Step Forward Advocates for the Needs of Children with Hearing Impairments

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 3 in 1,000 babies are born with a hearing impairment, making it the world’s most common birth defect. A new education law in Georgia provides for more inclusive education for hearing impaired children, but a lack of equipment and medical services makes it difficult to fully implement this law in the regions outside of Tbilisi.
To address the problem, the Batumi-based organization Step Forward conduct-ed a comprehensive advocacy campaign to improve medical and educational services for children with hearing impairments.

Step Forward conducted and publicized a quantitative survey about the main healthcare and social barriers children with hearing problems face, trained 15 parents of hearing-impaired children in advocacy to help them protect their children’s rights, and held working group meetings with local government officials, NGOs, and parents to plan a course of action.

Step Forward’s evidence-based approach and their specific requests were key to forming a successful partnership with government officials. “We informed them, presented research, held several meetings, and afterwards the Ministers of Health and Education in Adjara and also Batumi City Hall agreed to work together with our organization regarding the problem,” said Executive Director Manana Inaishvili.

სმენადაქვეითებული ბავშვები თანატოლებთან ერთად მღერიან „სტეფ-ფორვარდის“ ადვოკატირების ვიდეოში./Children with hearing impairments sing with their peers in a film Step Forward produced and broadcast as part of its advocacy campaign.

Step Forward also raised awareness about the needs of children with hearing impairments by publishing and distributing 3,000 copies of an information book-let and producing an advocacy film that was broadcast on a local TV channel.
As a result of Step Forward’s efforts, the Ministers of Health and Education in Adjara agreed to help design early diagnostics, treatment, and education pro-grams for children with hearing impairments. Step Forward and regional government officials are currently designing these programs.

EWMI G-PAC funded Step Forward’s efforts with a Citizens’ Advocacy Grant, and provided the organization with on-the-job consultations through its Training Program.

EWMI G-PAC awarded Step Forward another CAG in June of 2012 based on its previous success. Step Forward will now work with the Adjaran government to further develop the strategic plan for improving services for children with hearing impairments and to monitor the implementation of this plan.

„სტეპ-ფორვარდი“ სმენადაქვეითებულ ბავშვთა საჭიროებებზე ზრუნავს

ჯანდაცვის მსოფლიო ორგანიზაციის (WHO) მიხედვით, ყოველი 1000 ბავშვიდან 3 სმენადაქვეითებული იბადება, რაც ამ დეფექტის მქონე ბავშვების საკმაოდ დიდ რაოდენობას მოწმობს. საქართველოს ახალი საგანმანათლებლო კანონმდებლობა ასეთი პრობლემების მქონე ბავშვებს უკეთესი ინკლუზიური განათლების შესაძლებლობას აძლევს, თუმცა აღჭურვილობისა და სამედიცინო მომსახურების სიმცირის გამო ამ კანონის რეგიონებში განხორციელება სირთულეს წარმოადგენს.

პრობლემის გადასაჭრელად ბათუმში დაფუძნებულმა არასამთავრობო ორგანიზაციამ „სტეპ-ფორვარდი“ ადვოკატირების კამპანია ჩაატარა, რომლის მიზანსაც სმენადაქვეითებული ბავშვებისათვის სამედიცინო და საგანმანათლებლო მომსახურების გაუმჯობესება წარმოადგენდა. პირველ ეტაპზე დადგინდა ჯანდაცვისა და სოციალური კუთხით არსებული ის ბარიერები, რომელთაც სმენითი პრობლემების მქონე ბავშვები აწყდებიან; შემდეგ ჩატარდა ადვოკატირების ტრენინგები თხუთეტი სმენადაქვეითებული ბავ-შვის მშობლისათვის, რათა გაძლიერებულიყო მათი უნარები თავიანთი შვილების უფლებების უკეთ დასაცავად; სამოქმედო გეგმის განსასაზღვრად გაიმართა სამუშაო შეხვედრები ადგილობრივი მთავრობის, არასამთავრობო ორგანიზაციებისა და განსაკუთრებული საჭიროებების მქონე ბავშვების მშობ-ლებს შორის.

სმენადაქვეითებული ბავშვები თანატოლებთან ერთად მღერიან „სტეფ-ფორვარდის“ ადვოკატირების ვიდეოში./Children with hearing impairments sing with their peers in a film Step Forward produced and broadcast as part of its advocacy campaign.

