Georgia borders Russia, the Black Sea, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Its estimated population is 3.6 million. In 1991, Georgia emerged from the Soviet Union as an independent state, the Republic of Georgia. However, It was changed to Georgia after adopting its Constitution in 1995. While having a tumultuous history due to the political affairs of its neighboring countries, it has always been known for its remarkable cultural heritage. Georgia’s poverty level has fluctuated since becoming independent, notably from 70.6% in 2010 to 47.7% in 2022. Multiple charities in Georgia have made substantial efforts to support Georgians in developing successful lives as citizens. Some of these charities in Georgia include:

Caritas Georgia

Caritas Georgia was founded in 1994 and is still active today. This organization was first established to support and care for those left destitute after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The current mission of this nongovernmental organization (NGO) is to promote human development and social justice. It brings relief and support to disadvantaged citizens.

Caritas Georgia introduced several projects to improve conditions for those in social care and children and young adult protection programs. These projects work on policies to prevent families from being forced into the migration process due to economic reasons.

St Gregory’s Foundation

In Tbilisi, although a third of Georgia’s population resides here, there are very few social care services that focus on young people who are homeless. This makes it a main priority for St. Gregory’s Foundation to bridge this gap and reduce the risk of teenagers becoming incarcerated and lost in the prison system.

This organization provides skills and knowledge to local communities to enhance social welfare projects. It creates opportunities for vulnerable individuals to improve their circumstances. Workers support disabled children and teenagers who struggle with traditional methods of communication to become confident members of society and embrace independence.

The foundation also offers education and life-skills training to those leaving care from orphanages to support them in setting up a sustainable lifestyle. Since its beginning, more than 400 children and teenagers in Georgia have benefitted from the organization’s rehabilitation services.

SOS Children’s Villages

This organization focuses its resources on those without parental care or those at risk of losing it so they may grow up with suitable socialization. It does not matter the culture, heritage, religion, sexual orientation, gender or disability of the child or young adult; the initiative will support the person in establishing trust and nurturing a sense of belonging in their community.

Its mission is adapted to fit the socioeconomic circumstances of Tbilisi. SOS Children’s Villages have worked in Tbilisi since 1996, offering support to families and advocating for the improvement of human rights. It collaborates with displaced people who have experienced poverty and social exclusion. The organization has supported almost 500 people and offered educational workshops regarding parenting classes and children’s rights.

Human Rights House Foundation

Established in 2010, this foundation united five separate organizations to form a social support pillar. These organizations focus on promoting Georgians’ human rights by developing a strategy to protect and strengthen awareness of human rights issues and violations.

Its organizations include the Human Rights Centre and the Media Institute. The former was initially founded in 1996 to protect freedom in Georgia. The Media Institute was established in 2011. It’s goal was to promote and guarantee freedom of speech and expression to prosper the development of impartial media reporting in Georgia.

Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger’s projects throughout Georgia offer locals resources to support their businesses and startups. The organization aims to improve access to food supplies. They provide citizens with training in agriculture and the equipment needed to farm their own crops. As part of this organization, field schools and agricultural centers are set up in the countryside to teach citizens efficient ways of farming. In 2019, the organization offered services to 8,667 individuals through its programs.

Final Remark

Although the World Bank has shown that poverty has declined in Georgia, more than 10% of the population continues to live below the national poverty line, with most of these citizens living in the more rural areas of the country. Nonetheless, Georgia’s economy expanded in February of this year due to the progression of sectors such as construction and manufacturing.

However, despite the general progression of the job market, issues remain. There is an outstandingly low percentage of Georgian citizens (16.4%) unemployed, compared to the 20.6% recorded in 2021. However, there is concern about the quality of jobs offered to Georgian citizens.

It is clear that these charities are working hard to better the lives of the citizens of Georgia. However, for Georgia’s economy to thrive as a small country, social care on a larger scale than local authorities can provide is necessary to improve the quality of life for its citizens.

– Brogan Dickson

Brogan is based in Scotland and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

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