Twenty-nine high school students from various regions of Georgia have recently concluded the Democracy and Justice Summer School, organized by the USAID Rule of Law Program (“Program”) on August 5-8, 2024.

The youth were selected through a competitive process, chosen from a pool of 114 applicants, to deepen their understanding of the rule of law, democracy, and human rights. The program also provided them with opportunities to explore innovative approaches to justice while engaging with young legal professionals and experts in the field.

Giorgi Chkheidze, the USAID Rule of Law Program Chief of Party welcomed participants by emphasizing the program's first effort to promote legal awareness among high school students. He noted that this initiative would support participants to develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of people-centered and innovative justice, particularly concerning individual rights within legal processes.

Mariam Gobronidze, the Program's Community Engagement Specialist, introduced key legal concepts, including Georgia’s legal system, democratic processes, and the separation of powers. She later focused on fair trials and the judiciary's role in social welfare, discussing barriers to justice such as low legal awareness, accessibility issues, and financial, cultural, and social challenges. Tim Bunjevac, the Program's Community Engagement Advisor, shared global examples of people-centered justice and recent court system innovations. Judge Levan Darbaidze (Gori City Court judge) explored the role of judges in protecting human rights and ensuring democracy in Georgia, using the film 12 Angry Men as a case study of the jury trial system. Natia Ghvinjilia, the Program's Civil Society and Grants Specialist, presented on EU integration, covering the EU’s history, benefits, challenges, and Georgia’s progress toward membership.

Alumni from the October 2023 Innovative Justice School (held in partnership with Tbilisi State University) — including Lazare Bokhochadze, Mariam Mikeladze, Luka Barliani, Medea Tugulashvili, Nikoloz Kobakhidze, and Lika Garsevnishvili—discussed human rights fundamentals, the importance of democratic participation and civic engagement.

Lazare Bokhochadze remarked, "This summer school was a significant opportunity for me to enhance my ability to share knowledge through direct interaction with high school students. This experience will also help participants develop the capacity to accurately assess contemporary issues and align themselves more closely with the values of human rights protection, which form the foundation of a democratic society."

Mariam Mikeladze also shared her thoughts, stating, "Participating in this school as a speaker was an entirely different experience. It carried a significant responsibility, especially working with youth who are keen to expand their knowledge. The event, importantly, utilized several youth-friendly report formats. As a result, the participants received relevant knowledge and experience presented in an interesting and accessible manner. I believe this experience has piqued their interest in many vital legal and societal issues."