
Givi Chichinadze, the First Deputy Chairman of the Diaspora and Caucasus Issues Committee, attended the premiere of the play created with the participation of a troupe of amateur Georgian actors living abroad and professional actors working in Georgia and addressed the guests of the event.
"We pledge that we will always support all of our diaspora's initiatives and endeavors that will advance the growth of the Georgian diaspora and the Georgian state”, - Givi Chichinadze stressed the significance of the project and mentioned how it will help preserve the Georgian language, activate the country's unique theater potential, and establish Georgian cultural hubs for emigrants.
Givi Chichinadze expressed gratitude to Tika Svanidze-Venko, a Georgian citizen living in the Netherlands who came up with the concept, as well as the co-organizers, supporters, and professional and amateur performers who took part in the performance both in Georgia and overseas.
"I'm very proud that members of our diaspora community founded and participated in the first Georgian international diaspora theater, "Return," as well as this play, "What did Iavnana do?" I had to travel abroad frequently because of my work in the field of culture, and since the 1990s I have become familiar with the first generation of the diaspora, the difficulties they encounter, and their main suffering: the need to preserve Georgian identity and the ability to speak Georgian for the new generations who were born abroad. Many thanks to our Georgian friend and her entire family, Tika Svanidze-Venko, who is currently living and working in the Netherlands. Such initiatives encourage our diaspora to establish Georgian cultural centers in their host nations”, - Givi Chichinadze stated.
After the play's debut, a ceremony was arranged to present the unique "Anidan Hoemde" award created by the "Diaspora Alliance for Georgia". Participants in the project were recognized for their efforts to promote Georgia abroad during the occasion.
The First Vice-Speaker of the Parliament Giorgi Volski attended the event.
The project is supported by: the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth of Georgia; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Tbilisi City Hall; The Georgian Cultural Center of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the Diaspora Alliance for Georgia, the parish of St. Nino's Church in Antwerp and the literary theater "We will return", the Kakhi Georgian Drama Theater.