news2008_eng
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The Next Step - ChildrenoftheCaucasus PatronMaryRobinson Our mission: Topromotesocial inclusionofintellectually andphysicallydisabled children,toimprove theirlevelofcareand livingconditions,to removethestigma whichsocietycontinues toharboragainst physicalandintellectual imperfectionsinchildren, andtoraiseawareness andtoleranceoftheir specialneedsthrough provisionofservices tothechildrenand theirfamilies. Kodjori Children’s HomeTRANSCRIPT
The First Step (TFS) Room504, Tel . : (99532) 252519;Emai l : t f s@tfs .ge 74aChavchavadzeave. 230140 www.nextstepchi ldren.org Tbi l i s i , 0162, Georg ia Fax: (99532) 252519
Canyouhelp?Helpustogivemorechildrenabetterlife.........Wewouldbemostgratefulforanyassistanceyoucangivetowardsourwork.Don’tforgetalittlemoneygoesalongwayinGeorgia.Whateveryoucanspare,wecanuse.Docontactusandhelpachild.
The Next Step - Children of the CaucasusReg Charity No in Ireland: CHY 13956
5 Clanwilliam Square, Dublin 2, Ireland Email: [email protected] Tel.: (353) 1 6619911http://www.nextstepchildren.org
The Next Step - Children of the Caucasus Reg Charity in England and Wales: No 1109599
40 Uverdale Road, London SW10 OSR, United KingdomEmail: [email protected].: (44) (0)207 352 7071http://www.nextstepchildren.org
Are you a Georgian Tax payer?If so, you can reclaim a tax rebate on your donation to TFS. Please contact Keti Melikadze at TFSTel.: (995) 32 252519 / 230140
Are you a UK Tax payer?We can benefit from UK Gift Aid on any donationyou make to TNS, if you are a UK tax payer.Please contact Edith Deacy for [email protected]
Are you an Irish Tax payer?If you are a PAYE taxpayer we can reclaim tax on your donation. If you do not pay PAYE but pay other personal taxes you can reclaim tax on your donation.Please contact [email protected]
“TheIavnanaFoundation,togetherwiththeFirstStepFoundation,hasbeguntoimplementanewproject.Asyouknow,theFirstStepFoundationcaresforchildren
withlimitedcapabilities.TenyearsagotheyrescuedchildrenfromtheKaspiChildren’sHomeandcontinuetocareforthemtillthisday.Thesechildrenhavebeendevoidofparental
carethroughoutthistime.Fromnowon,alongwiththeFirstStep,Ourfoundationwilldoitsbesttocreateafamilyenvironmentforthem.”
A N o t e F r o m t h e F a m o u s G e o r g i a n O p e r a s i n g e r P a a t a B u r c h u l a d z e
A10-yearendeavourhasfinallycometoanendastheFirstStepFoundationaccomplishedthechiefgoalitwasfoundedforin1998.Thedecrepitinstitution,“Psycho-neurologicalhome”inKaspiwillcloseitsdoorduring2008.
ForthosewhodonotremembertheFirstStep’sinception,wemustgobacktothewinterof1993/94whenseveralchildrendiedintheKaspihouseduetocoldandhungerandsomegraciouspeopletookituponthemselvestorescuetheotherchildren.One-by-one,childrenweretakenawayfromtheinsufferablecondi-tionsoftheKaspihouseandplacedinotherhomeswhile15childrenwhohadbecomeofageweresenttotwocommunities.
Eventually,theFirstStepmanagedtocommitthegovernmentintodealingwiththeKaspipsy-cho-neurologicalhomeissueuntil finallytheMinistryofEducationandSciencecommittedtoclosethehomeduring2008.
ThroughthesupportoftheNextStepFoundation,UNICEF,andanonymousdonororganiza-tions,theFirstStepwasabletorenovatetheKodjoriChildren’sHometoaccommodatetheremaining25childrenfromKaspi.InadditionTFShaspurchasedfurnitureandequipmentforkodjoriandtrainedpersonneltoensureassmoothatransitionaspossiblefortheseveryvulner-
ablechildren.
