Capital:Tiflis
Area: 69,700 km²
Population: 4.77 million (July 2005)
Ethnic groups: Georgian, Armenian, Russian, Azeri, Ossetian, Abkhaz and various minorities
Official language(s): Georgian
Religion(s) Christian Orthodox, Muslim, Armenian Apostolic and other creeds
Currency: 1 lari = 100 tetri
SOS Children's Villages' activities in the country
Following the break-up of the former Soviet Union, social and economic conditions for families in Georgia deteriorated to such an extent that more and more children had to fend for themselves on the streets. Circumstances were further worsened by the civil-war-like situation brought about by the Abkhazian and South Ossetian conflicts of the early 1990's. Therefore, SOS-Kinderdorf International decided to become active in Georgia in 1989. A suitable site was found on the edge of Tbilisi with the help of the Soviet Lenin Children's Foundation. The first SOS Children's Village went into operation in October 1996.
A year later an SOS Kindergarten was built in the Georgian capital. After five years the need for an SOS Youth Facility became apparent and in 2001 it opened in the centre of Tbilisi. Construction work on the second SOS Children's Village in Georgia, in the town of Kutaisi also started that year and in September 2002, SOS Children’s Village Kutaisi went into operation. In October 2007 an SOS Youth Facility was set up in Kutaisi for the youths who had outgrown the SOS Children's Village.
In 2005 SOS Children's Villages Georgia started to operate Family Strengthening Programmes, which enable children who are at risk of losing the care of their family to grow within a caring family environment. To achieve this, SOS Children's Villages Georgia works directly with families and communities to empower them to effectively protect and care for their children, in cooperation with local authorities and other service providers.
Another programme started in 2007 in Kutaisi and was extended to Tbilisi in 2009. Its aim is the qualitative improvement of services of public schools and kindergartens by offering skill enhancement to teachers and educators as well as supporting children on a demand-oriented, individual basis.
At present there are two SOS Children's Villages in Georgia, two SOS Youth Facilities, one SOS Kindergarten and five SOS Social Centres.
Website of SOS Children's Villages Georgia
(available in Georgian)