AFG: Projects: Children: Education
Children's Learning Center
Personal Observations from the Executive Director: From 2000 to 2003, the Children’s Learning Center provided English language and computer training to over 100 vulnerable Georgian children ages 11-19. This was the first such center in Georgia. In 1999, Maggie Palavandi, the director, and I visited the Soros Open Society Foundation, the U.S. Embassy and the Georgian Ministry of Education seeking support for the proposed Children’s Learning Center. Subsequently, Soros provided the computers, the Embassy provided furniture and supplies and AFG funded teacher salaries and rent. Although the Ministry of Education promised to provide space for the Learning Center, it never materialized. When I visited in 2003, the children spoke to me in English and showed me drawings and poems prepared for my visit.
The Government did not provide building space and Maggie was unable to find other funding sources. Due to the fact that we were working with 14 projects in Georgia, AFG was unable to fund both salaries for six teachers as well as rent in Tbilisi. As a result, this very worthwhile program has not been able to continue.
AFG Accomplishments: AFG has:
- Initiated the contact with the Soros Open Society Foundation, the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi and the Ministry of Education after Maggie described her concept
- Provided rent for an apartment in which training in English and computers took place
- Provided funds for six teacher salaries at the modest cost of only $100 per month per teacher
- Shipped school supplies, shoes, clothing and English books in a container
- Purchased English textbook
Current Needs: The computers, the furniture, the teachers and the director are all available to continue the Children’s Learning Center program. The need as before is for funding for teacher salaries and rent in Tbilisi. Teachers can be hired for as little as $100 a month however rent in Tbilisi is very high. AFG is anxious to restart the Children’s Learning Center. The needs are:
- Funds for paying rent or purchasing an appropriate space
- Funds for teacher salaries