Supporting Vulnerable Children

Around the valley there are a few small buildings used to provide educational programs to support young Kists. One of these is Jokolo Art School in Jokolo village teaching felt work. It is state funded to help socially vulnerable children.

Mzia Aldamovi and Makka Mutoshvili teach up to 30 students mostly girls. They learn wet felting and needle felting methods to make their designs. They are very creative and use their skills to design images of flowers, Chechen motifs, stone towers, villages, landscapes and people; as well as make waistcoats, purses, dolls, hats, and other ornaments.

These kind of programs are a vital resource for young people in Pankisi Valley to meet, socialise and learn useful skills together in a safe and supportive environment.

Nazy's Guest House and Jokolo Art School are planning to collaborate to offer tourists felt-making classes in which they can make their own designs. The financial contribution from this initiative will provide additional resources for the school and incentivize the students.