„სტეპ-ფორვარდის“ მტკიცებულებებზე დაფუძნებულმა მიდგომამ და კონ-კრეტულმა მოთხოვნებმა გადამწყვეტი რომლი შეასრულა მთავრობის წარმომადგენლებთან წარმატებული თანამშრომლობის ჩამოყალიბებაში. „ჩვენ მათ ინფორმაცია მივაწოდეთ, წარვუდგილეთ ჩვენი კვლევა, ჩავატარეთ რამდენიმე შეხვედრა, რის შემდეგაც მოვიპოვეთ აჭარის ჯანდაცვისა და განათლების მინისტრების თანხმობა, რომ ამ პრობლემის მოსაგვარებლად აქტიურად ეთანამშრომლათ ჩვენს ორგანიზაციასთან“ – განაცხადა აღმასრუ-ლებელმა დირექტორმა, მანანა ინაიშვილმა.

სმენადაქვეითებული ბავშვების საჭიროებების შესახებ ცნობიერების ასამაღ-ლებლად დაიბეჭდა და გავრცელდა 3000 საინფორმაციო ბროშურა, მომზადდა ფილმი ადვოკატირების შესახებ, რომელიც ადგილობრივი ტელეარხების ეთერით გავიდა.

ამ ძალისხმევის შედეგად, აჭარის ჯანდაცვისა და განათლების სამინისტო-რებმა აქტიური მუშაობა დაიწყეს სმენადაქვეითებული ბავშვთათვის ადრე-ული დიაგნოსტიკის, მკურნალობის და განათლების პროგრამის ჩამოყალი-ბებაზე.

EWMI G-PAC-მა „სტეპ-ფორვარდის“ პროექტი მოქალაქეთა ადვოკატირების გრანტის (CAG) ფარგლებში დაფინანსდა. ორგანიზაციამ “ჯიპაკისაგან” საკონსულტაციო დახმარებაც მიიღო. პროექტის წარმატების გათვალის-წინებით, 2012 წლის ივნისში ისინი კიდევ ერთი მოქალაქეთა ადვოკატირების გრანტით დაფინანსდნენ, რათა კიდევ უფრო აქტიურად ჩაერთნონ სმენა-დაქვეითებული ბავშვებისათვის მომსახურების გაუმჯობესების მიზნით სტრატეგიული გეგმის შემუშავებასა და მისი დანერგვის მონიტორინგის გან-ხორციელებაში

Biliki Empowers IDPs to Advocate for Their Rights

Nearly 134,000 people were forced from their homes during the Russian-Georgian war in August 2008. In addition to facing social and economic challenges, these Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) live in settlements that are isolated from the rest of Georgian society. Economic hardship and minimal awareness of their rights have limited their participation in decision-making processes. With a $15,000 Citizens’ Advocacy Grant from EWMI G-PAC, Society “Biliki” has empowered IDPs, particularly youth, to advocate for their rights, with considerable success.

“Youth are so active,” said Lia Gorelishvili, Biliki Program Manager. With support from Biliki, youth have gathered to discuss key issues in the Khurvaleti IDP settlement like water, garbage and access to education. “The youth wrote a letter to the Minister of Education, and the Minister answered. They are learning how to take issues to the ministries,” Gorelishvili said. Through a journalism club organized by Biliki, youth are producing “minute movies” to bring attention to issues within their community.

IDP youth produce minute movies to bring attention to issues in their community.

After listening to citizens’ concerns, Biliki supported youth and their parents in voicing their needs to the head of the Sakrebulo of Gori Municipality and other members of the local government. As a result, the head of the Sakrebulo agreed to rehabilitate a sports ground in Khurvaleti. A special group will develop the rehabilitation project and determine its cost. Local community members will contribute free labor. The government has already provided trees, planted by community members. Biliki also assisted IDPs living in a multi-family home to advocate successfully for government co-financing for roof repairs, and the Sakrebulo of Kurta Municipality has agreed to procure a minivan to transport children from Khurvaleti to the nearest kindergarten.

 

Girls read at a newly established library in Khurvaleti IDP settlement. EWMI G-PAC grantee Society Biliki supported citizens’ advocacy to establish the library.

One of the greatest concerns raised by IDPs was the absence of a library, so Biliki organized a charity event to collect books for children and publicized the event widely. Citizens and publishing houses from the region donated books to the library. The Sakrebulo of Gori Municipality donated approximately 300 books and bookshelves.

