Forty students from universities in Georgia spent a month rehabilitating a 12th century monastery as part of a camp funded by World Vision and initiated by the
Georgian Orthodox Church.
The Georgian Orthodox Church has been coordinating the camp since 2001 with the aim to rehabilitate cultural and religious heritage sites, while fostering youth's
spiritual growth and building relationships between Georgian youth and the local ethnically diverse communities. World Vision has funded the camp for three years.
Tavkvetila Monastery,
carved in a cave in the remote region of Samtskhe-Javakheti, served as a religious center and shelter during enemy invasions.
"I am very thankful to World Vision for its funding and
involvement to make this initiative happen once again," said Nikoloz, Metropolitan of Akhalkalaki and Kumurdo.
"But I have to say the most credit goes to the students, who have
poured energy and dedication into restoring this historical monastery. Their efforts exceed all material and financial inputs," added Nikoloz. 'The restoration of the monastery will live on for
centuries and will show the contribution of youth to Georgia's heritage."
In addition to rehabilitating the monastery, the students traveled to several neighboring villages to
distribute toys, household items and school supplies to local children of various ethnic origins, including Armenians, Georgians, Greeks and Russians.
They also visited a shelter for
homeless children in Javakheti to distribute gifts provided by World Vision to 63 children, ages 2 to 16. The Patriarchy of Georgia organized the visitation.
"I will never forget the
eyes of the happy children when we gave them gifts, or their sweet voices singing for us in return. I will never forget the days I spent in the camp. I am hoping to come back again next year,"
said Bacho Tetruashvili, who participated in the camp.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
