Gender Equality in School Sport and Physical Activity

On December 15, the summary event of the UNESCO-funded project "Gender Equality in Sport and Physical Activity" was held at the Betsy's Hotel.

The program was implemented in 2017 by the association "Healthy Generation", a member of the "National Federation of Children and School Sport", with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia and the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs of Georgia. The project was developed with funding from the Georgian National Commission for UNESCO.

The development of the project was based on the data of a study conducted in schools in 2015 with UNESCO funding. The study revealed that there is a very low rate of participation of girls in sports and physical activity in Georgia, and educators experience a deficit of modern information regarding the importance and needs of physical activity for girls.

The project serves to promote one of the priority directions of the Government of Georgia – a healthy lifestyle, to facilitate the equal participation of girls and boys in physical education and sports classes in schools, and to increase their involvement in physical activity and mass sports. According to World Health Organization recommendations, this is an important prerequisite for the development of the adolescent generation, the formation of behavior and a sense of independence, and the prevention of a number of dangerous diseases for girls.

The program was implemented in Tbilisi and 4 regions of Georgia (Imereti, Kakheti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Kvemo Kartli), including the cities populated by ethnic minorities – Akhaltsikhe and Marneuli.

Also, within the framework of the program, information and educational materials were developed: a guide – "Gender Equality in School Sport and Physical Activity" – for educators and coaches; an information booklet for parents; an educational poster and banner for students; and trainings were conducted for educators and coaches (130 specialists underwent training).

In addition, an educational competition was held for students, within the framework of which the jury selected the 5 best works and identified the winning schools in various nominations: Tbilisi Public School No. 82, Tbilisi Public School No. 64, School-Lyceum "Mzignobartukhutsesi", the village of Karajala Public School, and Kutaisi Public School No. 45.

At the concluding event, presentations by the winning contestants were delivered, and the students and teachers were awarded.

The event was attended by representatives of the Parliament of Georgia, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Sport of Georgia, the Georgian National Olympic Committee, Tbilisi Municipality, sports federations, and schools.