,,Friendship opens all doors" 

Founder Iamze Mskhvilidze,Georgia

Co-founder Valentina Todorova (North Macedonia)

Georgia 

North Macedonia 
Greece  
Turkey 
Ukraine  

Croatia  

Romania  Bulgaria  

Poland 

  In the historical district of "Rabati" in Samtskhe-Javakheti, in Georgia, there lived a beautiful princess named Lile. She was known throughout the country for her kindness, grace and intelligence. But then the queen, who was evil,  locked her in a high and dark tower in the "Akhaltsikhe Castle".

  In the tower, Lile's friends were a family of birds. They visited her every day and told her what was happening in the world. Even though she was trapped, Lile hoped that one day someone would come to save her.

 Days turned into weeks, weeks - into months, Lile had lost hope, but one night she had a dream. As soon as he woke up, he decided to write letters in different languages and He gave these letters to his bird friends to take to different countries.

“Dear brave friends,

Greetings from one of the beautiful, high and inaccessible castle towers! I am Princess Lile and I ask for your help! An evil witch has captured me in the castle tower. She has bewitched everything around me, and only he can set me free, who solves her riddles!

 Here are some suggestions to help you to liberate me from his captivity.

Friends, each clue will help you to reach your goal step by step. Be strong, united and determined – only then will you be able to set me free.

I believe that each of you, with your unique strengths, knowledge, abilities, as well as mutual cooperation, can help me solve these puzzles and lift the witch's curse. I want to be free, but I also really want to get to know you and your country's wonderful culture!

When you've decided to help, please write to me or send me a video! Tell me about your language and culture, and tell me something fun about your country. I will need this knowledge to banish the witch's magic once and for all.

Words have great power – they can even open doors. Every sound, every letter is a special clue that contains part of the secret.

       Horsemen of Javakheti and the secret of Rabat

In the windy plains of Javakheti, two brave young men – Artsivisa and Tevdore – lived as skilled horsemen, hunters, and duduk players. Their peaceful life in Diliska village changed when they received an ancient manuscript with an urgent message about Princess Lile imprisoned in Rabati castle's highest tower.The message warned that heroes from other countries were already on their way, and time was running out. 

      The brothers gathered provisions – Javakheti cheese, sweet kada, khachapuri, and churchkhela dipped in bakmazi –

donned their traditional chokha garments, mounted their horses, and began their journey toward an adventure filled with magical challenges

                      Road to Rabat

 The village elder gave the brothers an ancient manuscript containing an urgent message: "Princess Lile is locked in the high tower of Rabati Castle. The path is filled with trials, but only you can save her. Heroes from other countries are already on their way. Time waits for no one!"

The first obstacle on their way was the broken bridge over the Mtkvari river. It seemed impossible to cross, but here the wisdom of the ancestors came in handy. – Eagle played a melody on the duduk, at the sound of which the level of the stream dropped and stones appeared above the river, through which the riders were able to cross to the other bank..

  Here they joined a girl named Marekhi, who was coming from Tabatzkuri lake.

Marekhi was a shepherd's wife, she ran with amazing speed in the mountains and spoke the language of fire. He told them that Rabat Castle was shrouded in magical mist and only a team of brave men could overcome this test.

The road to Akhaltsikhe continued along rocky paths.

                           Meeting with Marek

The path to Akhaltsikhe continued through rocky trails where the brothers faced steep climbs and narrow passages. They navigated through the challenging terrain, relying on their knowledge of the mountains and their horses' sure-footed skills to progress toward Rabati castle.

  Here they joined a girl named Marekhi, who came from Lake Tabatskuri. Marekhi was a shepherdess who moved with amazing speed through the mountains and could speak the language of fire. Her presence added new magical abilities to their quest as they continued their journey together.

Marekhi told them that Rabati Castle was covered with a magical mist, and only a team of brave souls could overcome this challenge. She warned them about the trials ahead but also shared secrets that would help them navigate the mysterious fortress that awaited them.

The path to the castle continued through narrow tunnels with Khevsur-like ornaments carved into the walls. These ancient passages held secrets of those who came before, each symbol telling a story of past heroes and their quests

       Here, Tevdore accidentally found an ancient scroll which revealed that the entrance to the castle would only open for those who proved their courage, wisdom, and unity. This discovery gave them crucial information about the challenges that awaited them.

