On March 11, 2017, the Tolerance Center of the Public Defender organized a quiz 'Ethnic Groups and Religions in Georgia" in the city of Akhaltsikhe, Samtskhe-Javakheti Region.

In 2008, the Tolerance Center of the Public Defender, with the support of the United Nations Development Program, prepared and published books "Religions in Georgia" and "Ethnic Groups in Georgia". The books describe history, culture and modern life of all ethnic and religious groups. The quiz was based on the materials of the books and was aimed at their promotion. The main goal of the traditional quiz is to raise awareness of religious and ethnic diversity of Georgia among school children and to promote creation of a tolerant environment.

The quiz was held for the first time in theSamtskhe-Javakheti region. Group of students of the youth clubs of the United Nations Association of Georgia from Akhaltsikhe (5), Akhalkalaki (4) and Ninotsminda participated in the quiz. Each team consisted of 6 main and 2 replacement students.

The jury was composed of Maia Ivelashvili, head of Akhaltsikhe’s Channel 9 TV, Tinatin Zazadze, journalist the South Gate magazine, and Koba Chopliani, Bela Osipova and Nino Tsintsadze, representatives of the Tolerance Centre. The competition was led by the head of the Tolerance Center, Beka Mindiashvili.

After the two-round tense competition, two teams succeeded, while the additional round between them revealed the winner –Akhaltsikhe’s team - Space Oddity, members of which were awarded tablets and diplomas. Tablets were given to two outstanding players of the opposing team as well. Certificates and commemorative prizes were handed over to all participants of the quiz.

"Today's quiz was special, as it was held in Akhaltsikhe for the first time. It is also important that ethnic Armenian schools students took part in the quiz for the first time. They perfectly coped with the hardest material in the Georgian language,"- said Beka Mindiashvili, head of the Tolerance Center of the Public Defender.

The event was organized within the framework of the “Promoting Integration, Tolerance and Awareness” (PITA) program of the UN Association of Georgia (UNAG) that is funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

The event was covered by the South Gate magazine and the Channel 9 TV of Akhaltsikhe.