GEL. With the received loan the beneficiaries

purchased the harrow and are now ready to

carry out any agricultural works in the Spring.

CHCA participated in a conference

entitled “child and family care system

development in Georgia”

On December the 19th the Polish organiza-

tion “Our Home Association” and the “Our

Home Georgia” association jointly organized a

conference on the topic of “child and family

care system development in Georgia”. Repre-

sentatives from the Ministry of Labour Health

and Social Affairs of Georgia, service providers,

international organizations and the Small

Group Homes’ representatives and children at-

tended the conference.

The conference aimed to detail both the

achievements made and the obstacles faced,

Income Generation Program

beneficiaries are successfully running

their business activities

The “Income Generation and Business Sup-

port Initiative” project beneficiaries are effec-

tively and successfully running their business

activities. A group of three members were par-

ticularly successful in their activities and there-

fore deserve a special mention.

Nukri Beruashvili, Khvicha Okropiridze and

Davit Jojishvili learnt about the aforemen-

tioned project through informational meetings

and were interested in receiving an interest-

free loan.

This group had previously been provided

with a tractor by the ‘Care International in the

Caucasus’ organization in order to carry out

any agricultural works for the population of

their settlement. The group members took re-

sponsibility for the tractor and bought addi-

tional equipment. They provided services to

the IDP populations for only the cost of fuel

whilst also offering the services to other popu-

lations at market price. Unfortunately the

group could not purchase a harrow for the

tractor and therefore had problems carrying

out required agricultural works.

After receiving information about the inter-

est-free loans available as part of the CHCA

project the group decided to apply. After at-

tending both the interview and business train-

ing sessions the Loan Committee decided to

offer the group an interest-free loan of 4280

throughout one year in the child and family

care system development.

CHCA presented findings from the

“Developing Homely Environments in Small

Group Homes” project at the conference. The

project has been implemented with the finan-

cial support of the Embassy of the Republic of

Poland in Tbilisi. CHCA shared results achieved

within the project framework and the project’s

impact on Small Group Homes with conference

participants.

To conclude the conference the results of a

competition between the Small Group Homes’

children were revealed and the award cere-

mony of the participants was also held. The au-

thors of the best works were awarded with pre-

sents and certificates.

IN THIS ISSUE:

December 2012

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VTSC graduates trained in job seeking skills

Completion of the “IDP Vocational Training and Service Centre” project

9 maintenance teams were established in IDP collective centres and settlements

One year anniversary of Small Group Homes

Donation from Finnish women to support Small Group Homes

Youth working groups organized special events in Poti and Tskaltubo

“Basics of Marketing” Training

“Basics of Marketing” Training

On December the 1st and 2nd a training session on the topic of

“Basics of Marketing” was delivered to project staff, trainers and

successful beneficiaries of the “IDP Vocational Training and Service

Centre” (VTSC) at CHCA’s Zugdidi Office.

The following important issues were discussed during the train-

ing: marketing principles and functions; marketing solutions; mar-

ket segmentation; assortment of products/services; classification

of goods; determination of prices and communication with custom-

ers, amongst others. Development strategies for the VTSC were

also discussed by participants with the aim of ensuring the pro-

ject’s sustainability.

VTSC graduates trained in job seeking skills

A training covering “job seek-

ing and self-presentation skills ”

was delivered to the vocational

training graduates of the IDP

Vocational Training and Service

Centre in Zugdidi on December

15th and 16th. During the train-

ing the participants were introduced to a variety of issues ranging

from job seeking techniques to writing resumes and letters of mo-

tivation. The participants also gained an insight into interview

techniques, how to effectively present themselves and SWOT

analysis. The training was aimed at supporting the project benefici-

aries in their future employment opportunities.

Completion of the

“IDP Vocational Training and Service Centre” project

The “IDP Vocational Training and Service Centre” (VTSC) project

finished in December. The project has been implemented in Zug-

didi by CHCA during the last three years with the financial support

of UNHCR. During project implementation approximately 700 IDP

and socially vulnerable people were provided with vocational

training courses in tailoring, hairdressing, cosmetology, vehicle

repair, computer courses, and accounting. The 170 most capable

and successful beneficiaries of the centre were provided with pro-

fessional toolkits in order to support them in further employment.

