Pro Bono support to community activists

Pro Bono Company - Tegeta Holding

Beneficiary - "Lomek"

26-10-2023/15-11-2023

In October and November, a large-scale pro bono mediation project was implemented, which united six business companies and six civil activists. The mediation process involved the preparation of nominees for the "Best Community Initiative" contest. The competition is part of the annual event, "Community Leaders Forum", which has been managed by the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia since 2015 (see more here)

Civil activists presented their initiatives to the audience. The representatives of the member companies of the Pro Bono Network helped to distinguish interesting accents and present the presentations in an original way.

Six companies were involved pro bono in the mediation process: Bank of Georgia, TBC Bank, Credo Bank, APM Terminal, Micro Finance Organization Embis and Tegeta Holding.

Brief information and about the project: After the cancellation of the moratorium on the purchase and registration of land in Truso valley in 2020, uncontrolled exploitation of the valley began, which caused damage to natural and cultural heritage monuments.

Most of the monuments here do not have the status of cultural heritage monuments, therefore the mechanisms of their protection are weak, especially in the background when even the existing status of some of them cannot protect the monuments from destruction.

To this day, the toponyms of the valley are found in the wrong form on the official maps, which is a remnant of the Russian imperial policy, even during the 30-year history of our statehood, nothing has changed in this regard. In addition, the Law of Georgia "On the Creation and Management of the Protected Landscape of Trusso" came into effect on January 1, 2021, although there were a number of violations of the law.

"Lomek" organization, together with active citizens and experts, of the valley. Works to preserve historical heritage and landscape. Lomek conducted a number of research and monitoring of monuments in the valley

The expedition revealed the increasing cases of damage to the monuments, including the discovery of missing ritual items from the church (Mani Valley).

In the same period, the group founded the ethno festival Thruso, the purpose of which is the valley. Restoration and promotion of monuments. A bilingual guide was also prepared, where Important cultural and natural monuments of the valley are included.

Currently, the group is working on the project "Involving the local population in advocating the policy for the development of the protected landscape and cultural heritage of Truso Valley", which involves participation in the refinement of legislative mechanisms; Complete inventory of cultural heritage monuments (most monuments do not have status) and implementation of rehabilitation projects of cultural heritage monuments.

The organization became the chosen one of Lomek hall with the project "Preservation of cultural heritage monuments of Truso valley".