Georgia launches new campaign to promote literacy in regions

The Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection has launched the Live Books campaign to promote the reading of books and literature in Georgia’s regions.

The campaign was presented at the Ministry today – the same day as Georgia celebrates Mother Language Day.

Within the campaign more than 70 modern writers will visit Georgia’s regions and meet with local communities in schools, libraries and other places where public gatherings are possible.

Today, the first group of five writers hosted meetings with locals in six places in the Kartli region; these were Nikozi, Gori, Khashuri, Borjomi, Kareli and Kaspi.

The project will be implemented in four phases and during this year, 75 Georgian modern writers will take part in the project, said the Ministry.

After visiting the Georgia’s regions and talking to locals, each participant writer will make notes and write down their impressions in a diary. At the end of the project, a book titled Writer’s Diary will be published, said a representative of the Ministry of Culture.

"[Georgia’s] publishing sector will be actively involved in the project. They will manage local book fairs and writers will sell books. They will promote their books, as well as books of their colleagues,” representative of the Ministry of Culture said.

Within the campaign poetry readings and discussions with local audiences will be held. People will have a chance to meet their favourite author and ask questions about creative issues. Furthermore, writers will meet with honoured guests and elderly persons in Georgia’s regions. They also will visit people with disabilities, military units, and penitentiary institutions based in Georgian regions, said the Ministry.

Meetings will also take place with ethnic minorities living in Georgia.