Assist Victims of Georgia Conflict

As part of CHF’s USAID-funded Georgia Employment and Infrastructure Initiative (GEII), a program focused on improving employment and entrepreneurship, CHF was asked to look into schools rehabilitation in Gori and Kareli. Through GEII, CHF is upgrading at least 20 schools in the former conflict zones of Gori and Kareli, so that children can learn in a safe and energy-efficient environment. Specifically, the program will: - Ensure that at least 20 schools are brought to a level of meeting “minimum standards,” such as new roofing, insulation, energy-efficient windows and doors, replastering/repainting, heating, and indoor toilets with water tanks. - Once minimum standards are met, communities can prioritize how they would like additional funds spend for priority repairs and upgrades, including solar panels, electrical systems, flooring, exterior doors, etc. - All school renovation projects will focus on using energy efficient materials, and removing toxic building materials in all school structures, including lead paint and asbestos.

Milton Funes, an experienced CHF Country Director and civil engineer who advised on the project described the situation in Georgia: “The schools buildings were in a state of disrepair. There were classrooms with bullet holes that were covered up by maps on the wall. The children had to use external bathrooms – even through the freezing winter.”

CHF would love to be able to do more repairs to more schools that were affected by the conflict. Your donations can help us to do that and to enable conflict affected students to have the education they deserve.