When asked about their greatest achievements, Gorelishvili exclaimed, “We did much more than we thought!” While students have become involved in various sporting and cultural events, interested parents have learned to produce traditional handcrafts towards income generation. All citizens have become more involved in voicing their concerns to the local authorities and requesting sustainable solutions.

 

„სამოქალაქო აქტივობის ცენტრი“ (CAC) მცხეთა-მთიანეთის სოციალურად დაუცველ მოსახლეობას სოციალური დახმარების მიღებაში ეხმარება

116 წლის ეთერ ბედოშვილი ერთი წლის წინ დუშეთიდან რუსთავში თავის ქალიშვილთან გადავიდა საცხოვრებლად, რის შემდეგაც ის ამოღებულ იქნა სოციალურად დაუცველი მოქალაქეების სიიდან და დახმარების მიღებაც შეუწყდა. ამჟამად მას თავის ოთხწევრიან ოჯახთან ერთად ერთ-ერთი უფუნ-ქციო საბავშვო ბაღის ოთახში, მკაცრ პირობებში უწევს ცხოვრება. ეთერის მსგავსი ისტორები „სამოქალაქო აქტივობის ცენტრის“ (CAC) მონაცემთა ბაზაში მრავლადაა. ორგანიზაცია სწორედ მათი ინტერესების დასაცავად მუშაობს მცხეთა-მთიანეთის რაიონში.

CAC-მ, „მცხეთა-მთიანეთის რაიონის საინფორმაციო ცენტრთან“ ერთად, სოციალურად დაუცველი მოსახლეობის დასახმარებლად 2012 წლის თებერვალში დაიწყო პროექტის განხორციელება. დაახლოვებით ერთი წლის განმავლობაში ისინი ბევრ შეჭირვებულ მოსახლეს დაეხმარნენ, მათ შორის სოციალურად დაცუველი ოჯახებს, მარტოხელა და განსაკუთრებული საჭიროებების მქონე ადამიანებს. პროექტის დირექტორის, ეკატერინე ფირცხალავას განცხადებით, ორგანიზაცია კონსულტაციებსა და დახმარებას უწევს სიღარიბის ზღვარს ქვემოთ მყოფ ოჯახებს იმისათვის, რათა მათ შეძლონ „სიღარიბის დაძლევის სახელმწიფო პროგრამაში“ ჩართვა და სოციალური დახმარების მიღება.

116 წლის ეთერ ბედოშვილს მას შემდეგ შეუწყდა სოციალური დახმარება, რაც ის თავის ქალიშვილთან გადავიდა საცხოვრებლად. ორგანიზაცია CAC ეთერის მსგავს ბევრ ადამიანს დაეხმარა მათთვის კუთვნილი სახელწმიფო დახმარების მიღებაში.

„სამოქალაქო აქტივობის ცენტრის“ წარმომადგენლები ადგილზე ეცნობოდნენ სიღარიბის ზღვარს ქვემოთ მყოფი ადამიანების საჭიროებებს, აგროვებდნენ შესაბამის ინფორმაციასა და დოკუმენტებს სოციალური მომსახურების სააგენტოსათვის. მათთან ერთად მუშაობდნენ „მცხეთა-მთიანეთის რაიონის საინფორმაციო ცენტრის“, ჟურნალისტებიც, რომლებიც რეგიონში მცხოვრები სოციალურად დაუცველი მოსახლეობის პრობლემების შესახებ ფოტო-რეპორტაჟებსა და სტატიებს ამზადებდნენ და ვებ-გვერდზე http://www.icmm.ge აქვეყნებდნენ. CAC-მ „სიღარიბის დაძლევის სახელმწიფო პროგრამის“ გასაუმჯობესებლად რეკომენდაციებიც შეიმუშავა.

პროექტის განმავლობაში, CAC-მ კონსულტაციები და ტექნიკური დახმარება 16 ოჯახს (31 ადამიანს) გაუწია. მათი ძალისხმევის შედეგად, სახელმწიფო დახმარების პროგრამაში ჩაერთო სიღარიბის ზღვარს მიღმა მყოფი სამი ოჯახი, სამმა ოჯახმა მიიღო სამედიცინო დაზღვევის პაკეტი, ხოლო ერთ ოჯახს განუახლდა ყოველთვიური დახმარება, რომელიც სხვადასხვა მიზეზების გამო შეჩერებული ჰქონდა. პროექტის ფარგლებში სულ 29 ოჯახს გაეწია იურიდიული დახმარება. ორგანიზაციამ სახელმწიფო პროგრამის ბენეფიციართა უფლებების დარღვევის ფაქტებიც გამოავლინა, ხოლო ადვოკატირების ღონისძიებების შედეგად სამსახურიდან იქნა დათხოვნილი დუშეთის რაიონის სოციალური სერვისების სააგენტოს უფროსი.
აღნიშნული პროექტის შესახებ დამატებითი ინფორმაციისათვის ეწვიეთ ვებ-გვერდს http://www.icmm.ge

