Mamatsi Guli (Heart of the Brave)

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Mamatsi Guli is a small Georgian registered Charitable Union, situated some 45 minutes from the capital, Tbilisi, in a small farming village, called Tokliauri, in the Kakheti region of Eastern Georgia. They began their work in April 2007. Their priority was to find village families to foster some of the many thousands of children still institutionalised in Georgian Orphanages which have not changed much since Soviet times.
Tokliauri is a village of about 400 families, and there are about 140 children in the village school. The village grows mostly grapes, corn, melons and pumpkins. People are naturally very kind. Guests are seen as a gift from God, and are made very welcome. The village is poor by Western standards. There is no internet connection in the village.

They also aim to promote organic agriculture, and to provide a focus for the Georgian traditional “musical medicine”- its folklore and song! We have done much, since their inception18 months ago to develop links with volunteers from other countries, especially Scotland - the other small corner of Europe. In this way the local village children can be offered opportunities to develop their creativity and their spoken and written English. They have established a small guest house to host foreign guests who wish to learn about Georgian culture, and they can teach Georgian traditional song including Healing songs.

They have also encouraged village families to foster orphans, offering additional back up and help. Working together with local social workers they are about to set up their first Summer Camp for 18 orphans from the local orphanage who are seeking homes. The Georgian Human Rights Ombudsman helps them in their work.

Madge Bray is a founding member of Mamatsi Guli and is the link between Mamatsi Guli and Ecologia Youth Trust. In 1998 she introduced Play Therapy to Kitezh Children’s Community and she spent many months over the years training and supporting the foster parents there. We are very glad to include Mamatsi Guli in our expanding group of organisations working with orphans and foster families.

European Voluntary Service
Ecologia has joined forces with Mamatsi Guli to offer a volunteers programme through European Commission’s Youth in Action programme. The British Council Connect Youth is the UK's National Agency for the Youth in Action Programme. Young people between 18-30 may apply to join this programme. We are particularly interested in supporting young people with fewer opportunities to volunteer at Mamatsi Guli.

For more information email info@ecologia.org.uk

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