Thenextstepistoworkwithparents,toseeifitwouldbepossibletoreturnsomeofthesechildrentotheirbirthfamilies.Togetherwiththegovernmentandotherbenevolentpersons,theFirstStepisalsoworkingontheissueofadoptionofotherchildren.Asitiswellrecognizedthatrehabilitationanddevelopmentofchildrenwithdisabilityismucheasierandmoreeffectiveinafamilyenvironment.
T H E E N D O F T H E K A S P I E P O C H
InMarch,theFirstStepFoundationandfourof itsyoungadultsreceivedaninvaluablegiftfromaworldstar.PaataBurchuladze’scharityfoundation,“TheIavnana”purchasedahouseinKsovrisi,avillageintheMtskhetaregionwhereGiorgi,Roma,KristineandOlyawill livetogetherwiththeircaregivers.
Fortenyears,theFirstStephasbeenengagedinthepatronage,educationandteachingofchildrenandadolescentswithintellectualdisability.Theresident-childrenthathavegrownupinthistimenowneedamatureenvironmentoftheirown.ThankstofundsgeneratedfromaconcertorganizedbyPaataBurchuladze,thesefouradultswillsoonhaveahomeoftheirown.
TheFirstStepwillnowtraincaregiverswhowillhelpGiorgi,Roma,KristineandOlyaliveindependently.While suchpracticesarecommonaround theworld, this is the first suchaprogramwillhavebeenimplementedinGeorgia.
PleasehelpussupportGiorgi,Roma,KristineandOlyaastheyenteranewphaseoftheirlives–weshallcertainlykeepyouabreastoftheirfirststepsinthisnewdirection.
F I R S T S T E P S I N T O H O U S E O F T H E I R O W N
The Next Step - ChildrenoftheCaucasus
PatronMaryRobinson
TheNextStepwasregisteredasacharityinIrelandin2001
andintheUnitedKingdomin2005.Thesecharitable
foundationssupporttheworkoftheirsister
NGO,TheFirstStep.Theydothisbyrunning
fundraisingeventsandtheyreceivesignificant
fundingfromprivateindividualsand
charitableprivatefoundations.
The First Step Our vision: AGeorgiansocietythatprovidesequalopportunitytoalltofullyrealizeindividualpotential;toincreasepersonalwell-being;tocontributetocommonwelfare;and,toensurethatchildrenwithintellectualandphysicaldisabilitiesareafullyempoweredpartofsociety.
TheFirstStep(TFS)wasfoundedin1998inresponsetothehorren-douslivingconditionsofdisabledorphanslivinginthestate-runKaspiInstitutionintheformerSovietRepublicofGeorgia.Tenyearlater,weareproudtohavegrownandaccomplishedsomuchtohelpthesechildren lead meaningful lives through better living conditions andpropercare.Theirlivesareenrichedthankstoourcharitableworkandtheselflessdonationsofourworldwidedonors.Today,thesechil-dren’seyesarefilledwithhopeinsteadofdespairastheyreachfortheirpersonalpotentialasconstructivemembersofsociety.
Newsletter May 2008 T h e F i r s t S t e p F o u n d a t i o n
Our mission:Topromotesocialinclusionofintellectuallyandphysicallydisabledchildren,toimprovetheirlevelofcareandlivingconditions,toremovethestigmawhichsocietycontinuestoharboragainstphysicalandintellectualimperfectionsinchildren,andtoraiseawarenessandtoleranceoftheirspecialneedsthroughprovisionofservicestothechildrenandtheirfamilies.
InDecember2007 theChrist-mas lunch Committee underthe chairmanship of Linda Sut-clifferantheseventhChristmaslunchinDublinwhichhasnowbecomeanannualevent. Thecommittee and their support-ershavenowraisedmorethanhalf a million Euro for thesechildren.A BIG THANK YOU FORTHEIR DEDICATED ANDUNSELFISH WORK IN THISCAUSE.
