SUPPORTING YOUTH

In 2023, SOCAR started partnering with Axel, a Georgian network of angel investors that connects businesses and investors.

Within the framework of collaboration, on December 21, Axel hosted the 31st edition of the year's highlight event, Fuckup Nights Tbilisi. Investors are also humans; on Fuckup, investors discussed the failures they encountered on their road to success.

On June 30, 2024, Axel, the Georgian Business Angel Network, hosted a large-scale international investment conference in Ciskari Garden in collaboration with EBAN (European Business Angel Network) and GBAN (Global Business Angel Network). The event was organized for the third time, which is extremely important for the growth of local entrepreneurs.

The collaboration between SOCAR Petroleum Georgia and Axel encompasses the growth of Georgia's startup ecosystem through a variety of projects and objectives. The SOCAR team actively supports both Axel and their startups. As a corporation with a strong social responsibility, SOCAR understands the necessity of promoting not only its team but also societal development.

On November 25, 2023, the "Campus Intellectual Championship" was conducted in the library of the Free and Agrarian University, with the first, second, and third place teams chosen from among the participating students. SOCAR provided overall sponsorship and assistance for the championship.

SOCAR promotes modern art. "Urban expression - in the creations of student sculptors" is an international exhibition of student sculptors held as part of the Sculpture Festival 2023, organized by the Tbilisi Architects and Sculptors Association and supported by SOCAR. The exhibition showcased sculptural sketches prepared for the event by students from the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts and the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts.

The event's goal was to present new ideas and contemporary creative and stylistic trends in urban sculpture. The research described young people's individual visions and attitudes about current cultural urban spaces.

An international jury chose the works, and SOCAR Georgia Petroleum awarded the four winners.

In 2023, Rustavi City Hall awarded 150 gold medal holders, including three, with a special gift developed by SOCAR: a vacation to the summer school in Barcelona.

SOCAR gifted electric scooters to three outstanding Rustavi students in 2024.

The 10th Social Entrepreneurship Forum, organized by the Alliance of Social Enterprises and supported by SOCAR, took place on November 18, 2021, at the Innovation and Technology Agency.

The forum has been hosted in Georgia since 2012, with the purpose of popularizing the concept of social entrepreneurship and creating an ecosystem that encourages its growth in Georgia. It facilitates the establishment and strengthening of business relationships between social entrepreneurs and representatives from various industries. The event is attended by social enterprises, public organizations, and governmental and private institutions dedicated to the advancement of social entrepreneurship.

The event's main highlight was the announcement of the year's social enterprise. The following social companies were chosen as finalists by the 7-member jury: "Poteria", "Megobari", and "Dadari".

The "Social Enterprise of the Year" nomination was won by the social enterprise "Dadari" through secret voting. It got the title of "Social Enterprise of the Year" as well as a financial prize from SOCAR for enterprise development.

In addition, SOCAR decided to give all other competitors the opportunity to enhance their industrial activities and granted a financial reward.

The event was organized in a hybrid style, with the speakers presenting in the space of the "Georgian Innovation and Technology Agency" and interested parties following the event via Zoom. 

Superhero is a platform dedicated to discovering superheroes and let them hear the voice of the children who need most and value their appearances the most.

As part of the partnership with the project superhero, SOCAR delivered the gifts of superheroes to the children.

On April 19-20-21, 2019, the representative of the UN Georgia Youth Office and the non-governmental organization "Football for Peace" conducted a three-day football festival with the cooperation of SOCAR Georgia Petroleum. The football event featured football teams made up of 12- to 14-year-old ethnic minorities from Georgia, including Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Turks, Ukrainians, and youths living along the occupation line.

It should be mentioned that, due to the festival's scale and purpose, the meetings were conducted on the central football pitch of Mejvriskhevi, a settlement along the occupation line. 

The event aimed to promote minorities' civic integration, sports, education, and culture, build good contacts between young people of different nationalities, and instill a sense of tolerance.

During the festival, teams of youth from various ethnicities competed in friendly matches over three days. Following the final meeting, the winner of the competition was announced, and received a transitional trophy and awards from the organizers.

Furthermore, during the event, cultural activities were held around the region on a prearranged timetable.

Supporting young people is one of the most essential aspects of SOCAR's CSR strategy, which is why the company has collaborated with Young Lions Georgia, held for creative industry employees under the age of 30, for a number of years.

Driving Academy is a driving school founded with the assistance of SOCAR. The driving school taught young people driving and road safety standards all year.

A car driving learning project was launched in March 2019 with the help of SOCAR Georgia Petroleum and the organization of Mevlud Meladze's "Driving Academy".

The project aimed to teach teens about driving and road safety rules in accordance with European standards. The training comprised of both theoretical and practical components. Throughout the year, students were divided into groups of five. The first part of the practical training was performed at "Art Drive" LLC's specially designed training area near the Dinamo stadium, while the second half was held on the autodrome and public roads.