The Tbilisi centre in need
In Eastern Europe, in southern Caucasus there is a country with one of the oldest cultures in the world – Georgia. At the end of the 1980’s still under the Soviet regime a group of people set a precedence in realising an institution creating real life - and development conditions for adults with mental disabilities and fulfilling the conditions of human dignity. The social therapy centre in Tbilisi opened its doors in 1990.
The work of the “Association for caring for people with mental disabilities” has different areas – not only is there the home for 54 adults with disabilities. There is also a Seminar for Social therapy, short term practicals for professionals and those interested, as well as a printers (The “Azmko” publishers) at the state university of Tbilisi.
The situation of people with limited mental and physical abilities in Georgia still remains unsolved. The unstable Georgian domestic and foreign politics, the difficult economic situation, the unsound social environment, poverty and much more, results in nothing being changed. The disabled have to wait until all of the above mentioned challenges have been dealt with. And yet time does not wait and life goes on and they still wait and wait…
Some of the founders of our work are themselves, mentally and physically disabled: Sopo, Giorgi, Gudsha, Ana, Simon. They themselves showed what they needed, and opened their unique world like a book. We had to learn to read from this book. The process of mental cooperation started in our work: getting to know each other, getting used to each other, living and working together, learning from each other, overcoming our difficulties as well as enjoying our first common achievements.
Each specific person is a world of his own, and each of them entered this therapeutic centre with fear and hesitation. Sacha held his hands over his ears, Keti was anxious, Taumuna cried, Marika never spoke, from Teona one had to keep ones distance. Almost each and everyone needed individual attention. Their situation worsened by the adverse political and social economic realities, through long isolation and the unnecessary worry of the parents (mainly the mothers).
Today these pioneers are leading co-workers in our centre. The signs for their progress are: independent qualitative work, caring and looking after new members, integration in the environment, trust and openness toward other people, inner balance. “The social therapeutic centre is my home”, Keti says with pride. “Look what I made all by myself”, says Sascha. “At home it is so boring, but here we are all together” are the words of Lado. The parents see these developments and are filled with amazement and joy.
What does our organisation offer to the individual person?
A social therapist remembers…
I would like to tell you about Keti, who came to us two years ago in September of 2006. Keti has green eyes, curly hair and is amazingly warm hearted – she automatically draws attention to herself. When I saw her for the first time I was overcome by a very unusual feeling: I felt as if a very old friend was coming to me, one I have not seen for a very long time. Later I heard that her mother had died of cancer at a very young age – a big blow for her and her family.
All the people in our home are close to us, but Keti is especially near to me. She feels how her pain becomes my pain. Getting used to her new environment she managed by getting used to me first. She told me everything that concerned her and her mother. At first she spoke very softly so that the others could not hear what she said, she told everything like a holy story. Sometimes she was not able to control her emotions and started to cry. She told of how she missed her mother, that she was living for her. She told of how she cared for her mother, how her mother was concerned about her, that her mother was a doctor and knew of her dying long ahead of time. During her telling I took hold of her hand and told her that her mother is still with her and has never really left her that she merely finds herself in another world. I told her that her mother is so happy that she is with us and has something to do.
Today Keti can laugh and says: “what would I be doing if I was not here”. She says that she has learnt much from us and here she has made many friends. I as well as Keti`s family are convinced that we have helped Keti.
Various tasks
Our organisation and the work in our home are seen as highly qualified and it is valued, but state support is mostly moral and not financial. Disabled children somehow gets by… there are some state schools, 14 specialised high schools as well as many non governmental organisations in this area, but we and our sister organisation “Kedeli” in the eastern part of Georgia , are the only organisation caring for mentally disabled adults.
In Georgia there are about 20.000 mentally disabled persons, 4000 of these in Tbilisi. And yet there is only our home and workshop at the university, who cares for 60 people all the time, many families approach us, looking for a place for their children but have to go onto the waiting list.
Our therapy centre is a model for dealing differently with disabled persons. Not only do the high school pupils of the Waldorf School in Tbilisi do their annual social practicals with us – also the psychology and educational faculties do their subject practicals with us. The meeting of people with mental disabilities, working and caring for them brings a fundamental change in the value system of these youths. One starts to realise that one cannot simply forget and ignore (and so push them into isolation) them, rather live with and next to them.
We have gotten active on many different platforms. Within two years we have created a therapeutic workshop at a school where school writing books are being made. Since 2006 our printers at the university has been in use, serving the students as well as a place where a relationship and practicals with disabled people are possible. Through the active support of our structure other initiatives came into being like, “The bridge of parents”, the initiative “arrows” and our sister organisation “Kedeli” as well as others.
One of our priorities is training. Since 2001 we have a foundation course in social therapy and since 2002 a shorter practical course, where there is a big interest from state and non state organisations. Through lots of public relations our work has become more and more known. More and more social organisations and even state departments come to us for advice.
The financial need
The Dutch foundation CORDAID has been financing our work since 1996. It has unfortunately since 2006 withdrawn its finances from East European countries which placed us in a great need. Because of the political and economic state in Georgia we have no hope of finding a donor such as CORDAID here in Georgia. Since 2005 our social therapy work has been getting a state subsidy – a pilot project that we have initiated ourselves. However this payment of 10 Lari per head a month covers about 20% of the needed amount, a further problem is that it will only be paid for the next ten months and that during this year no new co-worker can be taken into the programme.
Currently we need about 160000 euro a year. Our parents and association membership fees covers 7000 euro of this amount, and the state subsidy 41000 euro, our workshops brings in about 9000 euro… for the rest of our funds we are dependent on donors, friends and promoters! Who will help us?
Lia Asanischwili
To top 09/2008