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Winners of the “Green Award 2025” Competition Announced
The Environmental Information and Education Center of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture has officially announced the winners of the 2025 “Green Award” competition.
Gulnara Buadze, a kindergarten teacher from the village of Kutiri in Khoni Municipality, was named the winner in the category “Green Award – Preschool Environmental Education.”
Shorena Karalashvili, a teacher at Akhalsopeli Public School No. 2 in Kvareli Municipality, received the “Green Award – Environmental and Agrarian Education at School.”
The award ceremony included key Government officials and educational leaders.
In his congratulatory remarks, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. David Songulashvili emphasized the importance of teachers in fostering environmental awareness from an early age:
“This day and this award are of particular importance. Civic responsibility begins in early childhood, which is why the role of teachers—from kindergartens to schools—is crucial. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all educators helping to shape the values of our youth and contribute to building a strong civil society. I hope even more teachers will join this important mission, as they are shaping the healthy future of our country,” stated Minister Songulashvili.
Mr. Aleksandre Tsuladze, Minister of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia, also participated in the event. In his remarks, Mr. Tsuladze emphasized the government's commitment to integrating environmental education into the national curriculum:
“Environmental education and awareness are our top priorities. The ‘Green Award’ is a significant initiative that our Ministry will continue to support. Our goal is to raise a generation in Georgia grounded in strong, healthy values. Incorporating environmental topics into school curricula is central to achieving this,” stated Mr. Tsuladze.
Mrs. Maia Bitadze, Chair of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, outlined the importance of such initiatives:
“The ‘Green Award’ serves as an incentive to strengthen environmental education and raise awareness among young people. Teachers at both preschool and school levels play a vital role in preparing the next generation for the environmental challenges we face, both globally and locally,” stated Mrs. Bitadze.
This year, nearly 200 educators from across Georgia participated in the competition. Winners were selected by a specially formed jury comprising representatives from the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth, the National Center for Teacher Professional Development, the Tbilisi Kindergarten Management Agency, the Tbilisi Zoo Educational Center, and NGOs such as CENN and Ecovision.
The jury shortlisted ten finalists in each category, all of whom received cash prizes and gifts from partner organizations. The two category winners were awarded GEL 1,000 vouchers and special prizes by the Environmental Information and Education Center.
The Green Award competition, initiated by the Environmental Information and Education Center, has been launched since 2018. Initially, the competition served to encourage teachers of preschool institutions and promote environmental education. Since 2022, a school component has been added to broaden its scope, supporting the integration of environmental and agricultural education across all educational levels.
Mr. Giorgi Aladashvili, State Representative of the Kakheti Region; Mrs. Nino Vibliani, First Deputy State Representative of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region; Deputies of the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr. Solomon Pavliashvili and Mr. Kakha Kakabadze, including other officials from the Ministry and its affiliated agencies, attended the event.