Challenges Facing Youth in Georgia’s Samtskhe-Javakheti

At the beginning of 2025, during heavy snowfalls in Guria, the lack of young people on the ground was striking. It underlines the tendency among parts of the Georgian youth to leave their region of origin after finishing school and move to the capital, Tbilisi, or to another country, in many cases in the European Union. This article aims to contribute to a better understanding of the various factors that influence the emigration of the young Georgian generation. Although not as drastic as in Guria, the situation for young people in Samtskhe-Javakheti is not so different from that of other rural regions. This is why, for this analysis, my choice fell on Samtskhe-Javakheti as an exemplary region due to its population’s ethnic diversity, the rural component, and my own access as a researcher due to previous experience working in the region. 

In a focus group interview, which I conducted for this article with three participants from Akhaltsikhe (19-22 years), a 19-year-old participant said: “It is more difficult to find reasons to stay than to move.” The following article touches upon some of the challenges facing youth in Samtskhe-Javakheti, like finding employment or the availability of mental health services as part of a well-functioning health infrastructure. Moreover, it discusses the political representation and participation of young people as a means for improvement and, finally, provides some insight into personal reasons for leaving the country. 

Leaving Samtskhe-Javakheti: Employment Issues 

The focus-group interview conducted for this article, and two publications (Akhalgazrdobis Saagento; ACT), offer valuable insights into the core challenges of young people in Samtskhe-Javakheti. Young people from the region reported huge challenges in finding good employment, with only 21% (ACT) stating that they were in employment. Generally, finding employment is considered even harder for youth from an ethnic minority. Differences within the region are striking: In Borjomi, every third young person was employed (33%), but in Adigeni, the number stood at only 15%. In ACT’s report,73% of youth in the region reported it was hard/very hard to find employment in their municipality. More concretely, this applies to 88% of Adigeni youth and 62% of youth from Borjomi. Smaller settlements in Samtskhe-Javakheti particularly struggle with employment on site. This can create the need for youth from villages to commute to larger towns, such as Akhaltsikhe, Akhalkalaki, or Borjomi, raising the issue of transportation. 

Economic hardship and instability were seen as drivers for leaving the country, alongside better education abroad. The struggle in finding employment and resulting financial hardship can not only lead to a negative impact on social activities, living, etc, but likely worsens the accessibility and affordability of mental health services. Simultaneously, adding to the severity of the issue, serious and untreated mental health problems can lead to unemployment and the inability to work.

Mental Health in Samtskhe-Javakheti

Globally, over one billion people live with a “mental or addictive disorder,” according to clinical criteria provided in the DSM and ICD Manuals.^[1] But the discussions around mental health and wellbeing also include impact on people’s lives beyond diagnostic criteria and psychological disorders. Moreover, there are countless risk factors challenging human psychological wellbeing and quality of living.  These include social and economic outcomes such as income insecurity, neighbourhood factors, environmental events, or the experience of discrimination, for example, due to religion, ethnicity, gender, age, or disability.  Moreover, the personal burden for those suffering from mental health issues and their families and friends abets any quantification. 

As a member of the United Nations, in 2015, Georgia adopted, together with all other UN member states, the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, which includes the goal to “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” Mental health and psychological wellbeing are indisputably a crucial part of a healthy life. Analysis of international organizations like the WHO found noticeable progress in the mental health sector in Georgia through the state’s reforms and strategic plans. However, according to civil society and study results, more serious efforts need to be taken to achieve an appropriate mental health care structure and tackle current problems,^[2] especially concerning services for vulnerable groups, such as rural youth.  

In an interview^[3] I conducted in May 2025, a practising local psychologist from Akhaltsikhe underlined the general lack of professional psychologists^[4] in Samtskhe-Javakheti, with services in Akhaltsikhe and Borjomi being relatively good. However, overall, psychological services seem to be much rarer than in other Georgian regions. While the professional degrees, tasks, and allowances of psychologists and psychotherapists can vary between countries, psychotherapy as an intervention and health service usually refers to a kind of talk therapy, mostly conducted in a group or between the therapist and an individual. Local psychologists in the region often work with children with disabilities and seem to have less experience in conducting psychotherapy, in the sense of talk therapy or psychological counselling. Some individuals seeking psychological services in Samtskhe-Javakheti may also encounter a language barrier due to insufficient knowledge of the Georgian language. This can be the case for ethnic Armenian inhabitants of the region, who make up more than 50% of the population.^[5] In bigger cities in Georgia, psychotherapy sessions usually cost more than 60 GEL (~20 EUR) and can even exceed 100 GEL (~33 EUR). The situation in Samtskhe-Javakheti is different, and most clients pay around 40-50 GEL (~13-16 EUR), which is a lot compared to local wages and can easily turn into a financial struggle. Pupils in need of psychological support can usually also reach out to the mandatory school psychologists – if they are willing to risk the social stigma that traditionally comes with it.

