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

“I want children to have more opportunities.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘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.”

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

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

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

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

‘I think, Svaneti has a big future.’

“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.”

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

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

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

“I want our youth to study Svan songs.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘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.’

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

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