Meet Ana Beriashvili, a psychology student at Tbilisi State University and an education activist in her hometown of Tsnori.
Back in 2018, Ana learned firsthand how community engagement can impact someone’s life.
That year, she became the first student to receive an education grant from the Knowledge Café. At that time, the Knowledge Café was a new social enterprise just beginning to serve the people of Tsnori and the surrounding area.
Fast forward two years, and Ana found herself returning home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She decided to give back to the community, devoting her time and effort to expanding access to education, one of the main challenges facing the region and the country.
Ana joined the Knowledge Café as the leader of its educational funding program. After assessing the needs of local students, she got to work raising the funds to help students in need purchase computers and internet connections so they could continue learning online.
In 2020, Ana and the Knowledge Café helped 63 local students get the resources they needed for online learning. This year, Ana is continuing to monitor the needs of local youth and to provide assistance where needed. She is now involved in the Knowledge Café student mentorship program, which connects local youth with successful members of the community eager to share their experiences and insights. The mentorship program helps students discover their interests and passions, set goals, and plan their education accordingly.
Moving forward, Ana plans to continue her involvement in the “Knowledge Café” projects. Ana thinks that the Knowledge Café is a place where young people can feel comfortable enough to talk about their needs and find support.
