Meet Oksana Egorova, a participant in the "Improved Child Protection System in Guria and Kakheti" project. Oksana joined the employment and professional planning service on February 24, 2023. Oksana is of Ukrainian origin. Currently, she is a housewife, living with her husband and four children, including a child with a disability.

Oksana's family has been involved in beekeeping for years, but only a few bee colonies survived due to diseases. Oksana wanted to engage in an activity that would contribute to the economic strengthening of her family while allowing her to care for her children. She decided to continue the old family business. Through the project, she completed a short course in beekeeping and received bee colonies with hives. This activity will help secure the family's financial future.

Oksana notes, "At a new stage of my life, I am starting the work that I liked so much and always wanted to continue—the family's traditional activities."

The project is implemented with the financial support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Hermann Gmeiner German Foundation.

Marina is a young girl who lives in the partner community of the CSG Center with her two young children and her husband. Marina's main activity was raising children and family activities, but she also had a number of other skills and, if supported, could realize her potential. The support and assistance of the CSG Center proved crucial and important for Marina and her family.

Marina has always been attracted to and interested in knitting, embroidery and handicrafts. However, he could not imagine that his further activities would be related to his favorite job. In the process of working with Marina's family, it became clear that she was particularly interested in the art of felt processing, and it was decided to develop an activity in this direction, which would later become a source of small income for her. After the involvement of the Kakheti Regional Development Center, his life changed completely. With the help of the organization, Marina underwent professional training, studied felt processing techniques and started making accessories and souvenirs from felt. In order to start her own business, the Marina Center provided all the necessary materials for the production of items, after which the Center started to sell handicrafts. Today Marina has her own business, has a small income and is an independent and realized woman.

"The organization suddenly appeared in my life and everything changed. It gave me the opportunity to learn and do what I have always liked and most importantly to make this a source of income for me. "Once I started working on felt and selling it, I became more confident." Notes Marina. "I, as a mother, am happy to have the opportunity to ensure the well-being of my children with my own income. With the help of the CSG Center, a number of positive changes have taken place in my and my children's lives."

Salome is a single parent living in the CSG Center partner community who has been caring for her three young children completely alone for years. Meeting with the CSG program radically changed the lives of Salome and her girls. Although Salome is a caring and loving parent, she could not afford to care for her children properly and meet their basic needs due to living conditions and social hardship. Due to her small income, Salome found it difficult to feed her children, and in many cases the children had to stay hungry.

He also did not have enough firewood to heat his house in the winter and was able to move through the winter in the hope of his neighbors. Abandoned by her husband, Salome spent several years with her children in one of the settlements, in an apartment rented by a relative, where there was no furniture, no heat, and no other important conditions for the development of the children. Salome tried to take care of the children in the hope of social assistance. He did not have a supportive circle and could hardly take on the responsibilities imposed on him. Salome's family was informed about the CSG program, after which they were involved in family support services and the family was provided with basic necessities. However, after meeting with Salome, it became clear that there was a high risk in the family that the children would be transferred to state care due to unsuitable environmental conditions. That is why the CSG program planned complex work with Salome. Salome got involved in a family support model and started working intensively with a family supporter to strengthen her. In the first stage, his living conditions were adjusted. With the help of the municipal social service, a safe and secure apartment was rented in the village where the lives and health of the children were not endangered. In addition active work was planned in terms of professional development of the young mother.

A job was found and Salome was hired. He was actively involved in the work process and in addition to being employed, he also started an active social life. It can be said that Salome, who used to have difficulty caring for her own children and looked to the future with fear, is now an independent and strong woman who, without any help, manages to take full care of her children independently, lives in a safe and secure environment and leads an active social life.

