IWAG has supported the NGO Child and Environment many times over the years, and they do a fantastic and important work for street children, children with disabilities and children from socially unprotected families since 1996. The objective is to provide education and development opportunities as well as psychological and physical rehabilitation for these children to integrate with society.
The NGO runs centers in several places and the one in Tbilisi provides developmental activities, treatments and therapies for around 300 children. It also serves as a home for 18 former street children. Projects that IWAG have supported are diverse, like renovation of buildings in both Tbilisi, Rustavi and Chiatura, setting up of the physiotherapy facilities in Tbilisi and vocational training of young women who are former beneficiaries of the centers in Rustavi and Chiatura. The most recent project concerns installation of a ventilation system in the physiotherapy facilities in Tbilisi.
Thanks to a Decree on the State Program for Social Rehabilitation and Child Care in 2020 that includes the Subprogram for Promotion of Early Childhood Development, it became possible for Child & Environment to develop services also for very young children with disabilities. With funding from IWAG, 8 staff have done 3 months of training by The Coalition on Early Intervention of Georgia and 6 months of practical work under supervision. The NGO is soon expected to be officially registered as a provider of these services and can start working – both in the centre but also in the homes of the youngest children. It will be financed by the state budget.