The Next Step Christmas lunch in December 2007 raised Euro 80,000 for Georgian Children with intellectual disability.
ClongowesisoneoftheleadingIrishsecondaryboardingschoolswhichhasalongtraditionofassistingcharity.Sixteenyearsagotheycameupwith the ideaofcreatingabigyellowDuckandpushing it fromDublin toLimerickafter schoolcloses in June.Alongthewaytheycollectmoney.In2007theycollectedarecordEURO160,000–Euro120,000wasgiventoCrumlinChildrens’HospitalinDublinformuchneededequipmentandEuro40,000totheNextStepcharityforitsactivitiesinGeorgia.
This money has already been spent on the rehabilitation of abuildinginKodjoriwhichwillbehometo25childrenfromKaspiOrphanage.ThisiswonderfulsupportfromIrishboysforsomeveryvulnerablechildren.THANKYOU!
Laura Nolan, Committee, Sharon Crosbie, Committee,
Maureen Costello, Committee, Des Macmahon, Chair TNS Trustees,
Fran Nolan, Founder Christmas lunch, Jane Corboy TNS Trustee, Jane Baker, Committee
4th Year Students at Clongowes Wood College in Ireland push a Duck from Dublin to Limerick and raise lots of money for First Step children!
Father Leonard Moloney, Headmaster Clongowes Wood College presenting the Duck Push cheque to Des MacMahon, Chair TNS Trustees and the boys who took part in the Duck Push.
Charity Foundation Paata Burchuladze handing over the keys of the house his
foundation have bought for 4 young adults with mild intellectual disability.
The house in Ksovrisi generously donated by Paata Burchuladze
Kodjori Children’s Home
FewpeoplecanclaimthehonorofplayingbasketballattheexclusiveTbilisiSportPalace,yetourchildrenhavenowjoinedtheranksoftheelite,thankstoourvillagegymnasticsteacher,NinoVashakidze, who placed a call to the Sport Palace administration. Their kind staff generouslyopenedthedoors,turnedonthelightsandhelpedprovideourchildrenwiththechancetofulfilladreamsharedbymanypeople.Whilethisparticulareventwasprovisional,ourvillagedaycarecenterteachersintendtoestablishsimilargamesonaweeklybasis.Forourchildren,theuniqueopportunityofplayingbasketballat theSportPalace is indicativethatmanyotherdreamsare
withintheirreachandcanalsocometrue.
Havinglimitedcapabilitiesmeansmoreworkisrequiredtoreachadesiredgoalandnobodyhasexempli-fiedthisfactbetterthanourtalentedmusicians.IuriMeparishvili,musicteacher,however,hadhisdoubtswhenhefirstenteredtheintegratedclassofPublicSchoolNo10in2006.Withlong-termexperienceworkingwithpeopleofdifferentagesandparticipatinginmanyfolkfestivals,Iurisoondis-coveredwhatmethodologistKetevanZhvaniahadtoldhim–thatchildrenwithlimitedintellectualcapabilitiesarefullofsurprises.Thiswasrecognizedwhenhissmallorchestraplayedatthehand-madegoodsexhibitioninJune2006tomuchacclaim.
Today,Dato Itashvili is learning toplay thePanduri (tradition-alGeorgianstringinstrument)andMishikoZakareishvili isplayingtheDiplipito(Georgiannationaldrum) andpreparing tobecomeaprincipalpartof theorchestra -anoteworthyachievement,asGeorgianfolkorchestrasfollowaDiplipitorhythm.
Sevenofourchildrenaremembersoftheorchestraandlearnfolksongsonceaweek,includinginstrumentalparts.Moreover,theyareencour-agedbytheremaining13membersofthegroupwhosupportthemwithalltheirmight.Today,therepertoireoftheintegratedclassincludestwofolkinstrumentalsandthreevocalsongs.AspecialconcertisplannedtobeheldattheGogiDolidzeGeorgianSongFestivalinSpring.