            As they progressed through the tunnels, the ornaments began to glow, responding to their presence. The heroes realized that each step forward was a test of their worthiness, preparing them for the greater challenges that awaited at Rabati castle.

Gathering of heroes near Rabat Castle

Finally, the heroes reached the courtyard of Rabati Castle where other heroes from different countries had already gathered. Nine torches burned in the dark corner of the castle yard, casting long shadows against the ancient walls.

Princess Lile, imprisoned in the castle tower, gazed at the sky through her window – a spark of hope gleamed in the darkness of night. Her silhouette could be seen occasionally at the high window, awaiting rescue.The castle gate was sealed with a magical seal. To open it, each hero would need to use their knowledge, traditions, and skills. The combined power of different cultures would be necessary to break the enchantment

The Meskhetian horsemen – Artsivisa and Tevdore – observed the gateway adorned with Meskhetian ornaments and realized it hid symbols. They played a quiet melody on the duduk, sang a Meskhetian song "Mukha Tsontsileb Tsontsileb" to open the locked gate, and addressed the guests with the magical words "Stumari Gvtisa" because this melody would break the magical circle.

Ukrainian Cossack Bohdan dismounted his horse and drew his sword from its scabbard. "Power should always be used with wisdom," he said. Ukrainian wise woman Olena began reading ancient runes, as strange signs appeared on the tower walls that she could decipher.

A Turkish traveler named Karaman took out ancient magical coins from his pocket. "Since Ottoman times, we know that fortresses have hidden passages," he said and began tapping on the walls to find a secret tunnel that might provide another way to enter the castle

Romanian singer Elena began a folk song that told of the secrets of the legendary Dracula's fortress. Her voice had magical power, and it seemed as if the castle walls were responding to her melody. As she sang, ancient symbols on the walls began to pulse with a rhythmic light in harmony with her voice.

Greek philosopher Nikolaos opened an ancient papyrus and read aloud: "Every tower has its key, sometimes it hides in words." He solved the riddle and deciphered the symbols on the tower seal. His wisdom connected the scattered clues that the other heroes had discovered

Polish illusionist Karol took magical powder and scattered it in the air. "Sometimes what is invisible hides the most important," he said. In the air appeared an ancient magical sign that concealed the secret to opening the tower, making visible what had been hidden from ordinary sight.

Then the Javakheti brothers played sounds on the duduk, while Marekhi pronounced in the language of fire: "Open the door, where the heart is light!" The earth shook with trembling, the mist dispersed, and the castle gate creaked open, revealing the path to the tower.

The heroes worked together – music, song, strength, mind, elements – each contributing with their abilities to help open the tower door. 

No, we can't do anything alone, here, along with strength, wisdom, the power of friendship, and courage are needed. We can't weaken the evil sorcerer's spell like that. It's better to wait for our friends to arrive," said Theodore.

  Diliski Public School N1, Georgia

        A Strange Turn

       Special High School & Lyceum IN.A.A                              Pefkon, Thessaloniki, Greece

A Strange Turn – For Lily’s Rescue

In a forest veiled by mist and pine,

Where twisted roots and shadows twine,

The path once straight began to curve. A strange turn taken, without nerve.

No map could mark the silent plea

That whispered low from trembling tree.

And yet, a voice, a fragile cry.

Reached out to brush the darkened sky.

PRINCESS LILA

BULGARIAN FAIRY TALE 

THE WEDDING

On the bright holiday for Bulgaria  6of May the wedding of Prince George and Princess Lila took place. The whole city enjoyed the young couple and admired the traditional decoration. The square was dressed in roses of different colors, the birds sang the wedding march, and to the right of the altar on a silver table stood the triplex wedding cake with small marzipan figurines of the bride and the groom. The bridesmaids and the bride were talking, and the priest was preparing his speech. The guests, dressed in formal clothes, were talking  noisily and were waiting for the celebration to begin. Everything was going according to plan. The young couple had decided to celebrate their love on this day, because exactly one year ago, the brave young man had saved the princess from the bloodthirsty Dragon – the fear of all young girls in the village. This merciless dragon every year ate the three most beautiful girls.

