PM hails inaugural Army Camp as promoter of “healthy lifestyle”, “correct values” in youth

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday said the inaugural edition of Army Camp, a project at the Academy of Sergeants in Kojori near Tbilisi, would encourage “healthy lifestyle and correct values” in the country’s youth, in comments at the opening of the initiative that will host 800 schoolchildren through August. 

The PM claimed the project, which is implemented by the country’s Education and Defence ministries, would raise the young generation’s awareness of the armed forces and service, "encourage patriotism” in new generations. 

Army Camp will promote healthy, correct values in our youth. They need to set the right orientation from the beginning”, Garibashvili said, adding the ongoing globalisation had offered a "number of temptations” to young people. 

Pointing to the “high interest” in the Camp, which he said would offer practical training and meetings with “heroic servicemembers” to hear their stories and experiences, the head of the Government added each rotation would include 100 schoolchildren. 

• Defence Minister highlights Gov’t aim to promote “patriotic spirit” among youth

Highlighting the importance of promotion of “correct, family-based values” starting in kindergartens and schools, the PM pledged the project would be expanded and cover “as many schools as possible across the country”. 

He also said the country’s new defence code, which he said would be approved by the Parliament in the coming days, would offer “favourable and flexible” conditions for the country’s youth to attract them to military service.