H O O P D R E A M S AT E X C L U S I V E A R E N A
W E S I N G T H E B O DY A C O U S T I C
Irakliisa12yearoldboywhoseentirelifebecauseofhisprofounddisabilityhas,forthemostpart,beenspentwithinfourwalls.Inthis,heisnotaloneformanychildrenofsimilarbackgroundssharethiscom-monfate.However,theFirstStephasbeenabletoincludeIrakli,alongwithGiorgi,Keso,Luka,Nika,Sandro,Vasili,Koba,DatoandMariaminanewandextraordinarysupportandrehabilitationprogram.
SinceFebruary2008,acaregiverspeciallytrainedbytheTFSteamhasbeenselectedforeachchild,tolookafterthemintheirownhomesandtoadministertherapy.TheseprogramshavebeendesignedforeachindividualbytheTFSteam.
“Mylifeisdividedintotwoparts:beforeandafteryoushowedupinmylife,”Irakli’smotherNanaconfided.Alawyerbyprofession,NanawasforcedtoleaveworkanddevoteallhertimetoIrakli,eversincethefamilywasabandonedbyherhusband.Thankstothisprogram,Nanaisfreetolookforajobagain.
Larisa,whoreplacesNanafor8hourseachworkingdayonbehalfoftheFirstStep,isnotalone.Apediatrician,psychologist,occupationaltherapistandotherspecialistsareonlyaphonecallawayintheeventIraklineedstheirassistance.10disabledchildrenandtheirfamiliesarecurrentlyundergoingarehabilitationprogramrelevanttoeachparticulardisability.
“Therearestillmanychildreninourdatabasewhoareinneedofsimilarsupport.Unfortunately,everythingdependsonfinances.Ifsomegenerouspeopleandthegovernmentcouldtakestepstocovercertaincosts,wewillbeabletotrainourcaregiversintheshortestpossibletimeandassignthemtomorechildrenwhourgentlyneedsuchassistance,”saysKetiMelikadze,DirectoroftheFirstStepFoundation.
T H E F I R S T S T E P, B Y S T E P
FromlateMarchtoMay,eachFridayatnoon,theFirstStepspokethroughoutthecountryaboutdisabledchildreninGeorgiaonradio.ManyinGeorgiahavebeenreachedthroughspe-cialprogramsonradio102.4aswellaspeopleabroadontheInternet.WiththekindhelpoftheAidAgencyoftheIrishGovernment,theradiostationairedaseriesofprogramsaboutchildrenwithlimitedcapabilities,andtheprojectreachedawideraudiencethanwehadimagined.
ThefirstprogramairedonMarch28.For5weeks,radiopresenterLiaTsiklauriandhergueststalkedaboutthecategoryofpeopleinGeorgiansocietywhoareinthemostdireneedofad-ditionalsupport.Thebenefitofmassmediaisobviousasfewmeansexisttoreachsuchalargenumberofpeople.
F M 1 0 2 . 4
NowthattheKaspipsycho-neurologicalhomewillclose,intellectuallyandphysicallydisa-bledchildrenneveragainfacetheprospectofbeingsenttothisnotoriousinstitution.
DuringMay,25ofKaspi’sremaining39childrenandyoungadultswillmovetoliveatKod-joriwherepediatriccarewillbefarmoreadvancedasthedoctorsarebettertrainedandpersonnelfarmoremotivated.
FollowingtheclosureofKaspiourthreepediatriciansandnursewillcontinuetosupportallthechildrenandyoungadultsinthevariousTFSprograms
InTFSChildren’sVillage–tworesidentialcottagesandtheTFSschool/daycarecenter.
Childrenwho lived for someyears inKaspi andwhoarenowback livingwith theirfamilies.
