Aspindza orphans currently receive unhealthy water from this broken rooftop water tank.
A young orphan girl from the Aspindza orphanage in rural Georgia.
How We've Helped
Giving Hot Water to a Rural Orphanage
Foundation for Progress installed a solar panel hot water heater for Aspindza Orphanage, located in rural Georgia and housing over 90 children. The orphanage previously had no hot water and children had to walk over two miles to a public bathhouse to bathe. Now, at least 25 children a day can take hot showers at the orphanage.
Helping the Social and Physical Development of Children at the Tbilisi Infant House
With the help of a grant provided by Save the Children and USAID, Foundation for Progress has built an indoor playground and sensory room at the Tbilisi Infant House orphanage, which houses approximately 130 abandoned infants and toddlers aged 0 months to 6 years. Previously, the children had no room to play and little or no toys. Now, the indoor playground offers children a chance to develop much-needed social and physical skills while also providing a place for child care workers to work with vulnerable families.
Helping in the Face of Conflict
In August 2008 Russia invaded and attacked the nation of Georgia leaving hundred of thousands internally displaced people. During this time, Foundation for Progress helped by contributing supplies to a “Child Friendly Space” at the refugee tent city erected by the UN. The space allowed children to escape the hardships of the conflict and spend time playing and working with trained child care workers and child psychologists.
Foundation for Progress also created the “Adopt-a-Family” Program, which matched donor families in the US with families in Georgia who lost their homes to bombs and fire during the conflict. Donor families provided clothing, food, supplies, and furniture to help the families get back on their feet. Pictures and letters were exchanged between the families and the program offered a sense of warmth and comfort for the families during that time of trouble.
Contributing to Child Development Services in Georgia
To help the development of alternative services that can replace institutional orphanages in Georgia, Foundation for Progress partnered with a local NGO, Children of Georgia, to create a “Child Development Center” for young orphans. The center acts as a place where the young orphan children can learn essential life skills, such as feeding themselves and going to the bathroom. Children are picked up at the orphanage by Children of Georgia staff and then spend several hours at the Child Development Center working in small groups with trained childcare professionals. Teaching the children these essential skills will help them get placed in foster care or adoptive families.
Improving Dental Hygiene for Orphans in Rural Georgia
Foundation for Progress brought two dentists from the capital city to lecture the orphans at Aspindza orphanage (which houses 90 kids) about dental hygeiene. Donated toothbrushes, floss and toothbrush holders were handed out to the kids as well.