Multipurpose Community Centre (MPC) opens in Bukistsikhe 

On 15 June, Bukistsikhe hosted the official opening of the Multipurpose Community Centre (MPC). The event was attended by the local authorities, the representatives of the Swiss Cooperation Office for the South Caucasus/Embassy of Switzerland in Georgia, UN organizations, as well as by the local populationcommunity. Giorgi Urushadze, State Representative in Guria Region, Dato Sharashidze, Mayor of Chokhatauri Municipality, Danielle Meuwly, Regional Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office for the South Caucasus, Embassy of Switzerland in Georgia, Sabine Machl, UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia, Sanja Celebic Lukovac, Chief of IOM Mission in Georgia and George Nanobashvili, National Programme Officer at UN Development Programme (UNDP) made opening remarks at the launching event.

“We are looking forward that this renovated building for a shared space, with the primary healthcare unit, adult education classes, sports’ room for youth, transformable into a small cinema or the office space for the community leaders, will promote social relationships and cohesion within the community and encourage local development potential,” stated Giorgi Urushadze, State Representative in Guria Region.

The Multipurpose Community Centre was established in the Bukistsikhe community which is characterized by active migration processes – 14 percent% of families have one or two family members in emigration or returned from migration. The centere aims to promote social relationships and cohesion of returned migrants and non-migrant members of the local community and to also encourage them afore-mentioned to become development actors for their community’s wellbeing.

“Through its projects, the SDC encourages local communities to come up with initiative which best reflect local needs. Hence, we are delighted to support the establishment of the community centre that comes from the community itself,” said Danielle Meuwly. “We are convinced that that the ownership of the space will be gradually increased with the support of our partner UN agencies and that the space and concept of community centre will remain alive, so that each and every room here will serve evolving needs and interests of local community,” Ms. Meuwly added. 

“Structured environment is an important prerequisite for promoting community mobilization. Engaging women and men to identify community needs and to think of solutions in such a way as to promote positive change is essential. I encourage local community members to be active in problem solution processes and in the elaboration of local development plans and programmes”, said Sabine Machl, UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia.

“The community centre aims to serve as a focal point for the Bukistsikhe community for advancing the local development and revitalization agenda, with a hope of contributing to the sustainability of returns, and decreasing pressure from emigration decisions,” stated Sanja Celebic Lukovac, Chief of IOM Mission in Georgia, “and for that, there are some plans that IOM and its partners have, that considers series of targeted training courses, cultural events, information sessions for women and youth, members of the community with or without migration experience, for furthering the community development agenda.”

Multipurpose Community Centre (MPC) was established in Bukistsikhe in cooperation between the UNDP and IOM with the financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) within the in the frames of the UNDP project “Fostering Regional and Local Development in Georgia Phase 2 (FRLD2) and IOM project “Sustainable Reintegration and Community Revitalization Pilot Initiative in Communities of Return”. The project latter aims to contributes to the efforts of the Government of Georgia to support sustainable reintegration of returning migrants and community revitalization, encouraging migrants and communities to become development actors. Through aThe active cooperation withis thought with the local municipalities and other local development actors itto promotes participatory approach in reintegration of returned migrants and development of the communities of return.

Current population of Bukistsikhe counts about 550 persons , with 53 percent% women and, 47 percent% - men.  The share of the population over the age of 60 is 31 percent%, which is quite high and indicates that the population of Bukistsikhe community is demographically aging. Forty nine percent of the population is of active working age (18-60 years), which has a positive impact on the level of economic activity of the population.