Helping Georgia’s remote communities get ready for a digital future

Written by Ann Tsurtsumia-Zurabashvili, Expert at eGA  

I first visited Bochorna, in Tusheti’s Gometsari Valley, in 2023. At 2,345 meters above sea level, it is the highest permanently inhabited settlement in Europe. Surrounded by mountains and crisp alpine air, with views stretching for miles, it felt like a place where time slows down.  

Standing there, I found myself imagining a different future, one where even a village like Bochorna could benefit from reliable, high-quality digital connectivity, where people could work remotely with the same ease as if they were sitting in the capital, and access opportunities without leaving their homes. 

At the time, I had no idea I would later work at the e-Governance Academy (eGA), while my future colleagues were already designing the REDI project to address the digital divide in Georgia.  

Yet, in that moment, imagining remote work from a village locked in snow for many months a year captured exactly what the EU-funded Rural Empowerment through Digital Inclusion (REDI) project aims to achieve, and is already achieving: bringing digital opportunities to remote communities across Georgia. 

The reality of the digital divide 

Georgia’s rural regions are rich in beauty but often limited in opportunity. High mountains, remote villages, and coastal settlements face natural disasters, long distances, underdeveloped public transport, and limited connectivity.  

This is where the physical digital divide becomes visible: gaps in infrastructure, limited broadband coverage, unstable internet connections or even a lack of reliable electricity in some areas. For people living in remote regions, getting online can still be a challenge. 

While around 91% of Georgians own smartphones, digital literacy has not kept pace. For many adults, especially those who completed their education before digital skills were widely integrated into schools in the late 2000s, technology has meant increased exposure to scams and misinformation. 

Bringing digital skills closer to people 

REDI’s  approach is simple but effective: bring skills to people, not people to skills.  

The project identifies trusted local digital champions, trains them using practical, easy-to-understand Georgian-language materials, and equips them to support their communities. Trainings focus on everyday needs: accessing e-government services, communicating safely online, and using digital tools for business and daily life. REDI trainings also reach entrepreneurs and family-run businesses. 

Stories from the field 

Local digital champions have many stories to share. “You’re the European Union ambassador in Imereti,” said Paata, a local beekeeper, at the end of a training session to one of the trainers. For him, digital skills were no longer abstract, they had reached his village. 

Another participant shared how learning to advertise online helped her sell dried fruit abroad, while a guesthouse owner, after adding his location to Google Maps, saw tourists arrive by bus for the first time. 

At the same time, the start of each training often reflects the depth of the existing digital divide. Participants who begin by saying, “Anyone can log into my Facebook,” refuse to leave by the end without setting up two-factor authentication. 

Measurable impact on the ground  

The results are tangible: not only in these stories, but also in the numbers. In its first year, REDI reached more than 3,000 citizens across six regions of Georgia through basic digital skills trainings, and even more through SME-focused trainings, Training of Trainers (ToT) programs, masterclasses, and community events such as Europe Days and robotics camps. 

One small but telling example highlights the depth of this impact: when REDI later sent an online feedback survey, many participants deleted the link immediately, recognizing it as a potential phishing attempt. The same people who once trusted everything online had learned to question and protect themselves. According to survey respondents, 99% confirmed that REDI digital skills trainings improved their digital skills. 

Adapting to new technologies 

As technology evolves, REDI continues to adapt. Artificial intelligence initially caused concern among participants, but the project responded by developing a practical handbook, AI Tools for Everyday Life. Designed for teachers, parents, entrepreneurs, and small business owners, it shows how AI can support daily tasks in accessible and responsible ways. REDI demonstrates that digital empowerment is not just about technology, it is about inclusion, resilience, and stronger communities. 

Trust as the foundation 

The project’s success ultimately rests on trust. As one participant said to a local digital champion, “You explain it so simply, it feels like you opened my head and placed the information inside.” This human connection, combined with practical skills, is what makes change lasting. 

In Georgia’s rural mountains and remote villages, where travel is slow and winters are long, REDI proves that opportunity does not have to be distant. Digital skills can travel faster than any road, bringing connection and possibility to communities. 

The REDI project is funded by the European Union in Georgia. REDI – Rural Empowerment through Digital Inclusion – is implemented by the e-Governance Academy (eGA) and the Solidarity Fund Poland (SFPL).