Bachana Basilaia, a participant of the Civic Leadership Program from 2018, lives in Khoni IDP settlement. He is a member of the local initiative group that has been helping the community solve local problems since 2009. Bachana says inconsistent water provision had been the most pressing issue for local residents, a problem that was resolved with the help of Danish Refugee Council and now the IDP settlement enjoys full access to water 24/7.
While developing a project proposal Bachana used what he came to learn under the Civic Leadership Program. “now developing goals and objectives in a right way seems so much easier”, says Bachana who believes that his participation in the Program will help him address some of the settlement’s pressing needs in the future as well. “These trainings have provided me with a sense of direction, greater opportunities and motivation”, says Bachana.
As of today, thanks to the initiative group and NGOs, the settlement with 600 households have no longer to worry about infrastructure which is fully functional. Economic empowerment is now the main challenge: “with the help of the initiative group our basic conditions are normal. However, now employment is the top priority as there are many vulnerable families who scrape by living in the settlement”, says Tuta, one of the settlement’s resident. Bachana remains hopeful that they can join battles to overcome this challenge. He is certain the knowledge that Civic Leadership Program gave him will come handy in this endeavor as well.