Kutaisi, Georgia
SI Newport has been twinned with Kutaisi, in the former Soviet Union, and now the second largest city in the republic of Georgia since 1989. S.I. Newport, are Corporate Members of the Twinning Association and have had a friendship link with Kutaisi S.I. since 1996. Communication with S.I. Kutaisi has not been easy but with increasing access to the Internet this is improving. We have met Georgian Soroptimists when they have visited Newport as part of a larger delegation because many Soroptimists are also members of the Kutaisi /Newport Twinning Association in Georgia.
A tragic legacy in all post Soviet Republics is that children and young adults were condemned to live in extreme difficulties and often horrendous circumstances in state institutions. There are 50 such institutions in Georgia with 5000 children and young adults who, in many cases lack even the basics of adequate food and shelter. Another reality since the collapse of the Soviet Union is that in Georgia more than 50%of the population live in poverty. As a result many of the poor families bring their child to these institutions. 85% of these children have at least one biological parent.
The S.I. Rep Sonia Fisher and the Chair of the Twinning Association Catherine Philpott visited Kutaisi under the auspices of the charity Everychild. The purpose was to see at first hand a pilot project that is supporting the de-institutionalisation programme of children placed in orphanages. This project aimed to restore the children either to their birth families or into fostering.
We were told that there was a real need for formal Social Work training with recognised accreditation and that this training was in its infancy (there were 12 trained social workers in the whole of Georgia which is the same size as Wales). This was something we thought that together with the Twinning Association and with Newport City Council we could give support.
On our return we met with every child who sought to have a partnership with Newport Soroptimists and the Twinning Association to bring a delegation of social workers and local govt officials to the UK to explore the management and organisation of children’s services. We received a positive response from Newport City Council, the social studies department of the University of Wales who agreed to provide free of charge an intensive two week course of study for five Georgian social workers together with local and central govt representatives to show them what de-institutionalised child care existed in Wales. The Children’s Commissioner for Wales agreed to meet them to discuss matters of policy.
With sponsorship and practical support from members and friends we were able to arrange this visit. They were introduced to several alternatives to long term institutional care they met foster carers and family support teams who help families develop parenting skills.
The Georgians were determined to take back and implement what they had learned during the Newport visit and to spread expertise and make sure there were real benefits for children in their home country. They brought a video camera and personal cameras recording all study sessions so that many more social workers back in Georgia will have a chance to improve their understanding of the difficult issues around caring for vulnerable children.
The new Government in Georgia is determined to take a fresh look at the way in which it deals with institutionalised children, casting off the old soviet style methods and putting into place more progressive arrangement but to do this there is a real need for a new generation of social workers to be trained in family orientated care and that’s where Newport has decided it can play a vital role.
As well as the study programme the delegation saw as much of Newport and South Wales as possible with a full programme of visits and receptions, they were entertained at the Mansion House and the New Assembly for Wales. They toured Caerleon and went down Big Pit in Blaenavon, heard a male voice choir and rode the Transporter bridge. S.I. Newport organised a Wales versus Georgia skittles match and a Welsh folk dance evening. The mayor, Georgia’s London Embassy consul and all who had contributed to the success of the visit attended the farewell dinner
The social workers were presented with certificates identifying the elements of the study tour. The team said they would return to Georgia with the will and know-how to begin to transform the lives of many Georgian children. So where are we now with this project? : -
- In Newport the Social Services Training Department continue the link by email and distance learning, keeping the Georgians updated.
- The Twinning Assoc commissioned a photographic journalist to cover the progress made with the new child welfare reforms and it is hoped to stage an exhibition of his work later this year with S.I. Newport‘s help.
Every child has reported that it has been selected to implement a 3 year programme of technical assistance on behalf of the European Commission to expand and improve social services in line with the principles and standards laid down win the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Everychild is pursuing technical assistance and training from Newport to support social services.
Newport Social Workers are planning a visit to Kutaisi later this year to support the programme of training and development.
Newport Soroptimists have recently had an email for the Regional President of S.I. Georgia who is also past president of S.I. Kutaisi. Their Club has several projects regarding child welfare including holding a competition for children of poor families and the most talented was enrolled free of charge to a Georgian/English school. Several refugees have begun studying in the professional centre of design and sewing owned by a Kutaisi Soroptimist. At present they are arranging a summer language school for children and adults, because the President of Georgia has made a statement about fighting the most acute challenge “Georgia without Poverty”. S.I. Kutaisi decided that language is the best opportunity to gain knowledge and experience from their western neighbours, which is so inevitable in the progress of reforms in every sphere in Georgia.
S.I. Kutaisi have stated that they count on S.I. Newport for help and hoped that we could strengthen relations between the twinned cities.
“Together we can make a difference”
Sonia Fisher - Friendship Link Coordinator S.I. Newport & District