In 2023, UNICEF published a study analysing the mental health of Georgian students (aged 18-24 years) from seven regional universities and their access to mental health services. Interestingly, they found that almost all (97%) of the students believed it is important for young people to have information about mental health, but only 4% remembered the name of any program or public service related to mental health. Based on the study, the image evolving is quite worrying. 24% of respondents reported that they had thought at least once in their life about suicide or wished never to wake up again. On a national level, 71% of those who had thought about or attempted to end their life did not consult a mental health specialist.

Moreover, according to the study results, the main barriers for reaching out to specialists seem to be a lack of information, high fees for psychological consultation, distrust in the qualification of specialists, and the concern that service providers will not guarantee the promised confidentiality. In a centralized country like Georgia, where most high-quality medical services are based in the capital, young people in regions like Samtskhe-Javakheti face the aforementioned barriers even more strongly. As the UNICEF study reasons, “compared to other universities, the level of information about services is low among the students of Samtskhe-Javakheti State University.” Although students in Samtskhe-Javakheti met quite the national average of knowledge about mental health, only 3% of studentsstated that they have comprehensive information about the topic, which is the lowest number out of all other regions. There is also an increased lack of high-quality specialists and fewer providers of information regarding mental health. When being asked about how they receive information about the topic, 139 of the 296 respondents mentioned that they have not talked to anyone about it. The others receive information through teachers/lecturers, parents, and friends/acquaintances. Seemingly, information provided by state structures, such as the Ministry of Health, does not reach them, and available online resources in Georgian do not necessarily provide reliable and sufficiently specific information.

Concerning the apparent distrust in the confidentiality of service providers, it is evident that this can likely influence the decision to ask for mental health services towards a stronger hesitation. Especially in the surroundings of a small town or village where “everyone knows everyone,” anonymity is hard to achieve, and existing stereotypes about psychological or psychiatric treatment can be even stronger and more negative. According to the UNICEF data, students in Samtskhe-Javakheti are more likely than the national average to “never talk to someone else about these sorts of feelings and experiences” (43%), with only students from Telavi and Gori scoring higher.

Out of all regional universities, Samtskhe-Javakheti students seemed to be most confronted and surrounded by stereotypes around the topic of mental health issues, for instance, that people with mental health issues are dangerous (69%) and cannot function effectively (76%). Moreover, 62% of respondents in the region believed that suffering from mental health issues, one cannot be a friend/partner/colleague in the same way as others; in turn, most young people (81%) wouldn’t be friends in the same way with a person with mental health issues.

Financial aspects matter, too. In the past 5 years, Georgia’s GDP has continuously risen, and the overall number of unemployed people has decreased. At the same time, an analysis of data from the National Statistics Office of Georgia published by the Policy and Management Consulting Group (PMCG) observed that in 2022-23, the contribution of youth to the labour market declined. A possible reason for this could be that many young people increasingly choose to pursue higher education rather than to enter the workforce immediately. The low participation of youth in the labour market further decreases due to the emigration of youth who leave the country mainly in search of employment.

Political Representation, Participation, and Social Activity 

Another potential driver for emigration can be the lack of opportunities for political participation or positive social and political change. Political participation includes acts like voting, signing a petition, contacting public officials/political representatives, or joining a political party or a political organization. It can also involve attending protests or a rally, working in a civil advocacy campaign, or donating money to a campaign or political cause. Positive social and political change can transform a society and an individual’s life, for example, through improved human rights standards or gender equality. Volunteering can be one of many tools to drive such changes. 

