The information campaign “Change the Scenario – Play Your Role” events were organised in Gori and Borjomi to promote citizens’ engagement in local decision-making in the municipalities.  Local population had a chance to participate in the forum theatre, which encouraged them to be involved in the performance to stop and change the course of the performance and ultimately change the scenario via active participation. The engagement in the forum theatre helped the citizens to realise how real-life participation and active citizenship can make a difference.

Besides, the local population had a chance to be involved in the discussions on civil participation with representatives of municipalities and civil society.

“Participation of each citizen is a key to shape our community the way we want to see it” mentioned Oto Gvritishviili - civil activist and co-founder of Gori Photographers Club and brought real life example how Gori Photographers Club transformed the building used as landfill into a creative educational space.

“Success of community projects has always been determined by the cooperation between the citizens, local self-government and the media. All three parties finding common interests and cooperating for common good can bring tangible and successful results for everyone” – said Marina Kupatadze, Director of Samtskhe-Javakheti Media Center, one of the speakers in her opening speech in Borjomi.

In addition to the forum theatre and panel discussions, the participants learned about the Council of Europe innovative Uchange game, a methodology for citizens to learn about entry points into the political decision making.

Within the campaign, during 2023 visits have been planned in 15 pilot municipalities. Forum theatre was already held in Tbilisi, Oni, Ambrolauri, Gori, and Borjomi. The campaign will continue in Akhmeta, Telavi, Marneuli, Bolnisi, Chokhatauri, Ozurgeti, Tetritskaro, Zestaponi, Tskaltubo and Rustavi.

The events take place in the framework of the project “Strengthening Participatory Democracy and Human Rights at Local Level in Georgia”, and are organised by the Directorate General of Democracy and Human Dignity, Division of Elections and Participatory Democracy within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2020-2023 with the financial contribution of the Austrian Development Cooperation.