In July 2025, interregional hybrid meetings were held in Tbilisi and Yerevan, bringing together civil society organisations and individual activists to exchange best practices and develop close connections. Through workshops and participatory activities, civic actors not only expand their networks but also develop the skills and confidence needed for long-term engagement.

A key part of the project was storytelling. We documented personal narratives of youth civic actors from Armenia and Georgia through short films, amplifying voices that often go unheard.

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Elias Bechiri, a cultural house campaigner in Stockholm, fights to keep Rågsved neighbourhood’s cultural house alive - a creative space where young people can make music, art and theater, instead of turning to destructive paths. Despite financial struggles, his story shows how community spaces empower neighborhoods, nurture identity, and give every kid a chance to grow artistically. 

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Mariam Sajaya, a former lawyer turned eco-innovator, founded Aramaro, Georgia’s first permaculture and natural building education space. Living off-grid, she created a model homestead that sustains people while regenerating the environment, inspiring a growing community—especially young women—to embrace eco-mindful living. Her mission is to prove that cooperation between humans and nature is not only possible but deeply rewarding.
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Katy Mulashvili, co-founder of Knowledge Café in Georgia’s smallest eastern town, transformed an empty building into a vibrant social enterprise with a library, tech room, bookshop, and café. Funded by a historic grassroots campaign, it brings youth and elders together to learn, connect, and embrace civic engagement, sparking cultural and personal change in the community.

Esma Goombissi, a blind lawyer and disability rights activist in Georgia, conducts nationwide trainings for students, professionals, and officials on inclusion and accessibility. From pushing for audible traffic signals to mentoring youth, she works to dismantle barriers and envision a future where disabled people can live, work, and thrive without constantly having to advocate for their rights.

Andranik Shirinyan has been fighting for justice and equality since his adolescence. From the struggle against the increase in transport prices to the documentation of the displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh, his path is a reminder that civic activism is not just a street fight, it's also about gathering stories, making people's voices heard, and documenting memories for the future.

Lianna Petrosyan, is a displaced public figure from Artsakh, who has devoted her work to protecting the rights of compatriots and making their voices heard, becoming a link between displaced persons and state institutions.

Tatevik Aghabekyan is the director of the "Sexual Violence Crisis Center" NGO, which has been fighting against the reality that is often kept silent for more than fifteen years. She runs the only specialized institution in Armenia, which provides comprehensive support to victims of sexual abuse. Tatevik believes that preventing sexual violence is possible through talking, raising voice, raising awareness and changing the attitude of society.

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The CAT-EaP project sparked new connections and inspiration among young civic actors and organisations across Armenia, Georgia, and Sweden. Through creative storytelling and hands-on collaboration, participants shared their struggles and successes, learning how small local actions can shape stronger, more connected communities. 

The short documentary films captured powerful personal stories that can continue to inspire others and are now used by participants in their own advocacy and outreach.  

The hybrid gatherings in Yerevan and Tbilisi, which brought together around 60 youth activists to exchange ideas, build trust, and co-create future initiatives, were very warmly and emotionally received by all participants and each organisation. It has immediately inspired new collaborations beginning, and the integration of independent activists into broader networks of local and international youth action. 

Movies were also screened during a New European Bauhaus festival in Stockholm, and are living online. 

What began as a pilot for storytelling and civic exchange has grown into a model for future collaboration, already leading to new partnerships, follow-up projects, and an Erasmus+ Mobility for Youth Workers grant for 2026.

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