Sponsor's update from Tbilisi, Georgia

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Tbilisi, Georgia from Summer 2008.

Dear Sponsors

Receive warmest greetings from SOS Children’s Village Tbilisi and our grateful feelings for your help to our organisation and our children. They all need our care and warmth…

A half of the year passed and we would like to share with you the most recent developments and news of your sponsored facility - SOS Children’s Village Tbilisi. We are sure,

You were looking forward to receive news.

We admitted one new child to our village during the past six months and 73 children are living in the 12 family houses of SOS Children’s Village Tbilisi and 30 youngsters are living in the Youth Facilities. 9 youngsters from the SOS Children’s Village will move to the Youth Facility in July. They are generally very excited to move, as it gives them a feeling of being in charge of their own lives and somehow independent where they will receive a close and individual attention and support, good education and vocational trainings, aiming at preparing them toward independency and self-reliance in life. During being in SOS families they are taught life skills, being responsible, dealing with different situations: resolving problems, household and cooking. 18 youngsters are living on the semi-independent life. It should be mentioned that even, when the youngsters live in the Youth Facilities or on semi independent lives they still keeping excellent relation with SOS mothers, with SOS sisters, brothers and SOS co-workers. But the most important is the fact that they have their SOS mother wherever they go or whatever they do!

Surprise for mothers
Mother’s day was celebrated in SOS Children’s Village with a lot of enthusiasm and joy on March 3. A nice way to make SOS mothers feels precious, great opportunity to express gratitude towards them. Children showed love to their moms by gifting flowers and cards to them. While the older children bought gifts from the stores the younger ones prepared handmade gifts to honor their mothers, children also try to make a meal for Mothers so that she can have a days rest from the kitchen.

The concert was held in SOS Children Village, where little ones presented dances and songs to entertain their mothers. Event was followed with a little party attended by guest and friends of our organization. A huge surprise was awaiting SOS mothers after party: Opening of computer classes in the administration for SOS mothers, that was the wish of mothers, they expressed desire to study computer programs and working in the internet and now they have opportunity to realise their wish. All co workers were arranging computer class during one week in order to present SOS mothers more comfortably and lovely as possible, the room is equipped with six computers and twice a week professional computer specialist teaches them. It really made SOS mothers happy. They try their best in order to study computer skills.

Children’s and Youth success
Once again we are happy to tell you that several of our children achieved good results at school, all of them will finish school soon, and some of them will have to pass examinations and tests and will be transferred to the next level. Children continue to attend different classes at school Pilot Project “Quality Development in Public Schools and Nursery Schools” Studying classes of the village are activating effectively, children study English and Russian languages, drawing singing and dancing. Our 9 youngsters continue attending International studying courses of English language, in the CAC centre, where they were invited to study free of charge and presumably they will continue studying next year too.

Events in Tbilisi, Georgia

Courage followed by success
“It was the most Important year form me, for the first time in my life, I experienced something I hadn't in years” said Mary, girl from SOS Children’s Village. In the secondary school that SOS children attend was held very interesting project-contest that was dedicated to the famous Georgian writer Ilia Chavchavadze. Most pupils expressed desire to participate it the project. Contest was really very competitive. Mary decided to participate; even she wasn’t very self confident and experienced some kind of a fear, despite her good literature skills and ability to write good compositions, it seemed for her very difficult. The project aimed writing the composition “If Ilia Chavchavadze would be alive”. Mary felt great responsibility because this famous person was not only the greatest Georgian writer, he was public benefactor and leader, beloved and well known public figure and human man of the country.

“I wonder: how I dare to be involved in this project, but I wrote with love and great desire, while the process of writing I was anxious and proud at the same time, I experienced sadness romanticism and belief for the future and I made my feelings alive in my composition”.

Mary won the contest. She was rewarded with the money prize and certificate as the author of the best story. This fact played a great role in foundation of her personality she became convinced in her opportunities and very self confident. She decided to participate in the future in other fascinating projects and she almost didn’t experience any kind of fear.

“I win the contest and besides I studied how to take risk, how to meet the challenges, I made my SOS Mom happy and brought fame to SOS Village” Says Mary.

The youngster’s photos and interviews were places in one of the well known Georgian journals. The Interviews are very heart touching. For instance: Giorgi 17 years old says: “I go to my job every day, I sell newspapers. I worked as barmen too and I know what I want in my life. I would like to continue studying at the collage and gain the profession of a barmen, I am from the region Kutaisi and the only relative I have is my grandmother, she lives there, I dream to earn money and buy a little flat in Tbilisi, in order to bring over here my granny to live with me. I have already bought TV and DVD with my savings, now I started to save money for the flat. Great will active actions and huge patience are needed in order to achieve my aim. I try to do all my best in order to achieve my goals step by step. I am grateful to SOS for support and attention, because everything I have reached is SOS merit.”

Activities and happenings
The famous Georgian sculptor Mr. Merab Berdzenishvili held a workshop for co workers, mothers and the children at the children's village.

The children are very happy, because off they got a really nice present - musical centre from a sponsor. They really enjoy arranging discos, dancing and singing karaoke’s, in the evenings and on celebrations. Also one of the sponsors from Germany visited his sponsored child Giorgi. Giorgi was delighted and happy. One of the Georgian sponsor, who has been living in Germany for 15 years also visited his sponsored child’s SOS family and spend with them a whole day playing with the children.

The contact with the sponsors positivly influences on our children. They feel that there are people in the world who are thinking and taking care of them! Besides financial support, we are grateful to have friends who understand and promote our idea and share our thrill with every positive change that happens in the lives of the children! We hope that our information was exciting. We will continue to get in touch with you in the future to give more information about your sponsored facility.

Therefore on behalf of all the children, mothers and all co workers we would like to thank you and Wish You an enjoyable summer time.

Village Director
Otar Ninua