New community centre opens in rural Georgia

A new community centre is about to change the lives of people living in a remote village in eastern Georgia.

Georgia’s Minister of Justice Thea Tsulukiani opened a new library and community centre in Nukriani village, eastern Georgia today.

The new facility will give residents the opportunity to access a variety of public and private sector services, such as banking and mobile operators. The space was also a place where locals could complete official documentation, as it was a public site connected to the Ministry of Justice.

At the Centre locals can receive a variety of public and private sector services. Photo by Justice Ministry.

However many are praising the main advantage of the new community centre for its free internet access – a useful tool for people who cannot afford internet.

The same type of facility has already opened in a number of Georgian villages.

Handmade craft corner at the Centre. Photo by Justice Ministry. 

In October last year Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili opened a community centre in the Pankisi Gorge, a valley in northeastern Georgia that borders the Chechnyan republic of the Russian Federation.

The centre was a place where locals could access more than 200 most in-demand state services, key private sector services, free internet, a library and a conference room.

To date, 19 such centres were operating in Georgia and renovation of 15 more are planned to be complete by the end of this year.

The community centres development initiative which is a part of the EU funded project: "Introduction of e-Governance in Local Governments” is being implemented by the Public Service Development Agency of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, whereas another similar initiative of the agency – "Public Libraries for Local Development” envisaging development of local libraries at the village level by introducing the concept of community centers, is funded by International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) within the Beyond Access Program.