“I am forging Svan knives by the method of “Batsarauli” as our ancestors used to do it.”

“Svaneti is everything for me, it is my homeland.”

“We are orthodox Christians and we love old traditions. We don’t want to lose them.”

‘Very talented children have been discovered in Nakra since a teacher started motivating then to learn Georgian and Svan songs.’

‘In our ravine live around 320 families, all of them are indigenous people.’

“Sometimes you have to pinch yourself and think: ‘Am I living in the lord of the rings?'”

“I want children to have more opportunities.”

‘Svaneti needs more attention. Otherwise, it will become empty.’

‘Such beautiful places have a positive influence on humans. Here, with the bright colours and nature, you feel at peace.’

‘It is impossible for anyone to change anything in Svaneti, because it will be the destruction of Svaneti and the Svan people.’

“There is a danger that something can happen to Svaneti. Too many dams are being built.”

“It is necessary to found some organisations or to make some projects to protect and develop the Svan language, which is a huge historical heritage.”

“I want our youth to study Svan songs.”

‘These lands are used as pastures by our families.’

“What can we do?! Life in Svaneti is not good, but we still love Svaneti and live here… whether we want or not.”

“After the war the country collapsed, nothing was working and I returned to the village.”

‘It is important to recycle in Svaneti because a lot of garbage has been thrown in Svaneti for last period of time.’

‘My ancestors had never used any herbicides and chemicals.’

‘It’s not only the problem of the Nenskra dam, there are 36 dams planned in Svaneti.’

“I think already on the first days in Svaneti, in 2009 I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the nature.”

‘I have heard about the Nenskra project and I am totally against it.’

‘I call on the future generation to save their culture, their region, their Svaneti.’

“Svaneti has many interesting unique ways of making handicraft and it’s important to spread this knowledge among children.”

“I want children to grow strong, gentle and cultural like the real Svan people.”

“I don’t want to leave Svaneti but improve our community. I want Ushguli to become modern.”

‘We are not going to live without Svaneti. We grew up in the mountains, we are children of the mountains.’

‘Energy is very necessary but a big dam is always a mistake.’

‘I am a local of the village, I love Chuberi and I support it.’

‘Even if you offer me millions or billions of money, my millions and billions are that I can wake my children up at fresh air and in my yard, this is my luxury.’

“I think it’s necessary to introduce this place to more people.”

‘The construction of these hydropower plants will cause environmental impacts.’

‘I think, Svaneti has a big future.’

‘The existence of the towers depends on our humanity, dignity and wishes; on how we want to return our history and care for it.’

“There are no bills here, everything we have is free and everything we do is ours.”

“My parents, our family used to sing Svan songs. They were singing very well, especially my mother. She taught me singing and playing the ‘Tchuniri’.”

“I think it’s necessary to introduce this place to more people.”