AFG: Projects: Children: Street & Abandoned
NGO Biliki
Personal Observations from the Executive Director: Mari Mgebrishvili of NGO Biliki runs a small school in Gori to educate street children during the day and provide them with a meal. When I visited her in 2001, I was struck by the look of fear and fragility on the children’s faces. There is very little work in Gori and these are children who go out to the marketplace to trade or pilfer to help provide for their families and thus were not going to school. Also at Biliki is a home-visiting program where staff counsel parents on appropriate child raising techniques in families where there is great stress due to unemployment and poverty.
Mari is working hard to make Biliki independent by searching for income generating opportunities. One such opportunity is to start a laundry that would supply hotels as well as employ students and their families. This requires owning a building and purchasing commercial equipment as well as operating supplies.
AFG Accomplishments: With AFG’s recommendation, NGO Biliki has received considerable support from Mercy Corps, World Vision, Global Fund for Children and Save the Children. AFG has:
- Purchased a vehicle for the home visiting program
- Provided funds for the purchase of a building to house the laundry and classrooms
- Provided funds for school supplies and teacher salaries
- Provided funds for the purchase of a piano to teach the children music
- Shipped four used computers donated by the United Nations as well as clothing, shoes, toys and art supplies in a container in 2003
Current Needs: NGO Biliki needs:
- Funds to renovate the laundry and classroom building
- Funds to support teacher salaries, school supplies and one meal a day for the children
