"We are giving to the young people from the ethnic minority the opportunity to develop their skills, to reveal their knowledge and most importantly, to take the first step to employment, to be involved in the various spheres of life and be successful in their professional career", - such statement the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili made during the presentation of the internship program for the students – participants of the Georgian language training program "1 + 4".

The Office of the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality is implementing the project for ethnic minority representatives together with UN Association of Georgia and National Bureau of Public Service. Its goal is to encourage youth employment, promote their engagement and civic integration.

The project was implemented last year by the initiative of the State Minister Ketevan Tsikhelashvili. Young people, who participated in the "1 + 4 program" receives the opportunity for internship in the state agencies - both at the level of central and local self-governments.

"1 + 4 Educational Program" envisages the passing of general skills examination in Abkhazian, Ossetian, Armenian and Azeri languages and obtaining higher education. Young people are studying in Georgian language training course for a year, after which they continue to study at the desired faculty.

The 1+4 program began in 2010 and allows Abkhazian, Ossetian, Armenian and Azerbaijani youth to pass aptitude tests in their native language, take a one-year intensive course in Georgian and later pursue the subject of their choice in Georgian state universities.

The event was attended by the participants of the internship pilot program and the representatives of ethnic minorities from different universities.

The State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Georgia Lia Gigauri, Head of the Civil Service Bureau of Georgia Ekaterine Kardava, Head of the Social Development Agency of USAID Tamar Sirbiladze and Lasha Jugheli, Head of the PITA Program of the United Nations Association of Georgia. 

"The state has implemented a special program for young people from the ethnic minorities. They will be able to get internships in various public institutions - both central and local level as well as their sub-queues.

"This program was approved by the Government of Georgia in December 2017. The pilot project, together with our partners and donors, has already been implemented last year. It was successful and 65 young people - "1 + 4 Program" graduates and students of the graduate courses passed internships in twenty different public agencies.

"Taking into consideration this successful experience, the state institutionalized this program and today we have already announced the competition for all interested people who are involved in "1 + 4 Program ". They will have much wider opportunity to get more job vacancies in more public agencies", - said Ketevan Tsikhelashvili. 

Representatives of ethnic minorities will be able to engage in the internship process based on the competition. Interested persons should submit the application form to the web-site of the Office of the State Minister of Georgia on March 31, reconciliation and civil equality.

Representatives of ethnic minorities will be able to engage in the internship process based on the competition. Interested persons should submit the application form to the web-site of the Office of the State Minister of Georgia on March 31.

The specially created commission provides the selection of trainees with established criteria for evaluation. Successful applicants will be trained from 1 to 6 months in state agencies, local self-government bodies and legal entities of public law. Reception will be announced twice a year.