In response to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, 150 youth volunteers from 63 municipalities of Georgia participated in the project, “Involvement of Adolescent Volunteers in Responding to COVID-19 Challenges in Georgia”, a 6-month public health campaign supported by the US for International Development (USAID) and UNICEF, in partnership with Helping Hand.

Volunteers participated in health education sessions led by epidemiologists from the National Center for Disease Control, psychologists, and other experts in public health. Young people who completed the sessions were given the opportunity to obtain small grants to implement hyper-local projects targeted for their communities in all municipalities of Georgia.

At the closing event, young people organized a panel discussion where teens shared their experiences and impressions with each other, guests from local municipalities, and representatives from USAID and UNICEF. Volunteers and hygiene clubs from across the program also received awards in various categories.