The children’s village was born when First Step Georgia needed to provide suitable housing for the critically ill children rescued from Kaspi, a state institution where tragically many children had died during the 1990’s.
First Step Georgia’s founders rescued 30 critically ill children from Kaspi. They made a miraculous recovery and in September of 2000 six children started attending school. Then the Government of Georgia assigned First Step Georgia two hectares of land in the suburbs of Tbilisi. Construction of the first residential cottage for children with intellectual and physical disability was completed in 2002 and children moved to their new home.
At the purpose-built village, children live in small groups in two cottages. First Step Georgia makes the utmost effort to foster a family-style atmosphere; the children’s wellbeing is overseen by house mothers who treat them as if they were their own.
The aim of all the programmes operating at the village, which include the education, medical and social as well as the development and supported employment programmes, is to help residents lead a healthy, fulfilled life and integrate into mainstream society.
Giorgi`s story
Giorgi`s family was displaced by Georgia`s armed conflicts and civil war of the early 1990s.
Giorgi has cerebral palsy and his parents found it too difficult to care for him at home and placed him in the Kaspi State Institution – where 24 children died in the winter of 1993-4 - when he was just four years old. It was the only choice his parents had.
Then First Step Georgia intervened, Giorgi was hospitalised and after two major operations he walked for the first time and enjoys much better eyesight. In 2002 Giorgi was moved to First Step Georgia’s Children’s Village where the once abandoned and hopeless little boy has grown into a creative, active, 18-year-old. He attended special school and learnt practical and social skills. He is involved in singing, painting and swimming lessons. He also learnt what love is and now describes himself as ‘the happiest person of all’. Now he lives semi-independently and is employed at McDonald’s .
| HELP OTHER CHILDREN BECOME AS HAPPY AS GIORGI
Children develop their skills and personalities through play, through painting pictures, making music and competing at sports.
As little as $12 per month gives 1 child swimming lessons.
$72 provides 6 kids one month of swimming lessons.
$42 per month provides developmental aids like musical instruments, paints, toy kitchens and sports balls for the Day Care Centre.
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