No father and mother – or anyone else who cares. But a youth center helps. In the Georgian capital Tbilisi, many children are left to fend for themselves and wander the streets.
It’s not just stray dogs that line the streets in Georgia, children also often wander around alone – especially in the city of Tbilisi, which has a population of 1.4 million, street children or ‘street-bound children’ – as they are called in the official language. – are a major problem topic. Thanks to the aid organization World Vision Austria (WVÖ), the “Krone” had the opportunity to get to know street children in Tbilisi, who were taken care of by WVÖ director Sebastian Corti. Employees run a day center there, where those who do not have a father or mother also live under state care.
100 euros for a supermarket job, 500 euros as a doctor
In the yard, Boris (9) cannot be separated from football. He performed one trick after another. “My role model is Neymar, I would like to make fun of him like him, but I also love our ‘Kvaradona’,” said the student. Other children played with old car tires.
Boris spends his time here after school until the evening, then he goes home to his parents, who work hard and get little money for it. For example, a supermarket worker in Tbilisi receives the equivalent of about 100 euros per month for a full-time job. A dentist who has just left university and works in a day clinic earns about 500 euros per month.
The heating in the middle is on, the soups are steaming
The entrance to the youth center leads through a house that has seen better days: walls and windows are missing, the plaster is crumbling, a hovel, as the Austrians would probably say. But within the institution everything is lovingly decorated. The heaters are also working and steam is coming from the stockpots in the kitchen. Henry (23) used to live here, in the youth center. After his father’s death, no one cared about him; he was a street child. Two years later, his grandmother took him in and they moved 25 times.
But he could leave this life behind him. Thanks to the help of the counselors, I managed to complete my schooling and go to university. Now Henry is an IT technician and has his life firmly under control.
Georgian star in Naples
The Georgian footballer with the tongue-in-cheek name Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has become a star in Naples, southern Italy. There, the kicker with the number 77 on his jersey won the championship together with his colleagues – after 33 years, “Kvaradona” & Co. the title back to the city at the foot of Vesuvius! Not only to elegantly avoid the difficult pronunciation of his surname, but because he also plays like the ‘football god’ Diego Maradona, they call him ‘Kvaradona’ in Naples.
Georgia is working towards the EU
In an interview with “Krone” Sebastian Corti, Managing Director of World Vision Austria, talks about his impressions of the country.
“Kron”: Mr. Corti, what is missing in Georgia?
Sebastian Corti: I noticed that Georgia is a country that sticks together, is interested in development and seeks proximity to the EU. But it will take years before it is at a level that we can enjoy in Austria. In Georgia this is also because it suffered under Soviet rule in the past. There are aftermaths and a lot to work through. Georgia has always lived in a troubled region with not only friendly neighbors. Life here is a constant challenge. Poverty is very great. About 20 percent of the people in this country live in abject poverty.
How do you experience the work of the people of World Vision here?
Thanks to the work of our team, the doors to government support have been opened for many families and children. My colleagues demonstrate a high level of professionalism, competence and transparency. There is also a great personal commitment and a great passion for the work of doing something good. In addition, it has proven possible to maintain a relationship of trust with the local government.
How can we help from Austria?
I was impressed with the assistance provided by the ADA in Georgia. We have a number of projects running together. Many goals can be achieved through our joint development work.
In addition to the abject poverty, something positive is also happening in tourism.
Georgia is already a tourist destination, but not yet well known to us. Many preserved monuments, a population that is proud of their country and excellent food in combination with unspoiled nature are inviting for travelers. With support from the ADA and an Austrian company, we were able to develop an app for mobile phones together with a youth group. This application opens up completely new perspectives on the country and can be downloaded for free in German and English. And the app also works offline.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