EWMI G-PAC-მა CAC-ის პროექტი „მოქალაქეთა ინტერესების დაცვის საგრანტო პროგრამის“ (CAG) ფარგლებში დააფინანსა. G-PAC-მა „სამოქალაქო აქტივობის ცენტრის“ კონსულტანტიც გამოუყო, რომელიც მათ პროექტის დაგეგმვაში, სხვა ორგანიზაციებთან კავშირების დამყარებასა და ფინანსების მოძიებაში დაეხმარა.

Ozurgeti CSO Raises Capacity in Strategic Community Planning

Local government budgets are often based on short-term annual cycles, which poses a challenge to addressing long-term community needs. To improve the ef-fectiveness of public services in addressing these needs, the Ozurgeti Young Scientists Club (OYSC) worked with local government institutions in Lanchkhuti and Ozurgeti to improve long-term planning strategies.

According to Mindia Salukhvadze, the Head of OYSC, connecting annual budg-ets to a long-term plan is vitally important for meeting community needs. “Long-term strategic development plans are required which would give them oppor-tunity to spend their money more effectively,” Ms. Salukhvadze said.

„ოზურგეთის ახალგაზრდა მეცნიერთა კლუბი“ საჯარო მოხელეებს ადგილობრივი მმართველობის პროცესებში მოქალაქეთა მონაწილეობის შესახებ ტრენინგს უტარებს/The Ozurgeti Young Scientists Club conducts a training for public managers on citizen participation in local government.

OYSC targeted the managers of pre-schools, museums, departments of public works (including parks maintenance and street lighting), the Local Tourism Cen-ter, and the Agro-business Center to increase the transparency, accountability, and effectiveness of these institutions.

OYSC identified these particular institutions because together they constitute approximately one-third of the annual budgets in Ozurgeti and Lanchkhuti.

Through advocacy efforts that included teaming with other local CSOs and conducting public awareness campaigns in the media, OYSC succeeded in devel-oping official partnerships with six government institutions in Lanchkhuti and Ozurgeti.
OYCS held group consultations and trainings about citizen participation in pub-lic planning with these institutions, and worked with them to develop long-term strategic plans to guide annual budgets. The Lanchkhuti and Ozurgeti local councils later approved these strategic plans.

The project improved local government capacity in strategic planning and public management, and improved local government cooperation with local CSOs. OYSC and local government officials have an official agreement to develop simi-lar plans for six other government institutions in the coming year.

EWMI G-PAC funded OYSC’s project through the Citizens’ Advocacy Grant Program.

CPMR Protects Citizens’ Property Rights Near Railway Construction Zones

Georgians living in and near Kharagauli and Zestaponi received plots of land from the government in the 1990s, but their land was never properly registered. When construction of the Khashuri-Kharagauli-Zestaponi railway began in 2010, some of these plots were deemed state-owned property. Local residents found it difficult to meet the legislative requirements that would protect their property rights and allow them to receive compensation for their land.

To address the problem, the Center for Public Monitoring and Research (CPMR) in Kharagauli began an advocacy campaign to protect the interests of families living near the railway construction site. CPMR provided consultations to more than 200 people about property rights and the environmental impact of railway construction to people living in nearby villages.

Building on these activities, CPMR partnered with Transparency International – Georgia to add 15 families to the list of those to be compensated by the rail-way company in the village of Khemla in the Kharagauli municipality.

CPMR raised awareness among the community about property rights and land registration procedures through articles published in local newspapers and tele-vision news reports.

“When we started the project the local community was reluctant and indiffer-ent towards our efforts,” said Inga Magradze, Executive Director of CPMR. “However, after an active awareness-raising campaign and having seen the re-sults, they now believe in us and have started advocating for their rights them-selves.”CPMR is also assisting those whose homes have been damaged by the con-struction. “Several houses were damaged as a result of using explosives, and this might happen again,” said Ms. Magradze. “Therefore we keep advocating for those people in order to protect their rights and assist them in getting proper compensation.” Municipal water pipes have also been damaged, and CPMR is working with the Khashuri city government to fix the problem.