In December 2019, the Kakheti Regional Development Program announced a small grant competition for state-cared and out-of-care youth to fund project ideas, led by training young people in project writing and general entrepreneurial skills. Two young girls were particularly active. One of the project ideas involved purchasing costumes for animated characters and operating a group of animators for the birthdays of children and adults. They came up with interesting project ideas, got funding and started the business with great enthusiasm. A girl who was in state care from a young age. He was small when he met with the staff of the Kakheti Regional Development Center and since then he has not severed ties with the organization. He has been a loyal member of the Peace Road Club for many years and is now a successful adult. "This initiative has given me the opportunity to show my abilities. To further analyze what my life purpose, interest and aspirations are. For a young man. " "Kakheti Regional Development Center gave me self-confidence, the ability to manage emotions and most importantly taught me how to fight for success. Many important events in my life are connected with the Kakheti Regional Development Center and the team that works there. "

Giorgi Bakhbakashvili is a participant in the "Improved Child Protection System in Guria and Kakheti" project. He lives in the village of Vardisubani with his wife, four children, and his mother.

Giorgi traveled to Germany twice as part of an employment promotion project, where he primarily engaged in agricultural work. He noted, "You are nobody in a foreign country, everyone looks at you as a foreigner."

With some experience in farming, Giorgi and his wife completed a small veterinary course in pig farming through the project. They were provided with a sow and twelve piglets.

They began to care for and breed meat pigs, an activity that contributes to the family's future financial security.

Giorgi says, "I realize that this project gives me the opportunity to be with my family and to be strong in my village in my country. Now I know for sure that my children will not be hungry, and as a parent, it is better for me to be here because my children need me today, here and now."

The project is implemented with the financial support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Hermann Gmeiner German Foundation.

Meet Gocha Khozberuashvili, a participant in the project "Improved Child Protection System in Guria and Kakheti." Gocha Khozberuashvili joined the employment and professional planning service in October 2022. He lives in the village of Vardisubani with his wife and son.

Gocha's family has engaged in various economic activities over the years. They had an incubator but were unable to expand their operations, resulting in meager income. With the financial support of the project, the family received a new incubator and a power regulator. Additionally, they were provided with the services of a veterinarian, who offered practical training. The family successfully utilized the equipment to increase their income.

Gocha notes, "I always dreamed of having my own poultry farm. I see how my dream is coming true. Now that my family and I are on the path to fulfilling this dream, I know for sure that our lives are getting better."

The project is implemented with the financial support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Hermann Gmeiner German Foundation.

Meet Veriko Murvelashvili, a participant in the project "Improved Child Protection System in Guria and Kakheti." Veriko joined the employment and professional planning service in January 2022. She is a 26-year-old woman living in Shalauri village with her husband, parents, and six children.
The Murvelashvili family has been engaged in various agricultural activities over the years. They had a bakery but struggled to expand their business, resulting in a meager income for their large family.
With the financial support of the project, the family received a new bakery, a dough kneading machine, a power regulator, various storage rooms, and necessary equipment. They successfully utilized the provided resources to increase their income.
Veriko notes, "We didn't believe that such miracles happen, that complete strangers can push you to start a new life, hold your hand, and lead you to real changes. Now there is a long way ahead, new plans, and I think good news is starting now."
The project is implemented with the financial support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Hermann Gmeiner German Foundation.
 

Nana Gagnidze is a 41-year-old woman living with her children in Vardisubani village. She is socially vulnerable, with her social assistance amounting to 200 GEL. Nana is a professional stylist with over five years of work experience, having worked in different salons.

Nana recalls, "I worked for years on a meager income. It was often difficult for me to pay for the rent of the salon as well as for the inventory. When I managed for a while, I saved bit by bit to buy inventory. I thought, today I am here, but what will I do tomorrow? Do I need to have my own place?"

These thoughts led Nana to the realization that using her own equipment was essential. However, over time, the equipment became old and broke down. "When the equipment is not of the quality it should be, you often wonder, what can I offer to my clients? Does anyone want to dry their hair with a hairdryer wrapped in broken duct tape? Maybe that's why I couldn't move forward," she says.

During this challenging period, the Kakheti Regional Center and SOS Children's Village—through Asmati, Mari, and Nino—began working with Nana. They gave her the opportunity to rediscover her strength and become a purposeful, determined, and active woman.

"Participation in the project turned out to be very interesting. These people truly recognized the needs I was experiencing at that time. I am very proud to have updated equipment and inventory. Most importantly, I now have a smiling face, which I noticed in the new hanging mirror, one of the gifts I received from this project," Nana shares.