THE KIDNAPPING

Last year, on the same day, exactly at midnight, a strong wind blew and a blood-chilling roar was heard. The Dragon carried Princess Lila in his arms. Suddenly, a brave young man stood up to the Beast, riding a white horse and carrying a golden sword in his hands. The sword was smeared with special herbs growing only on our lands, which the nymphs knew about. The youngest of them, Vida, who was hopelessly in love with the young Prince George, had entrusted him with the secret. One prick in the heart of the Dragon was enough to make the Creature sleep and kill it. Prince George swung his sword and pricked the Dragon right through the heart. The huge Beast instantly fell to the ground, and the prince picked his beloved princess Lila on his faithful horse and took her to the palace. Then, together with the guards, they threw the body of the Dragon into the river, thinking that the animal was dead and would no longer disturb people.

Princess Lila was approaching the altar, led by her father. 

Her long white dress dragged along the ground, and a beautiful veil hid her face. At that moment, out of the blue, the Dragon whom everyone thought was dead appeared. There were screams, a thick fog covered the ground and among clouds of dust, the dragon escaped with the princess. The prince started to cry for his beloved, but quickly stopped and decided to follow the beast. Then we, the bride's six bridesmaids, approached the prince and offered him our help. We had read a lot about the Dragon and the places where it is hiding. We bowed and politely introduced ourselves to the prince and his guards. We are the friends of the princess, whom she chose as her bridesmaids. Our names are Tsveti, Maya, Sara, Boryana, Kalina and Filippa. We will do everything we can to save a friend in danger. Prince George gratefully accepted our help and our journey began.

OLD LADY AND HER PRECIOUS ADVISES

We walked for a long time, crossed mountains, rivers and lowlands, and in one place we saw the valley of roses. We knew about the miraculous effect of the Bulgarian rose, with which we could heal our wounds, and we could use the fragrance to put the Dragon to sleep. We began to pick the fragrant roses quickly, while the Prince and his guards were looking for a way to cross the raging river. Suddenly, an elderly woman appeared next to the river, who told us that she could help us cross it if we did something for her. We gladly agreed. Then the old woman asked us to pick roses for her from which to prepare rose oil. We quickly completed the task and thankfully the old woman showed us a small wooden box in the river and told us to take it out. When the box was placed in front of her, she took out a small key, put it into the lid of the box, and pulled out a small diary full of hieroglyphs and drawings. Then she advised us to look for a singer who can put wild beasts to sleep with his song. We thought about her words: who is this singer and where to find him? Then Prince George clapped hands and told us to hurry up so that we could reach the Devil's Throat cave before dark. We all laughed happily – this is the home of Orpheus.

DEVIL’S THROAT CAVE – THE PLACE WHERE WE MEET ORPHEUS 

We reached the cave just before dark. Orpheus welcomed us with a rich table and an amazing song. Then he read to us what was written: 

At a height of 2925,4 m measured from Black sea level, at a place near the God, where a lot of birds can be observed with northwest winds blowing and about 254 snowy days,  you will find your Princess.

We thought about it. Where is this place? And then in one voice we shouted – Musala, the highest peak on the Balkan Peninsula. But is the Princess really hidden there or is this a trap to slow us down? The peak is high, and we don't have time! 

Then Orpheus sent the fastest eagle to bring  the strongest man - Krali Marko.

THE MEETING WITH OUR HERO KRALI MARCO AND HIS HORSE SHARKOLYA 

We all got on the back of Krali Marko's horse. We were rising higher and higher. 

From the flying horse`s back, in the heart of a dense forest, we saw a lonely tall tower - both mystical and creepy. Strange sounds floated in the air.

Krali Marko took out his sword and rode straight to the tower. We were amazed – the place was full of people speaking different languages, but looking in the same direction. Everyone was pointing at a small window at the very tower`s top. There, in tears, stood Princess Lila.

We joined and realized that these people were coming from different countries to help the Princess. It was a bright moment – we were not alone. We knew that the joint efforts will defeat even the greatest evil.

Tangling our hairs with roses, we held hands, sang a song and danced the traditional Bulgarian round-dance. Suddenly everyone started talking and sharing ideas how to save Princess Lila. We began grinding the roses’ leaves to prepare aromatic mixture with which to put the Dragon to sleep.

