Nana Chkareuli, 38-years-old

It won’t be right if I say that my life has changed radically here, because I had my favorite job in Akhalgori as well. I was active, had a non-governmental organization and life was interesting for me.

The idea of making Hello Café here was an idea of supporting the volunteer who was working in my NGO - Peace Crops. We supported her and implemented her idea. It took time for locals to get used to this Café. We usually organize various events to focus on different groups.

When I listen to youngsters, they say that they are willing to go back, but I am not sure that they have analyzed what it really means. Being a refugee gave youngsters unlimited opportunities, although if they go back they will get another opportunities as well, because lots of international and local organizations focus on this issue. I always used to say that every negative fact is followed by positive one. For these children this war was somehow a stimulus. They have learnt and analyzed a lot and it had a huge influence on them.

Only one thing that has changed for me is human relations. We had close relations there and here, somehow everything got fractured. As if people are closed in themselves and the playfulness that the village had before is lost.

But I think that in Akhalgori they would have something that they are lacking here. Sometimes I think that of course this generation achieved a lot here, but somehow their inner world is empty and I think in Akhalgori it could be the opposite.

I want to go back, but I know that for now it’s impossible. I think that going back would be harder than the departure was. Everyone would needs to start from the scratch. I am already preparing for this, and I always tell youngster to be ready, because this will be the hardest part. It is the new generation that has to respond to the challenges that we will face and they need to be ready for this.

Panic turned out to be horrible, you have a feeling that you are avoiding something and don’t even know what you are trying to rush from. It was difficult to be here. Before I have never thought about moving to Tbilisi, I was quite satisfied with my job in Akhalgori. But time passes by, and then you finally get a feeling that you own this, despite the difficulty of being in monotonous environment. It’s even harder for youngsters.