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| Map of Georgia |
Georgia, currently in the news because of its political uprisings, is a country normally not in the headlines.
Located in South West Asia, the Republic of Georgia still has to cope with consequences of the deterioration in social and economic conditions following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since its independence in April 1991, more than one million people have left the country, mainly those with a high level of education. Thirty-two percent of the population live below the poverty line and 13 - 15% of households live in extreme poverty (Source: Wikipedia). Currently the country has around 4.77 million inhabitants (July 2005).
The deterioration in living conditions has meant that more children have to fend for themselves on the streets. This is why SOS Children's Villages decided to extend its activities to Georgia in 1989. The first village, in Tbilisi, opened in October 1996. A second village in Kutaisi, once a major industrial city, followed in September 2002, and a family strengthening project was added to it three years later. The project currently assists 92 children (52 girls, 40 boys), 172 adults and 42 families.
Restored faith
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| Georgian flag |
Dark-haired Tamar, a single mother, has been one of the programme's beneficiaries for almost ten months now. Her life story is similar to that of many others: "After getting my Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and physics, I managed to get a job at a local high school as a librarian, with good promotion prospects." Tamar wanted to get married and be happy, but when she got pregnant her boyfriend left her. Her parents' rural home was closed to her - she was treated as an embarrassment to the whole family. "They haven't spoken to me since." Then she lost her job - "staff cutbacks" - they called it. She was left alone to raise a five-month-old baby in a damp rented basement room on the outskirts of Kutaisi.
One day she came to the SOS Children's Village in Kutaisi to look for work. She was immediately introduced to the family strengthening programme, where she now receives financial assistance on a monthly basis and also has access to essential food supplies. Tamar does not like to be dependent on the mercy of others, but the job prospects for her profession are literally non-existent in Kutaisi. "I would like to learn how to sew. As a seamstress I could find a job, and maybe even work from home."
In addition to being helped with food and medical supplies, beneficiaries of the family strengthening programme are offered social and psychological support. SOS Children's Villages works closely with external partners in order to increase job prospects for the beneficiaries. Meetings are organized with community leaders to involve them in the process, familiarize them with the real problems families face, and therefore push them to find solutions, maybe for Tamar as well.
Grandma's wish
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| Maria with her grandson |
A second SOS family strengthening programme went into operation in February 2007 in the capital Tbilisi. Currently, 120 children (61 boys and 59 girls), 154 adults and 87 families are being assisted through the project. As in Kutaisi, the family strengthening programme offers educational, nutritional and health support and helps families to protect and care for their children. The programme aims to link families with income generating activities as well, although no one has become completely fully financially independent since the programme began. Health conditions have improved tremendously, all participant children have remained in their biological family environment, and more families now give their children nutritious food. Children, adults and families in Tbilisi are also receiving psycho-social assistance from social workers.
Seventy-one year-old Maria is among the people being helped. She lives with her two little grandsons on the outskirts of Tbilisi, on the fifth floor of an old building with broken windows, a dirty hall and no lift. Four years ago, Maria had a house in the centre of Tbilisi, but one day, Maria's daughter-in-law walked out on her family. Maria's son reacted with desperation and anger, and as a result of his alcohol abuse, he lost his job and developed health problems. When he was hospitalized Maria took out a mortgage on the house to pay his medical bills, but the bank soon repossessed the house, leaving Maria and the little boys homeless. She applied for shelter from the social services and was granted this one-room flat.
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| Entrance to Maria's house |
Maria was identified just in time and immediately became a beneficiary of the family strengthening programme at the beginning of 2007, just as she was beginning to considering the options for putting her grandsons into care. Darejan, the programme's social worker, brings them food packages and cleaning supplies once a month and gives them individual counselling every week. There aren't many places for the boys to play. Inside it is dangerous because of the broken windows, and the playground outside is cramped with rubbish and construction debris. Nevertheless, Maria makes the tough journey up and down the five floors every day so her grandsons can play football. "It takes me about thirty minutes to make it down the stairs," she says. "Going up is even harder."
Maria has already made plans for the inevitable. "When I die, my grandsons will go to live with my daughter. Her husband is disabled and they are poor as well, but SOS Children's Villages has given us all new hope for the future. My family has to stay together. That is all I wish for."