"Krone" report

On the road with street children in Georgia

Street kid Boris (9) wants to become a footballer.

(Bild: Teona Navdarashvili)

No mom and no dad - or anyone else who cares. But a youth center is helping. In the Georgian capital Tbilisi, many children are left to fend for themselves on the streets.

It's not just stray dogs that line the streets in Georgia, children also often roam the streets on their own - street children, or "street connected children" as they are known to the authorities, are a major issue, especially in Tbilisi, a city with a population of 1.4 million. Thanks to the aid organization World Vision Austria (WVÖ), the "Krone" had the opportunity to get to know street children in Tbilisi with WVÖ Managing Director Sebastian Corti. Employees run a day center there, where those who have neither mom nor dad also live under state care.

Breathtaking Caucasus scenery in Georgia

(Bild: jobi_pro - stock.adobe.com)

100 euros for a supermarket job, 500 euros as a doctor
 Boris (9) cannot be separated from soccer in the yard. He performed one trick after another. "My role model is Neymar, I want to do tricks like him, but I also think our 'Kvaradona' is great," said the schoolboy. Other kids played with old car tires.

Facts and figures about Georgia

• Around 3.8 million people live in Georgia. The capital Tbilisi has 1.4 million inhabitants.
• 20 percent of all Georgians live in abject poverty.
• Since 2011, Georgia has been a priority country for Austrian Development Cooperation by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) (www.entwicklung.at).
• Topics of the ADA, which works with public funds, in Georgia: Organic farming, sustainable tourism and support for young entrepreneurs.
• ADA cooperates with World Vision Austria (WVÖ), general donation account of WVÖ, Erste Bank, IBAN: AT92 2011 1800 8008 1801

Boris spends his time here after school until the evening, then he goes home to his parents, who work hard and get little money for it. A supermarket employee in Tbilisi, for example, receives the equivalent of around 100 euros a month for a full-time job. A dentist fresh out of university works in a day clinic for around 500 euros a month.

Heating in the center in operation, soups steaming
The entrance to the youth center leads through a building that has seen better days: Walls and windows are missing, the plaster is crumbling - a derelict building, I suppose it would be called in the vernacular in Austria. But inside the institution is lovingly furnished. Even the heating works, and the soup pots in the kitchen are steaming. Henry (23) used to live here, in the youth center. After his father died, no one looked after him, he was a street kid. Two years later, his grandmother took him in and they moved 25 times.

We often lived in areas where crime was high, which is not good for children.

Ehemaliges Straßenkind Henry (23)

Bild: WorldVision/Georgia

But he was able to leave that life behind him. Thanks to the help of his carers, he finished school and went to university. Now Henry is an IT technician and has his life firmly under control.

Georgian star in Naples
 The Georgian footballer with the tongue-twister name Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has become a star in Naples in southern Italy. There, the footballer with the number 77 on his shirt conquered the championship with his colleagues - after 33 years, "Kvaradona'' & Co. brought the title back to the city at the foot of Mount Vesuvius! Not only to get around the difficult pronunciation of his surname, but also because he kicks like "soccer god" Diego Maradona, they call him "Kvaradona" in Naples.

The Georgian soccer star "Kvaradona" at SSC Napoli

(Bild: EPA FILIPPOVENEZIA)

Georgia is working towards the EU
In an interview with "Krone", Sebastian Corti, Managing Director of World Vision Austria, talks about his impressions of the country.

"Krone": Mr. Corti, what is lacking in Georgia?
Sebastian Corti: I have noticed that Georgia is a country that sticks together, is interested in development and is seeking proximity to the EU. However, it will be years before it reaches a level that we can enjoy in Austria. In Georgia, this is also due to the fact that it suffered under Soviet rule in the past. There are after-effects and a lot to come to terms with. Georgia has always lived in a troubled region with neighbors who are not all friendly. Life here is a constant challenge. Poverty is very high. Around 20 percent of people in this country live in abject poverty.

How do you perceive the work of World Vision people here?
Thanks to the work of our team, doors to state aid have been opened for many families and children. My colleagues demonstrate a high level of professionalism, competence and transparency. There is also a great deal of personal commitment and a big heart for the work of doing something good. We have also succeeded in maintaining a relationship of trust with the local authorities.

World Vision Austria Managing Director Sebastian Corti stands behind the young app developers in Georgia.

(Bild: WorldVision/Georgia)

How can we help from Austria?
I was impressed by the help that ADA is providing in Georgia. We have several projects running together. Many goals can be achieved through our joint development work.

Apart from the bitter poverty, something positive is happening in tourism.
Georgia is already a tourist destination, but not yet so well known here. Many preserved monuments, a population that is proud of its country and excellent food paired with untouched nature are inviting for travelers. We were able to develop a mobile app with a youth group with the support of the ADA and an Austrian company. This app opens up completely new perspectives on the country and is available to download free of charge in German and English. And the app also works offline.