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

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

“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’.”

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

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

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

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

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

“I want our youth to study Svan songs.”

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

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

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

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

“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.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘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.’

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

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

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

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

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

“I want children to have more opportunities.”

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

‘I think, Svaneti has a big future.’

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

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

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

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