Safe Roads

Natia Sharikadze ’08 (Borjomi, Georgia)

Event Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

$494 in FLEX Alumni GYSD Grant Funding

$691 cost share from partners

With pedestrian related traffic accidents on a rise throughout the world, FLEX alumna Natia Sharikadze ’08 teamed up with nearly 100 volunteers to spread the word about road safely for GYSD 2014.  The Safe Roads aimed to spread awareness about rights of pedestrians and drivers by reminding drivers of the need to stop for pedestrians at crosswalks, known locally as “zebra crossings” and reiterate to pedestrians the need to cross the street only on appropriate and marked crossings.  

The two-day event began on April 12 with a training for 42 people about traffic laws and safety by representatives of three partner organizations.  The following day,  93 volunteers including 15 FLEX alumni split into teams to share their message with the community.  Volunteers visited over 60 crosswalks on 40 city streets, crossing in large groups at official regulated crossings holding a zebra-stripped banner saying “On the zebra, stop for pedestrians” and handing out information flyers to the drivers and pedestrians. On Rustaveli Avenue, central street in Tbilisi, volunteers promoted the anti-jaywalking campaign among children by creating chalk pictures on the sidewalks and handing out funny poems about jaywalking.  

American Councils for International Education, The International Spark Program, Children of Georgia, University of Georgia, and the Georgian Alliance for Safe Roads participated in making this event a success.  Pictures from the event can be found here.