Tbilisi. As part of the project "Regional Civil Society Network" (R-CSN), which is facilitated by CSO "Sida", the conference on "Partnership for Enhancing Corporate Social Responsibility" was organized on June 11 in Tbilisi in the "Holiday Inn" Hotel. The conference aimed at uniting the efforts of business, civil sector, media and international organizations and facilitating the exchange of information for the improvement of social responsibility process. Speakers at the conference have discussed issues such as social responsibility today; cooperation with business and CSOs; corporate social responsibility in media. The conference was supported as part of the "Regional Civil Society Network" project, implemented by CSO "Sida" with support of the East-West Management Institute's G-PAC Program and funding from the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Source: www.cso.ge

Tbilisi. TASO Foundation has released the film - "The Philanthropy of Social Justice and Peace", which tells about the essence of philanthropy, as well as the draft Law developed by the Foundation. The film. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. To celebrate the World Blood Donor Day, the Georgian Association of Social Workers has organized the event - "Georgian social workers to save life".As part of the event, social workers have donated blood. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The EU Special Adviser on Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg has held a press conference on June 7. "Recently politics was mostly focusing on the safety and security issues, and I believe the time has come to put more emphasis on social topics," – Thomas Hammarberg has said.The EU Special Adviser has particularly stressed issues related to violence against women, poverty and children's rights. For the full text. Source: netgazeti.ge

Tbilisi. CSO "Helping Hand" is looking for volunteers who will participate in an annual marathon on June 29 and planning of the event. The marathon - "To Save Life" - will be organized at the Turtle Lake. For the full text Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. CSO "Mariani" launches a pilot project - "Escorts for the Blind". The organization is looking for volunteers who would escort the blind to various places and back. Those interested in participating in the project will undergo relevant training in order to ensure qualified services for the blind. For the full text Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Adjara. At the initiative of the youth CSO "Changes for Equal Rights", persons with disabilities have met with the majority of the Batumi Mayor nominees on June 4 in the Public Defender's office.At the meeting the Mayor nominees have presented their visions on the resolution of problematic issues associated with persons with disabilities Batumi-wide. In addition, they have expressed the desire and willingness to organize periodic meetings with the organizers of this event and organizations working on persons with disabilities.

Tbilisi. Association "Child and Family" has organized a contest for children without custodial care dedicated to the International Children's Day. Best works were identified - the essay "If I had a magic stick" and the painting "My dream". The contest was organized with support from Association "Our House" - Poland. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Adjara. Transparency International - Georgia has released the film - "Children of the 53rd Battalion, Khelvachauri". "In a 10-minute drive from Batumi, the "53rd Battalion" settlement of Khelvachauri is located. Residents there call the settlement a "Dream City". Up to 900 families find a shelter in this settlement. These families together with their minors live in extremely grave environment, without water and electricity. There is no kindergarten nearby, owing to which children are left without preschool education. The school is several kilometers away and many children cannot use transport to reach the school," says the film review. The film. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Adjara. Charity Foundation "God's Children" has organized a charity exhibition-sale on June 2 in Batumi. Up to 50 works of the Georgian painters will be exhibited until June 14. The works of Rusudan Petviashvili, Zurab Tsereteli, Lado Gudiashvili, Amiran Kakabadze, Nino Nizharadze and other prominent painters are displayed in the exhibition hall of "Procredit Bank's" Batumi Branch, as well as the canvases of young painters from Batumi. The artists have presented their works to the organization gratuitously. Prices of the paintings range from 50 to 2,000 GEL. Raised funds will be given to families of youngsters with disabilities.

Tbilisi. A new project was presented on May 29 in the School for the Blind and Partially Sighted Children. With support of the Children and Youth Development Fund, the Association of the Blind Women and Children of Georgia has published in the Braille script the spiritual literature and presented them to the schoolchildren.At this stage, over 100 blind youngsters will benefit from the published literature. Total of 63,000 Braille pages were printed. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Adjara. Youth CSO of persons with disabilities "Changes for Equal Rights" has organized various events on May 29 in Batumi, aimed at focusing on the problems of the blind. Photo-exhibition was organized in the first half of the day, which displayed the environment adapted to the persons with disabilities. The photos mostly depicted buildings, which the persons with disabilities can access only with the help from others. After the exhibition, a blindfolded march was organized in the streets. At the end of the day a short movie was shown in the Civic Engagement Center, which depicts the life of successful blind people. Members of the volunteer club functioning with the organization have planned and implemented these events.

