Crisis in Georgia

Dear Friends,

The recent outbreak of war between The Republic of Georgia and Russia has taken the world by surprise. Georgia had already suffered three, and now four, wars since independence. With over 50% of the population already living in dire poverty, many families don't have spare resources to weather the additional hardship the current war has brought.

Georgian Youth Rescue is mobilizing quickly to respond to the humanitarian crisis the conflict has created for the already under-served street youth population in Georgia. We anticipate a large increase in the number of children needing food, clothing, shelter and medical care in the coming months due to thousands of people being displaced and experiencing severe economic distress.

At the moment there is a panic in Georgia about potential food shortages. Existing orphanages and shelters in Georgia are currently at risk to disruptions in their government funding sources. In the event that police services are disrupted, children on the streets will be more vulnerable to harassment and crime then ever. We must move quickly to ensure Georgia's children's humanitarian needs are met.

Georgian Youth Rescue is an all-volunteer organization that directly transfers donations to our partner organization in Tbilisi, The Mkurnali ("Healer") Association.

The Mkurnali Association has been providing critical services to Georgian youth for 8 years, in the form of humanitarian aid, legal assistance, and vocational training. Lead by Georgian director Nino Chubabria, Mkurnali has earned most of its own funding with a computer repair social venture operation. Nino anticipates the business will come to a halt for some months, creating a cash flow crisis for her organization.

Please consider donating to our Humanitarian Crisis fund today. And check back for regular news about The Mkurnali Association kids in Tbilisi.

Sincerely,
Tawnya Ferbiak
Founding Board Member