During the three months that Archil was in Georgia, he developed the training programme and led a preparatory course. The training course will consist of a traineeship of forty days amongst other things. Students must also learn a foreign language. In the preparatory course, Archil lectured about skiing techniques, avalanche safety and rescue operations. ‘It is great to pass on my experience in this way and to create more employment in my country,’ he says.
The reactions to Archil’s activities were very positive and the project got a lot of media attention. Archil was even invited to go live on national television. The first students will start next year. In order to get the training course going, Archil wants to return to Georgia a couple of times. ‘We are still trying to find the financial means for that. It is difficult, but we must succeed in order to make the project successful’.
According to Archil, anyone who is into exciting holidays should definitely visit the Caucasus. ‘It is a beautiful region, similar to the Alps, but higher, wilder and more diverse. Hiking, skiing, mountaineering or trekking: in a few years it will all be possible under the guidance of Georgian guides’.
