The "Master of my House" project series provides young Georgian internally displaced persons (IDPs) with specialist skills in caretaking and offers them a professional perspective in the building sector. It has been implemented since 2018 by IWO jointly with the NGOs CHCA and EDEC based in Kutaisi and Tbilisi, the non-profit foundation Europäisches Bildungszentrum der Wohnungs- und Immobilienwirtschaft EBZ in Bochum/Germany and Hanse Parlament e.V. in Hamburg/Germany. The projects are funded by the Federal Foreign Office (AA) as part of the programme "Expanding Cooperation with Civil Society in the Eastern Partnership Countries and Russia".

Since 2019, the project has developed and introduced an official training course for caretakers, consisting of 6 modules, for the vocational schools Construct 2 (Zestaponi), New Wave (Kobuleti) and Black Sea (Batumi). For this purpose, an intensive exchange between the Georgian vocational schools and EBZ took place first, during which Georgian representatives learned about the work and the caretaker training of the EBZ in Bochum in detail.

Georgian vocational school teachers were then trained on the modules. Focal points of the trainings were, among others: Communication in caretaker work, road safety obligations, maintenance issues and building defects.

In order to raise awareness of the janitorial profession in Georgia, the partners are conducting training sessions for representatives of IDP homeowner associations as well as municipal and regional administrations.

The need for skilled workers in the construction sector remains high, which is why the Georgian and German partners are working on the development of a dual training programme for electricians. This is being closely coordinated with the relevant institutions. For a better understanding of the dual training model in Germany, the project includes a study trip to Hamburg. There, the Georgian representatives of vocational schools and companies visit German training centres, chambers of crafts and learn about vocational orientation approaches.

Furthermore, young people from Abkhazia regularly complete technical training in the construction or housing sector in Zestaponi and Kobuleti/Georgia. This helps them to increase their professional opportunities and income. At the same time, a start was made on setting up a training workshop for young people from Abkhazia together with local NGOs in Gali. Experience from the projects has shown that every improvement in professional skills significantly increases the chance of getting better-paid jobs.

The German and Georgian partners will intensify their cooperation with Abkhazian civil society and are seeking continued support from the Federal Foreign Office for this purpose.

Project Data

Duration | 04/2023 - 12/2025

Project Lead | Initiative Wohnungswirtschaft Osteuropa e.V. (IWO e.V.)

Project Partners |

Hanse-Parlament e. V.,

Charity Humanitarian Centre Abkhazeti (CHCA),

Education Development and Employment Centre (EDEC)

Sponsor | German Federal Foreign Office

Projektdokumente