A Group of People with Disabilities Start a Business in Keda
The Keda Municipality is an integral part of beautiful Adjara and is located in the middle of the Adjaristskali river basin. The municipality was often overlooked for its economic potential and breath-taking nature, but back in 2017, with the support of the EU ENPARD programme, CENN established a Local Action Group in Keda Municipality and funded over 70 different projects in various fields such as agriculture, tourism, culture, and education among others. Over time, Georgia Today will be sharing with you the stories of the local businesses and will recommend places to visit and stay for quality wine, eco-tours, or cultural and musical experiences.
”Chven Shegvidzlia” (we can) is an initiative group made up of people with disabilities who possess a variety of professional skills. Headed by an active and influential trio made up of Merab Partenadze, Batu Nakashidze, and Maro Turmanidze, Chven Shegvidzlia offers various services to locals and tourists: photography, thermopressing, polygraph services, and handmade souvenirs.
The group won an EU ENPARD grant and has set up a mobile thermopressing laboratory that allows tourists to print their photos on different collectible items. They also give tourists the opportunity to have their photos taken at various locations. They offer polygraphy services and are currently setting up a local shop for handmade souvenirs and presents. 
“We, the members of the initiative group, have known each other for a long time, so we were well aware of everyone’s talents and abilities. For example, one of the team members, Maro, has followed the hobby of handcrafting since early childhood, and with this project, she now has the opportunity to popularize her handmade crafts. A member of our second group, Batu, is a professional photographer who will be offering professional photo-service to tourists and locals. As we united into a team, we heard about “Keda Leader” and decided to present our project to them and we ended up getting the grant,” says Merab Partenadze.
The group was awarded 31,500 GEL for the project and employed 5 people as a result.