#MyRustaveli Spotlights Values We Should All Live By

The United Nations, together with the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia and Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia, this week introduced a students’ essay contest and gender equality campaign #MyRustaveli. The project is to celebrate Georgian immortal poet Shota Rustaveli’s 850th anniversary and draw public attention to the priceless and timeless values of equality and humanity.

“The work of Rustaveli is central to the history of Georgia, speaking about the values which existed in the 12th century just as much as values existent now in the 21st century; values of friendship, equality and fair treatment, and respect for all in society. The competition aims to enable and encourage young people to bring out these values and relate them to society now,” said Niels Scott, Head of the United Nations in Georgia.

“It is an amazing opportunity for students to once again go deeply into the work of Rustaveli and show us their view about the poem” said Tamar Sanikidze, Minister of Education and Science of Georgia. “Since 2016 is declared Rustaveli Year, we are going to present many other interesting events.”

Student essays should not exceed 3,000 words and should be submitted in an electronic form before the 10th of May, 2016. The contest will reveal three winners who will undertake a short-term paid apprenticeship at the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia, the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia, and the Gender Equality Project of the United Nations Development Programme in Georgia.

The contest is organized in the framework of the UN Joint Programme for Gender Equality in Georgia and funded by the Government of Sweden.

Meri Taliashvili