EWMI G-PAC funded CPMR’s advocacy efforts through a Citizens’ Advocacy Grant. EWMI G-PAC mentor Grigol Gvilava, the head
of Transparency Interna-tional Georgia’s Advocacy and Legal Advice Center, assisted CPMR throughout the project. Mr. Gvilava provided advice on planning consultations, cooperating with other Georgian organizations, conducting public relations activities, and approaching the government and the railway company about compensation procedures.

Union Links Citizens with MPs in Ozurgeti

In Guria region citizens are working to hold their elected officials accountable. The legislation on local self-governance obliges local Members of Parliament (MPs) and village representatives to meet their respective communities regularly and to report to citizens regarding ongoing and planned activities. The timeline of such meetings is also determined by the legislation. However, citizens have not been informed about their rights to meet decision-makers. Consequently such meetings have not taken place.

The Union for Democratic Development of Georgia (UDDG) is working in five villages of Ozurgeti Municipality in Guria region to establish this direct contact between local communities and officials.

UDDG obtained the approved timeline of these meetings from Sakrebulo (the local representative body) and publicized this information widely. Citizens in five villages have signed a petition requesting the local government to organize a general meeting with citizens.

UDDG representatives inform citizens about their rights to meet with village representatives.

“This is our chance to talk about the most pressing village problems with local government,” a woman said during a meeting in Jumati village, as UDDG collected signatures for the petition. “Such meetings should become a tradition because villagers must know what the government thinks and the government should know what people think,” she continued.

Indeed, citizens’ advocacy, facilitated by UDDG, resulted in 11 meetings between local residents, MPs and village representatives. During meetings, residents expressed their concerns and MPs promised to address these issues. Local officials have found these meetings useful.

“Village support programs are being carried out more effectively in the villages where local populations are active,” said Aleko Mameshvili, the Head of Ozurgeti Sakrebulo at a public advisory council meeting. “For that
purpose the role of local NGOs is important in terms of engaging local
communities in the decision-making process and making participatory mechanisms work in reality,” he said. Mameshvili emphasized the important role that UDDG had played in fostering communication between officials and citizens.

Now UDDG is monitoring MPs to ensure that they act on concerns raised by citizens. Meanwhile, people have become accustomed to this “novelty”; more and more citizens are seeking to meet with local MPs.

In order to facilitate future meetings, UDDG has developed detailed instructions regulating citizen engagement in decision-making processes in Ozurgeti Municipality. They hope that their proposed instructions will replace the currently rigid and ineffective legislation. The instructions provide detailed procedures for ensuring public participation and generating public feedback regarding the planning and distribution of funds allocated for villages in Ozurgeti Municipality. This includes involving citizens in determining the rationality of allocating funds to specific villages; installing mechanisms for identifying and categorizing community needs; and establishing procedures for community meetings. Ozurgeti Municipality has informed UDDG that the proposal is under discussion and its approval will be discussed at the next Sakrebulo meeting.

UDDG’s advocacy efforts were made possible through an EWMI G-PAC Citizens’ Advocacy Grant in the amount of $14,773.

Group Empowers Construction-affected Citizens

Landslides, unfair compensation for property adjoining new roads and interrupted utility services are among the concerns of citizens living in Svaneti region.

In the last few years, the government of Georgia has initiated wide-scale infrastructure projects there. One project involves rehabilitating the Zugdidi-Mestia road, financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The new road will bring benefits to local communities, as well as visitors.

However, the rights of construction-affected communities have not always been respected in the process.

In March 2011, Guram Tikanadze Svaneti Youth Center embarked on an effort to ensure that the Zugdidi-Mestia road construction project respected local citizens’ rights. The Center received $11,259 for their initiative from the EWMI G-PAC Citizens’ Advocacy Grant Program.

Svaneti Youth Center involves experts in monitoring construction of the Zugdidi-Mestia road.

The Center monitored daily construction activities; conducted a technical assessment of the road construction project; and identified problems in the construction project design as well as breaches of citizens’ rights. Then, the Center involved local residents in communicating their concerns to the construction company, the Georgian Road Construction Department, the Municipal Development Fund and the Asian Development Bank. As a result, the construction company has changed its initial plans. They have replaced water and sewage pipes in Latali village, a component unconsidered in the initial project design. The company also built a retaining wall to prevent future landslides.

