Tblisi, Georgia
There were some technical problems but most of us could see the pictures on the small screen and the sound track was clear. Marge and Roland have been to the orphanage in 2005 and 08. Tami is a community for the disabled and orphaned and those who live there are obviously very fortunate and are developing well in a good environment. Tami means community and it's located in the Caucasus and run by Nicki who resigned his job, bought the place, remodelled it and has made it a home.
3 Village women bake and cook in primitive but efficient kitchens. There is an electric range but they use the wood stove more cause the electricity is not dependable. Other village volunteers and people from around the world help out and the residents contribute as they can, cleaning, farming and wood splitting.
The Midland Club provided the seed money for a viticulture project and the plants, planted in 2004, have now provided a couple of seasons of grapes. The whole community works on harvesting and turning the grapes into wine. The original vineyard has recently been expanded and the hope is to turn it into a commercial project.
While Roland and Marge were there they took some day trips, one to pick up garbage in the nearby river valley. They helped with a community expansion - a building started with funds from an American Foundation has had construction stopped and started a couple of times and they started again. There is a brick making project - not load bearing bricks but they can be used for room dividers and some are sold. The German government has funded two wash houses and the residents used broken ceramic tile to create patterns and decorations throughout.
There is a strong positive feeling for Canada and wherever Roland and Marge went they were met by friendly and giving people who would share their last crust. Our Club also provided two washing machines which have reduced the work load dramatically. There is a generator for when the power goes out, a couple of times a week and a water storage facility on a hilltop that is now protected by a proper building. They pump water from the wells and then rely on gravity to feed it during the week. The population of the community has more than doubled and they have had to dig a second well.
Roland and Marge took a tour of Tblisi and observed that poverty is endemic, buildings are in poor repair, but in Tami there is a loving environment that brings the disabled out of themselves and encourages them to contribute. They send their thanks.
Roland said that a $2,500.00 commitment from our Club was doubled by the District and then doubled again by the Foundation for a very effective use of our money. Roland saw an article about the community in 2002 and brought it to the attention of the membership.