Political participation is influenced by experiences at home in the family, at school and work, as well as in voluntary organizations (e.g., civil rights organizations, professional associations, or environmental groups) or the church - communities that can foster motivation, resources, and exposure to political mobilization. Naturally, social and political activities and change also occur outside participatory structures focused on formal political decision-making mechanisms. A good example for this can be volunteering, which does not always contain political motivation but can also arise from personal motives, social, and society-oriented motivations. In the above-mentioned ACT survey, more than half of the Adigeni participants (55%) replied they had not participated in volunteer activities within the last 1-2 years (compared to 59% in the region). The number was lowest among high school-aged youth (14-17: 43%) and highest among the 24-29 age group (70%). This is not a surprising result, as students typically have more free time during their school life than older youth. As people grow older, finding time and energy for such activities can become more challenging due to various reasons, such as work, studying, or family life. It can also be easier to reach school students and invite them to take part in activities of civil organizations or programs connected to active citizenship targeted at their group. Nevertheless, according to the survey, in Borjomi, the main reason for the youth’s non-participation in volunteering activities was not having information about the activities offered. 

Evidently, in more rural areas in Samtskhe-Javakheti, there is a lower level of young participation, but also less information available about offers for the youth. Most youth activities take place in more densely populated, better reachable areas like the municipality’s centre, Akhaltsikhe. A list compiled by an NGO worker in Akhaltsikhe showed that out of 38 listed organizations in Samtskhe-Javakheti, 22 are based in Akhaltsikhe.

When the topic of political or general representation of the youth’s interests was brought up in the focus group with people from Akhaltsikhe, participants had different views. One issue was the lack of representation and engagement for the youth’s interests, except for sports clubs.^[6]

“In Akhaltsikhe, the managers and trainers of sport clubs are trying really hard to offer opportunities for the youth.” (19 years old, from Akhaltsikhe)

Sport clubs and trainers were seen as very active, engaged, and trying their best to create events that fit the interests of the young people. Some trainers, for example, tried to overcome gender stereotypes and open a female boxing team; sprinting or mixed martial arts competitions were held in Rabati Castle; and dance groups successfully managed to receive invitations for dance festivals abroad – even in the US. The interviewees mentioned that opportunities to engage in sports have noticeably improved since their childhood, with children nowadays having a greater choice. Nevertheless, sports infrastructure remains an issue. 

Participants who saw their interests being cared for not only in sports but also in other areas underlined the importance of local NGOs. According to them, NGOs encourage young people, raise their tolerance, general knowledge, and language skills, and organise a wide range of activities. Some of these activities focus on the integration of ethnic minorities, which was seen as very important by the Georgian focus group participants. They felt that ethnic Georgian and ethnic Armenian youth^[7] still partially grow up separately, for example, attending different schools. Seemingly, local NGOs play a huge role as an alternative and additional source of education and information outside of schools, in teaching human rights and raising the open-mindedness of young people. 

Participants of the Akhaltsikhe Focus Group could not think of any young person known for standing up for the young people’s voice and interests. Reasons for this were seen in young people’s focus on different aspects of life, in their lack of hope, belief in change, and personal impact. Opposing opinions from family members can also lead to hesitation, as well as potential judgment by other members of the community, and a lack of encouragement from the municipalities.  

As a final reflection on the issue of youth participation, in theory, strengthening existing and effective structures and knowledge on the ground – like youth councils, young activist groups, or NGOs, would be advisable. Almost all of them are suffering seriously from the political crisis in the country, which also directly affects their target groups, such as young people, people with disabilities, or people from marginalized and minority groups. 

Final Reflections

“Who wouldn’t want to go back? Everything is there: our culture, our country, our family and friends. If there were job opportunities, I would love to go back!” (22-year-old focus group participant from Akhaltsikhe) 

Regarding the possibility of returning to Samtskhe-Javakheti, the focus group respondents emphasized that they recognize the importance of a potential return for the region, as it would lack a future without educated locals. The interviewees still feel a sense of belonging, familiarity, and numerous connections to their places of birth and the region. Nonetheless, as this article has shown, mounting challenges, such as lack of access to mental health services, lack of opportunities for political and civic participation, lack of positive social change and activities, and lack of employment, push youth from Samtskhe-Javakheti to leave the region and the country. To ensure a prosperous future for the region, these challenges should be addressed with utmost urgency.