Currently more than 100 beneficiaries are employed and have a sta-

ble income. Up to the present day, about 5500 individuals have

used the VTSC services, either at a discounted rate or free-of-

charge.

On the 21st of December professional toolkits were distributed to

the beneficiaries of the last cycle of the VTSC project. CHCA pro-

vided each beneficiary with a professional toolkit with an average

value of 500 Euros which will support them in their future employ-

ment.

The professional toolkits dis-

tribution event was attended

by representatives from various

international and local NGOs

and the local Government.

Donation from Finnish women

to support Small Group Homes

Ms. Tarja Rantala and Ms. Meri-Sofia La-

kopoulos from Finland donated 150 Euros to

CHCA with which to purchase Christmas

presents for 26 children living in the Small

Group Homes coordinated by CHCA. They

have also sent special Christmas cards to

these adolescents. Ms. Tarja Rantala has

been cooperating with CHCA for many years

and a number of vulnerable families have

been supported with both her help and with

assistance from her friends.

The CHCA administered Small Group Homes’ children have re-

ceived these presents for the New Year.

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One year anniversary of Small Group Homes

On December the 21st and 23rd a special event was organized at

the Baisubani and Kurdgelauri Small Group Homes to commemo-

rate their one year anniversary. The houses were opened in Decem-

ber 2011 and CHCA administers them with the financial support of

the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia. To

commemorate this day the Small Group Homes’ children decorated

the houses, had a special dinner and invited their friends and social

workers to attend. The children spent the whole day enjoying

themselves and decided to establish a new tradition to celebrate

the birthday of the houses each year.

9 maintenance teams were established in

IDP collective centres and settlements

The “Developing and Main-

taining Homeowners’ and Ten-

ants’ Associations for Internally

Displaced Persons” project,

which has been implemented by

CHCA since March 2012, as part

of the USAID funded New Eco-

nomic Opportunities Initiative (NEO) project, was successfully com-

pleted in December. The project covered 6 IDP collective centres in

Senaki, Kutaisi and Rustavi and 2 IDP settlements in Khurvaleti and

Berbuki. The main aim of the project was to establish Homeowners’

and Tenants’ Associations (HOA/TA) and maintenance teams in the

target regions to provide any technical maintenance of the com-

mon property.

Within the project framework 15 two-day training sessions were

organized in all targeted IDP collective centres and settlements, in

order to introduce the IDP populations to a brief overview of the

functions and necessity of HOA/TAs. In total, 7 HOAs and 2 TAs,

made up of 300 individuals, were established as part of the project.

These HOAs and TAs have further established 9 maintenance teams

consisting of 43 members, who were provided with 4 three-day

maintenance training sessions covering the main principles and

procedures for the proper maintenance of the common property.

Each HOA/TA established in this project was also provided with

professional toolkits for ensuring the maintenance of common

property and for earning income from their renting. Nowadays

these same maintenance teams successfully carry out various

kinds of repairs and offer a wide range of services to both IDP and

local populations. Any surplus money received from the repair

works is put into the associations reserve fund.

The maintenance teams developed 7 business proposals with

the help of CHCA, which have since been submitted to NEO for fur-

ther financing.

Youth working groups organized special events

in Poti and Tskaltubo

In December, several mini projects were planned and imple-

mented as part of the “Youth Civic Partnership Initiative” project,

with the help of youth working

groups.

On December the 28th the

Tskaltubo youth group organized a

special event in Kutaisi kindergar-

ten #4. The main aim of the activ-

ity was to strengthen the group of

disabled children of the kindergarten. The youth group members

were assisted by the Kutaisi Puppet Theatre who performed a

piece called “Friends” to the children of the kindergarten. Also Poti

City Hall Health Service supported the project beneficiaries by allo-

cating funds for the transportation of the Theatre Troupe and the

youth group members. 10 disabled children, their parents and

other children of the kindergarten attended the event. In addition

to organising the performance, the youth working group members

also purchased special chairs and tables for the disabled children

and a special ball pool which will be invaluable to assist with physi-

cal exercise.

Poti youth working group members are working on establishing

their Movie Club. They have already renovated a room in Public

School #7 for the club, designed the Movie Club regulations and

obtained all the necessary materials. The Movie Club will open in

January.