Helpingfamilieswithdisabledchildrenwhoareinneedofsupportonhowtocareforthemandhelpingthemaccessservices
Helpingfamilieswithchildrenwhohaveveryserious intellectualandphysicaldisabilities,whoare intheTFSHomebasedCareservice.
23childrencurrentlyliveattheChildren’sVillageand30childrenattendtheTFSschool.Adoctorandanurseareresponsibleforvaccina-tionsandtheinspectionsoffoodandhygienicconditions,inadditiontoconstanthealthmonitoring.Schedulingthedailyregimeisajointtaskofboththepediatricianandteachers.
Thereare12familiesinTbilisiandotherregionswhotooktheirchildrenfromKaspiInstituionwiththehelpofFirstStep.ThesefamiliesaregivenregularsupportbyTFSpediatriciansandaresuppliedwithmedicinesandvaccinations.Pediatriciansmayadditionallysendchil-drentothereferralclinicfortreatment,ifneeded.
ThepediatriciansoftheFirstStepFoundationservethreefamiliesinthe“preventivecategory.”Thismeansthatdoctorsandspecialistsurgedparentsnottosendtheirchildrentospecialinstitutionsandofferedtosupporthealthcareforthechildinthefamilyenvironment.
Furthermore,apediatricianandnursearenowservinganadditionaltenfurtherfamilieswhohaveachildwithveryseriousintellectualandphysicallydisability.FirstStepisthefirstNGOinGeorgiatoofferhomebasedcareforsuchchildren.
FIRSTSTEPS,ONEATATIME!
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A P E D I AT R I C I A N K N O C K S O N C E
Whodoes SantaClaus have the greatest impacton?Why thosewhobelieve in fairy talesofcourse.Andforthosethat live fairytales,Santa ismostwelcome.NowherewasSantaClausaswell-receivedashewasatTFSChildren’sVillage,amagicalplacewheretherealityanddreamsofchildrenmingleinaparticularlysignificantintensity.Andthisyear,SantaClausbroughtgiftsallthewayfromdistantIreland!
TheteachershelpedthechildrencreateawonderlandoutofBuratino’sNewYear’sAdven-tureandinvitedallthegueststothatspecialwonderland.Thechildrencreatedallthedecora-tionsfortheholidayperformanceofseasonalsongs,whichtheyperformedtirelessly!
SantaClausshowedupfortheNewYearfestivalandtogetherwithhishelpers-asquirrelandapigletgavegiftstothechildren.ThiswasalltheworkofIngaPkhakadze,aformerDayCareCenteremployeewhonowworksatProCreditBank,forSantaandhishelperswereinfactherfriendsfromthebank.
Children’sfaceslitupwhentheysawsuchanarrayofcolourfullywrappedboxes.Tamunareceivedthesquirrelshehadwishedfor,Giorgigottheheadphoneshehaddreamedabout,RomagotthesmallrecorderhehadalwayswantedandDatunaopenedhisgiftofadreamformofSpiderman.
It was very exciting to see the children sohappyandsurprisedastheyallreceivedthegiftstheyhadwishedfor.ManythankstoMs.Catriona Moore and her friends in IrelandwhowentoutoftheirwaytocreateaverymerryNewYear’s celebration at theChil-dren’sVillage.
A BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE MEN-TIONEDFORTHEIRKINDHELPINMAK-ING OUR CHILDREN’S DREAMS COMETRUE.
F A I R Y TA L E S I N A C H I L D R E N ’ S V I L L A G E
New Year’s Party with Santa Clause and TFS Children
New Year’s Party with Pro-Credit Bank and TFS Children
TFS Pediatrician Nino Museliani and TFS Child Niniko Chibukhashvili
Music Teacher Iuri and Children of Integrated Class
Care giver Larisa with Irakli
TFS Children at Sport Palace
Children of Integrated Class
Radio Presenter Lia Tsiklauri and Head of Child Protection Centre at Public Defender’s Office Marry Maglaperidze