Tbilisi. Association "Anika" has organized on May 29 the summary presentation of the project "Free Legal Aid for Persons with Disabilities in Tbilisi and Gori".Representatives of the state and various private structures and organizations have attended the event. Project heads and lawyers have informed invited guests about the project developments, examples of delivered advocacy and court hearings, presented results achieved as part of the project and discussed the developed recommendations. Source: the organization's page in the social network

Adjara. A meeting was organized on May 22 in the Batumi State University with students over issues related to persons with disabilities. Participants have discussed international experience as well as Georgian reality in respect of protection of rights of persons with disabilities, key problems and challenges, the role of public organizations and the state in regulating the protection of rights of this social group, etc. Several local CSO representatives were invited to the meeting, who have shared their experience and vision on improvement of social background to students. Initiative group "Demos" has organized the activity.

Tbilisi. Public Defender of Georgia has submitted recommendation to the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia to request legal and financial assistance for the Elementary School of the village Dzibakhevi. "The relevant primary classes are located in the wrecked building made of planks by the initiative of local residents of the village of Dzibakhevi of the Municipality of Akhmeta. The building has cracks, the stove can’t warm the rooms in winter and 9 pupils don’t attend the classes.  Due to an absence of transportation the parents of the pupils refuse sending their children to the nearest public school which is located in the village of Birkaani 2 kilometres away from Dzibakhevi.. The Public Defender deems necessary to allocate more finances from the state budget for such villages and the areas mostly populated by ethnic minorities as to ensure an equal access to education. In addition, all legal and financial means must be sought in order to provide a safe building for undisturbed continuation of educational process in the village   Dzibakhevi". Source:ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. The 2014 Gala Concert and Dinner will be held on 5 June at 19:00 at Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel Tbilisi. The program of the event includes the following: Nino Katamadze and "Insight” grand solo concert with Nikoloz Rachveli, an auction of various items, a lottery and a DJ-led dance show. The goal of the Annual Gala Concert and Dinner is to collect funds that will enable First Step Georgia to provide its beneficiaries - children and young people under 18 with severe and profound physical and intellectual disabilities - with the extremely important and high-quality services the organization can offer. The entire amount collected from this event will be directed towards the needs of the children with disabilities who participate in First Step Georgia's programs and projects, who come from socially vulnerable families and for whom the inclusion in the Day Care Center, Home-Based Care and Early Intervention programs is vitally important.First Step Georgia invites representatives of the government, non-governmental and business sectors, diplomatic missions and international organizations operating in Georgia to come to its 2014 Gala Concert and Dinner, become involved in charitable activities and thus demonstrate high degree of social responsibility and enhance the development and integration into society of the children and young people with special needs. For the full text Source: the organization's page in the social network

Adjara. The Civil Advisers' Council functioning with the Batumi Sakrebulo and the City Hall have organized a meeting on May21 in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center, at which the participants have discussed the priorities of the City Hall's Health and Social Protection Service for 2015-2018.Local population, members of the Public Assemblies and their leaders, and representatives of media outlets, CSOs and governmental agencies have attended the meeting.

Tbilisi. A symbolic event "Life Tree” was organized on May 15 in the Leukemia Center of the M.Iashvili Children’s Central Hospital of Tbilisi at the initiative of the Georgian Red Cross Society and with support of "TAV Georgia”. The event aimed at creating joyful environment for children suffering from leukemia and supporting them. Children have planted an oak, made wishes and tied ribbons to it.This event has laid a foundation to a playground in the yard of the Leukemia Rehabilitation House, which aims to support and encourage children suffering from leukemia. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Georgian Red Cross Society has organized on May 14 a blood donation event together with the Iashvili Blood Bank and the Ministry of Justice of Georgia.The event aimed to assist children suffering from leukemia in the Iashvili Clinic with blood. Staff members of the LEPL Crime Prevention Center and the Public Service Hall of the Ministry of Justice have participated in the blood donation event. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Since May the association "Child and Family" implements project – "Professional Assistance to Children and Families in Georgia". As part of the project, the Memorandum of Cooperation was executed on May 13 among the Social Service Agency, association "Poland Our Home" and association "Child and Family", which aims to support specialized small family-type homes.Within the project framework, specialized small family-type homes will be provided with methodological support, consultations, psychological assistance, and various training courses will be delivered."Child and Family" implements this project with support of the association "Poland Our Home", as part of the Polish Assistance Program.

Guria. In Guria in the Youth Centre a final meeting of the project of rehabilitation of the probationally detained.There were 100 probationally detained people taking part in the project.

Kakheti. On May 4th with the help of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs a gigantesque marathon was staged – "Wings For Life World Run”."Wings For Life World Run” is a charity marathon to help the disabled people. Source:the organization's page in the social network