Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze and a group of Georgian businessmen visited the family of Kintsurashvilis to wish a Happy New Year and deliver presents to the parents of the eleven-year-old Mariam.
Kintsurashvilis are IDPs (internally displaced persons) from Sokhumi. Mariam who was born on December 21, 2007 is one of the first newly-born babies who have already received a 1000 GEL voucher in the framework of a new assistance program for the socially underprivileged families dubbed the “Dignified Start”. On January 1, 2008 the businessmen decided to visit the family at home and give them additional New Year presents.
The family of Kintsurashvilis has eight members. They have been living in a one-room apartment in the suburbs of Tbilisi for already 15 years. The year of 2008 started with amazing surprises for them. Center Point Group (a leading Georgian construction and development company) presented the family with a two-bedroom apartment currently under construction in Tbilisi and Wissol (an oil company) made a job offer to the father of the newly-born baby.
“I hope many will follow this example set by Rusudan Kirvalishvili from the Center Point Group. This is yet another step in conquering poverty in Georgia,” said Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze.
“Socially underprivileged families need particular assistance and support and we are providing it as this is our duty,” said Soso Pkhakadze, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Wissol.
“Dignified Start” is the first joint initiative of the private sector and the government of Georgia. Within the framework of the project, 360,000 socially underprivileged families will receive 1000 GEL per every newly born baby. The project has a duration of five years and is based on volunteering.