Further, 24 families living near the construction site were added to the list of households to receive monetary compensation from the Bank. Compensation already has been paid to almost 60% of the affected households.

Following advocacy by the Svaneti Youth Club and local citizens, the construction company replaced water and sewage pipes near Latali village.

Chiaturians Mobilize for a Cleaner Community

Over 100 years of manganese mining has left Chiatura polluted and eroded, but the Association “Union of Chiaturians” is raising public awareness and cleaning up the mess.

Roughly 56,000 people reside in the city of Chiatura, situated in the Imereti region of Western Georgia. The city lies in a valley surrounded by mountains on the banks of the Kvirila River. Since 1879, Chiatura has been a major center of manganese production in the Caucasus. Georgian Manganese, the current mining company, extracts and transports manganese ore to the ferro-alloy plant in Zestaponi.

Opencast mining has led to soil erosion in Chiatura, impacting water and air quality.

However, the manganese extraction process violates environmental protection standards. A failure to re-cultivate the land after opencast ore mining has contributed to soil erosion. The factory also lacks water and air filters, thus releasing toxic residue into the water and air.

With a $14,530 Citizens’ Advocacy Grant from EWMI G-PAC, the Association “Union of Chiaturians” has sought to increase awareness and public participation in local decision-making processes related to these environmental issues.

The Union began by informing citizens about environmental issues and collecting more than 2,500 signatures. Their petition requested re-cultivation of ground damaged by opencast mining; the installation filters to eliminate air and river pollution; and the establishment of an “Environmental Day” in Chiatura.

The Union of Chiaturians meets with citizens to discuss environmental issues caused by ore mining.

Citizens’ advocacy efforts led Georgian Manganese to begin re-cultivation work in Tabagrebi and Ergemlidze settlements. On September 5, 2011, Georgian Manganese announced a tender for the construction of a water scavenging facility to address water pollution issues.

Chiatura Sacrebulo, the local governance body, has adopted a decree to organize an environmental protection week, during which citizens will work together to clean the city. The Association “Union of Chiaturians” continues to monitor Georgian Manganese and the Sacrebulo to ensure that they fulfill their promises to citizens.

Chiatura residents sign a petition demanding that Georgian Manganese cleans up its environmental mess.

Advocacy Ensures Assistance for Impoverished

Natela Jachvadze, a 77-year-old pensioner, was removed mistakenly from the list of socially vulnerable citizens. For seven months she did not receive any social assistance. She tried to communicate her problem to various governmental agencies, but with little success. In March 2011 she discovered that supposedly she was a student employed in the local forest agency.

When she learned that the G-PAC funded Civic Activities Center in Kakheti was helping citizens like her to claim their right to social assistance, she requested support. Following the Center’s advocacy, the errors surrounding Natela’s social assistance status were corrected and she began receiving benefits.

“The organization helped us in every issue,” Natela said. “If it wasn’t for their help, we wouldn’t be able to solve the problem.”

More than 70 socially vulnerable citizens like Natela have received similar assistance thanks to advocacy by the Civic Activities Center (CAC) in Kakheti.

Administrative errors affecting Natela’s right to social assistance were resolved thanks to the Civic Activities Center’s advocacy efforts.

A group of lawyers and journalists concerned by poverty in their community formed the Center in February 2011. Soon after, they received $15,000 from the G-PAC Citizens’ Advocacy Grant Program to advocate for impoverished citizens in Kakheti region.

CAC also assisted the nine-member Zavrashvili family. Although they received social assistance regularly, they still lived below the poverty line. Since family members had lived temporarily with other relatives, the state reduced their social assistance. Thus, when they were together, the nine-member family received only GEL 102 per month (roughly $60 USD), hardly enough to purchase bread and medicine. Following CAC’s advocacy, the authorities reexamined the Zavrashvili family’s case and increased their social assistance. In addition, the Agency of Social Services gave Zavrashvili’s five–year-old child special needs status.

“The Civic Activities Centre helped us, and today my son has social assistance,” his mother said. Now their family receives an additional GEL 70 per month.

The dedicated lawyers and journalists working for the Civic Activities Center will continue advocating for citizens’ rights on a voluntary basis after the project ends. They hope to secure additional funding to expand their successful initiative to other regions.