The Department of the World Abaza Congress for work with local representatives resumed the “Aimadara” project in the new academic year. The first excursionists of the second stage of the project were students of the Tvanaarkhua Secondary School.

Schazina Bganba

18 high school students and their teachers visited the eastern part of Abkhazia for the first time. The route was set at the request of the students themselves: the Abraskil cave in the village of Otap, the Mokva Cathedral and the picturesque mountain gorge in the village of Chernigovka.
The trip was accompanied by fascinating stories, legends and myths about Abkhazia. The young guests were especially interested in the stalactites and stalagmites.

"In the school curriculum, we often come across works that mention the Abraskil cave, but we have never visited it. It is very interesting here and I think that in order to learn more about the caves of Abkhazia, I will become a speleologist,” one of the students shared. 

This year, project tours were organized for students from the villages of Arasadzykh, Mgudzyrkhua, Adzyubzha and Achandara. According to the specialist of the WAC department for work with local representative offices, Kherson Simoniia, new villages will be a part of the second stage of the project. 

“Every year there are more and more requests from representatives of local WAC branches asking to take part in the project. Most of the children are visiting these places for the first time. This year, we managed to cover over one hundred and fifty schoolchildren. There are plans for two more trips. Now it will be western Abkhazia,” he said. 

The main goal of the project remains unchanged - visiting iconic cultural and historical sites of Abkhazia, getting to know the sights, and spending children's leisure time with benefit. Dmitry Shamba, a teacher at Tvanaarkhua Secondary School, noted that the things you see with your own eyes leave a special impression.

"Constant stories about Abkhazia being rich in historical and architectural monuments will not replace one excursion day. Children remember better what they see with their own eyes. I am sure that this day will remain in their memory for many years," Shamba noted.

The WAC "Aimadara" project has been implemented since 2019. During this period, more than 1,000 students from Abkhazian schools have taken part in the project.