State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Tea Akhvlediani attended the award ceremony for the winners of the school competition “When I Return to Abkhazia” and addressed the audience, the Ministry reported.

In her speech, Akhvlediani highlighted the importance of the competition initiative, which is linked to the commemoration day of Simon the Canaanite and once again showcases the centuries-old cultural, human, and Christian ties between Georgians and Abkhazians.

According to the minister, building trust and peace, promoting reconciliation, and ensuring development are the only viable path toward shared prosperity and a better future within a strong Georgian state. She noted that these goals are at the core of the Georgian government’s policy of reconciliation and engagement.

Akhvlediani also emphasized that the works and ideas presented by the students are imbued with values that foster peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding, while strengthening the belief that the younger generation, through its energy, ideas, and capabilities, can play an important role in peacebuilding processes.

“It is important and welcome that the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth has initiated this school competition, which fully aligns with the objectives of the state reconciliation policy. Raising young people’s awareness and strengthening their role and engagement in peacebuilding are among the most important dimensions of our work. Within the framework of today’s competition, young people who have never lived in Abkhazia presented ideas filled with values and emotions based on faith in our shared future and the path of peace and trust-building,” Akhvlediani said.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth. Nearly 2,500 students from around 400 public and private schools participated in the competition, submitting 1,270 projects in various formats, including essays, video clips, interviews, drawings, concepts, and other creative works.

At the end of the event, the winners were awarded gift cards for computer equipment and accessories.