Georgian volunteer sent by Local Democracy Agency Georgia to France completed the European Voluntary Service (EVS) and returned to Georgia.

Magda Purtskhvanidze left Georgia in September 2017. For 12 months, she participated with representatives of ten European countries as a volunteer in the project "Ambassadors of European Values," which was organized by the non-governmental organization MEBA-Europe House.

The main objective of this project is to raise awareness of European values of French students, adolescents, and adults through informal education. Volunteers conducted trainings, seminars, held cultural evenings, participated in public conferences; prepared radio broadcast sand actively cooperated with the local press.

As part of the project, volunteers conducted many cultural events to bring Georgian culture and traditions to a wider audience. Among the largest events was the Georgian evening. At this event, reporters were introduced Georgian culture, unique alphabet, and other traditions, including Georgian wine-making and the long history and importance of wine to Georgian culture. Guests were able to taste Georgian dishes and several varieties of wine.

Magda said that this project was a unique opportunity to live in a multicultural environment, learn more about European culture, and dive more deeply into European values, to work with different audiences, and to prepare and deliver interesting presentations about Georgia and the EU.

"It was one year of discovery and adventure. This project taught me how can I live and work with different people. It was an opportunity to improve a few foreign languages, to learn European values, and to discover myself from a different angle. I am sure this experience of volunteering will help me to be more competitive in the future to solve easily professional and private Challenges"- says Magda.

During the project, volunteers were provided with housing, and the costs were covered for transport, food and pocket money.