citizens to take the initiative in solving community problems. Problems can then be solved in cooperation with local government and the business sector.

In addition to the live TV programs, the lawyers provide local citizens with free legal advice at the Horizonti’s regional offices in Telavi and Akhaltsikhe.

These broadcasts and consultations, started in December 2002, are a part of a project “Active Society and Media: Dialog with the Government”, being implemented by the Horizonti Foundation since September 2002 with financial support of National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

RAFFLE AT HORIZONTI (17.01.2003)

On January 23, 2003, the Horizonti Foundation will raffle the opportunity to win the production of a free video clip to a service-oriented NGO in Georgia. The video studio at Horizonti will produce the clip for the winning organization completely free of charge. The clip will cover the mission and activities of the winner, along with the services the organization provides for the public.

The raffle will take place at 15:30 at the Horizonti Tbilisi office at the following address: 2 Dolidze St, 6th floor, tel.: 334287, 330893. Application forms are available from the Horizonti receptionist and on-line at www.horizonti.org (click “Lottery” in the upper menu).

The video clips produced by the Horizonti Video Studio for the winners of the previous raffle will be shown during the event.

Training for NGO-Media Collaboration (02.12.02)

During November 7- 15, 2002 in three cities of Georgia Telavi, Zugdidi and Ozurgeti the Journalists associated to the Horizonti Foundation Regional Trainers’ Network conducted trainings on NGO and Media effective cooperation issues. About 18 participants attended training in each town. Following topics were covered: planning media campaign, writing effective press releases, handling press conference and interviews, organizing effective presentations, crisis management etc. Tools for creating successful Media-NGO relations were also provided for supporting both journalists and NGO representatives to work together and understand the importance of their collaboration in building a healthy and democratic civil society.

ACTIVE COMMUNITY AND MEDIA - DIALOGUE WITH GOVERNMENT (25.11.02)

Since September 2002 with the support of National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the Horizonti Foundation has been conducting a project "Active Community and Media - Dialogue with Government" in Telavi and Akhaltsikhe. The preparation of six TV broadcasts is intended within the project framework.

The project gives opportunity to the local population to express its attitude towards acute problems facing the region and to be actively involved in dialog with local government.

On November 4 the first TV program was broadcast through Lomsia, the Akhaltsikhe independent TV company. Valiko Baliashvili, Head of Akhaltsikhe Coulcil, Tamaz Petriashvili, Head of
Akhaltsikhe administration, and Revaz Zedginidze, Cooridnator of Horizonti's
Akhaltsikhe office participated in the live broadcast.

Resulting from frequent telephone interruptions the operators delivered the questions of the population in a written form. The water supply of the Borjomi-Kharagauli national park territory and the bad condition of roads were among the main topics of the program.

In Telavi, the first live TV program in the framework of the project was broadcast on November 12. Vasil Davitashvili, the Administrator of the Telavi district, Goderdzi Mamukelashvili, the Deputy Administrator, and Teah Makhatelashvili, the Horizonti representative, participated in the live TV program. The population's telephone inquiries concerned the non-payment of salaries and pensions, as well as energy crises and sanitation problems. Some of the citizens expressed their suspicion about the misuse of some 600 thousand GEL allocated by the World Bank for repairing the water supply system in Telavi.