Our plan was perfect - said and done.

Then our friends suggested ……..

One rainy evening, a shining yellow-orange bright bird visited a hut in the village of Mazepyntsi and began to peck at the window. The young Hetman Ivan Mazepa, opening the window, saw that the bird had brought a letter. Taking the letter, the bird seemed to vanish into thin air. Ivan read the letter and, as he read, understood that it was from the Georgian Princess Lile, who needed help.

Intrigued, Ivan cautiously opened the window, revealing a small, tightly rolled letter clutched within the bird's beak. As if by magic, the bird released its grasp and vanished into the stormy night, leaving Ivan to decipher the message. 

With trembling hands, he unfurled the letter, his eyes scanning the elegant script. The letter spoke of a princess named Lile, a captive in a distant land, pleading for help.

A surge of determination coursed through Ivan's veins. He knew he had to act, to become the champion of the helpless. He rallied his fellow Cossacks, their hearts ablaze with a shared sense of duty. Together, they embarked on a perilous journey, their destination a faraway castle where Princess Lile was held captive.

Their voyage took them beyond the borders of Ukraine, across vast seas and treacherous storms. The Cossacks, guided by Ivan's unwavering leadership, faced every challenge with unwavering courage. They encountered fierce pirates, their ships clashing in a battle of wills, but the Cossacks emerged victorious, their spirits unbroken.

Finally, they reached the shores of Georgia, their hearts pounding with anticipation. The sight of their ships caused a stir among the locals, rumors spreading like wildfire about the arrival of these foreign warriors. With a map as their guide, Ivan led his men through a rugged, mountainous terrain, their determination unwavering

As they ventured deeper into the treacherous landscape, they stumbled upon a hidden fortress, its imposing walls casting long shadows. A wave of excitement surged through the Cossacks, but their joy was short-lived. They had fallen into a cunning trap, an ambush laid by the very captors of Princess Lile.

A fierce battle ensued, the Cossacks outnumbered but undeterred. They fought with the ferocity of lions, their swords flashing in the sunlight. Despite their valiant efforts, the odds were stacked against them, and they were eventually overwhelmed and captured.

Imprisoned within the depths of the castle, the Cossacks discovered they were not alone. Other brave souls, from faraway lands, had also embarked on a quest to rescue Princess Lile, only to fall victim to the same treacherous ambush. Together, they awaited their fate, their hearts heavy with uncertainty.

to be continued........

                   Turning point

Akhaltsikhe public school N5

Princess Lile’s letters spread across the world. But one of them, the one most soaked in tears and sorrow, got caught in a fierce wind and ended up in the high mountains — in the village of Giorgi, in Racha.

There lived a melancholic teenage boy named Daviti — the locals called him "Gabroa". He had lost hope in life after tragically losing his parents. Now, he was solely responsible for raising his little sister, Mariami.

One day, as Daviti stood alone in the mountains, staring into the fog tangled in the wind, a faded letter dropped at his feet. It was Lile’s letter. And as soon as he read it, a strange flash of lightning lit up the sky — as if fate itself had been searching for him.

Daviti and Mariami gathered their courage and began their journey toward Samtskhe-Javakheti. Along the way, they had to stop in a mysterious oak forest, known by locals as the “Forest of Mourning.” This forest was alive — literally. Every tree could feel, but only one — an ancient oak named Rose — could see the future in the past, and the past in the future.

 Ruse told them:

— “Only the one who confesses their pain truthfully will find the path to Lile. If your heart remains closed, the road will be lost.”

Daviti poured out his soul to the old oak — how he lost his parents, how he forgot who he was while trying to protect his sister, and how he’d lost faith. Rose inhaled deeply once, and the ground cracked open — revealing a hidden path leading to a secret chamber.

That night, Daviti had a dream — Princess Lile appeared to him and spoke:

— “Daviti, I see you. You carry both peace and storm within you. But you cannot do this alone. Find Nino, who can set fire to words. Seek Jaba, a wild-hearted warrior. And find Tako, who holds the past within her very eyes.”

When Daviti awoke, he knew this was no ordinary dream — it was a calling. It was time to begin the real journey.