TBILISI, Georgia - Christmas in Georgia is celebrated on Jan. 7, when "Tovlis Papa" comes to town. This year, Christmas came earlier for some Georgian children.
During a visit Dec. 15-16, U.S. European Command officials made a special delivery of school supplies to children at a local kindergarten and sports equipment to an organization that supports the health and fitness of children of all ages, including those with disabilities.
The $20,000 donation from EUCOM's Humanitarian Assistance program is meant to help improve delivery of social services in the country, said Rear Adm. William Brown, EUCOM's director of logistics, who led the entourage.
The team was met with Christmas carols and traditional singing and dancing by students during its visit to Public Kindergarten No. 215, one of only four schools that provide services to children with disabilities, according to the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi.
The facility also houses a special division called the Social Integration Center that helps disabled children increase motor skills and cognitive abilities.
"The country of Georgia is a great friend to the United States, and we think that we're stronger when we work together," Brown said as he presented school supplies to children, parents and teachers during a celebration at the school. "We want to give you these tools to help you learn. Carpenters have tools so they can do their jobs. These are your tools so you can do your job - to grow up and learn."
The EUCOM team also visited a local sports complex to hand out medals and sports equipment to athletes participating in a Special Olympics-type competition, sponsored by the Georgian National Federation of Sports for Children and Students.
The organization was founded in 2005 to educate students at all levels on the importance of maintaining good health, wellness and physical fitness, including children with disabilities, orphans and children displaced by the 2008 war, according to the U.S. Embassy.
"We worked with the Ministry of Health of Tbilisi who decided what would benefit the children the most, so we gave them some things that were appropriate for their age and skill level and we hope they use them to get stronger in their health and their happiness," Brown said.
The program works heavily with the Georgian Departments of Education, and Health, Labor and Social Services, which has helped the organization found a wellness program that is currently taught in more than 450 schools across the country.
As the only organization of its kind in Georgia, the program relies heavily on volunteers to conduct events and donations to provide other resources.
"We look to invest in the future and when we look to invest in the future and we see children like this who will grow up and be great citizens of Georgia," Brown said. "We believe very much in the future of Georgia and I can't think of a better place to come than a school like this that the Ministry of Health and Education are trying to help, and we appreciate partnering with them."
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