Volunteers in Protected Areas

On July 10, 2010, the project, Volunteers in the Protected Areas of Georgia, was launched. The project is based on the memorandum signed between the Free and Agrarian Universities in collaboration with the Agency of Protected Areas. 540 student volunteers will be working with six different administrative units of the Agency. The project is supported by USAID. USAID will also be responsible for training the student volunteers in the fields of biodiversity and other subjects related to the protection of nature.

The project aims to promote volunteerism among Georgia’s youth and to raise awareness among the general public about the importance of protecting nature.

During the project’s launch, students will acquaint themselves with current activities being implemented in the protected territories of national parks. They will participate in ongoing tourist infrastructure rehabilitation works, deal with administrative tasks and environmental cleanup duties, work to protect biodiversity, and participate in scientific research. Students will also assist local guesthouses in nearby areas with tourist services and contribute to the rehabilitation of a drinking water supply system. In this way, students will acquire both practical theoretical skills related to the protection of nature and conservation of biodiversity.