November 9, 2026

Gela Chikhradze Honored with the YMCA Europe Roots Peace Award

Gela Chikhradze, a founding member of YMCA Georgia who served as its General Secretary for nearly three decades, has been selected to receive the YMCA Europe Roots Peace Award. The recognition highlights his lifetime of service to youth empowerment, peacebuilding and community development across the region.

Throughout his career, Gela Chikhradze played a central role in establishing and promoting the YMCA Europe Roots for Reconciliation (Currently “Roots for Peace”) project. His efforts focused heavily on fostering cross-border cooperation and building connections across geopolitical divides.

A major milestone of his career began in 2007 with the development of YMCA Camp Orange on the Black Sea coast. Conceived as a dedicated space for youth engagement, the camp grew into a permanent Peace Hub for the broader YMCA Europe Roots network, hosting regional programs, training sessions and international gatherings for thousands of young people over the years.

Following his retirement, Chikhradze has faced severe health issues alongside physical and financial challenges amidst the broader pressures affecting civil society organizations in Georgia.

The Roots Peace Award recognizes Gela Chikhradze’s decades of commitment to peace and non-formal education, while providing meaningful support during his retirement.

Therefore and once again – we strongly believe that granting this prestigious award to Gela serves as a well-deserved recognition and a just appreciation for his extraordinary dedication, tireless service and immense contributions to the entire YMCA family!