To mark theInternational Youth Day on the 12thof August, the amateur version of the intellectual game “What? Where? When?” is taking place in Europe House in Tbilisi (address: # 2/1 Sh. Dadiani St.). The Award Ceremony, with participation of representatives from thegovernmentand Youth NGOs, will be heldat 15:45.

Youth NGOs and initiative groups, active in youth-related issues includinghealthcare, social protection, education, employment,development, andcivic engagement will participate in the intellectual game. The winner teams will be awarded gifts and certificates by UNFPA Georgia Country Office.

The aim of the International Youth Day is to encourage young people plan and implement activities for increased public awareness on youth agenda. This year, this day is commemorated under the theme “Youth Civic Engagement,”to celebratethe actions that young people take around the world to improve their well-being and that of their communities and underline the importance of youth civic activism for sustainable development.

UNFPA is the lead UN Agency that advances the rights and opportunities of young people. UNFPA’s efforts to promote youth leadership and participation enable young people to develop the skills, knowledge and support needed to make informed decisions about their bodies, lives, families, communities, countries and the world.

UNFPA has been supporting the government in development of the National Youth Policy and the Action Plan in Georgia, which aims at establishing the enabling environment for comprehensive development of Youth to fully realise their potential.

Lela Bakradze,AssistantRepresentative at UNFPA Georgia Country Office: “Young people are driving change towards a better future in the world. Unfortunately, there still exist barriers precluding their full development and participation. Even today, adolescent girls are often burdened by child marriage, sexual violence and unplanned pregnancies, preventing their development and full participation.It is impossible to achieve country’s sustainable development without investing in power of youth, their education and health, and enhanced civic engagement, as well aswithout creating equal opportunities for all adolescents and young people for development of their full potential. This can be only achieved by multi-sectoral approach in partnership with young people”.

The event is organized with the support of UNFPA Georgia Country Office by the Youth Initiative Group established within the Advocacy Campaign “Youth Voice”, The campaign is a regional initiative taking place in the countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia region, which aims to ensure a broad consultation and coordination with the young people in the region and their full participation in the ongoing discussion around the post-2015 development framework.