12-year-old Niniko`s story is illustrative of one of the main hurdles First Step Georgia strives to overcome: parent’s inability to keep a child with special needs at home due to lack of financial and social support.

Niniko has an intellectual disability, epilepsy and cerebral palsy. In 2003, when Niniko was 6, her mother, overwhelmed by the strain of caring for her daughter, placed her in Kaspi state InstitutionHowever, due to First Step Georgia’s intervention Niniko was back with her mother within 6 months.

With First Step Georgia`s support Niniko underwent a series of operations to improve her mobility, she gets regular physical rehabilitation therapy and is observed by a neurologist. She goes to Day Care Centre and the organisation hired a full-time caregiver to support Niniko and her family. Her mother is overjoyed to have her daughter home again.

Caring for a child with severe disabilities is a challenge which few parents can manage alone.

HELP FIRST STEP GEORGIA TO KEEP MORE CHILDREN LIKE NINIKO WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

• Just  $9.69 per day supports 1 child reintegrated [from Kaspi] in his/her family.
• Just $57 per month pays for 1 child`s physical rehabilitation, including transportation to rehabilitation facilitie.