Georgia
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› Provides medicine and medical supplies to 70 health facilities |
Background
Georgia has had a turbulent history since its independence in 1991. Separatist movements in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia resulted in the internal displacement of nearly 300,000 people. This and the dramatic collapse of Georgia's economy after the dissolution of the Soviet Union resulted in civil unrest, widespread unemployment and significant increases in maternal and infant mortality as people struggled to survive. UMCOR began humanitarian operations in 1993 to address the needs of women and children by providing essential medicines and treatment practices, aimed at combating the most common and preventable illnesses facing this group. This mission has grown since its inception to implement a number of transitional development projects throughout the country.
AGRICULTURE
Modern Agricultural Quest
UMCOR is in the process of engaging local agriculture and microfinance organizations to implement Modern Agricultural Quest in collaboration with UMCOR in the Samtskhe-Javaheti and Shida Kartli regions of Georgia. The program is funded through the sales of agricultural commodities (monetization of 8,000 metric tons of wheat and 600 metric tons of sunflower seed oil). This monetization process contributed to food security during an embargo from Russia.
Through the Modern Agricultural Quest program, over 17,000 small-sized agricultural private enterprises and individual farmers within the five administrative district regions will expand their production and marketing capacity. This project will (1) support the development of agricultural production and marketing facilities for new and existing small-sized agricultural businesses; (2) facilitate the adoption of modern agricultural technologies by new and existing agricultural businesses; (3) facilitate expansion of the agricultural private sector by providing credit to small-sized agricultural businesses, farmer associations, cooperatives, and individual farmers; and (4) improve socio-economic conditions for members of target communities by rehabilitating infrastructure projects.
HEALTH
Pharmaceutical Distribution
UMCOR's Pharmaceutical Distribution program has been providing assistance to vulnerable people since 1993. The program provides millions of dollars worth of high quality medicines and medical supplies to approximately 200,000 vulnerable children, elderly and other vulnerable Georgians through distributions to health clinics, orphanages, elderly homes and other institutions each year.
RECONSTRUCTION
Clinic and School Reconstruction
UMCOR Georgia began implementing small reconstruction projects in 2005 funded by the US Department of State. UMCOR first rehabilitated the Kopitnari Kindergarten in Imereti Region of Western Georgia in summer of 2005. The next year, UMCOR continued to work with this community to rehabilitate an outpatient clinic that serves internally displaced people from Abkhazia and other vulnerable members in the community. In 2007, UMCOR renovated the Khoni Internally Displaced Person Ambulatory clinic which serves 1,400 people from Abkhazia.
UNITED METHODIST VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION
The United Methodists Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) launched its activities in Georgia in 1997. Through this program volunteers have educated youth, repaired boarding schools for children, assisted with providing food, clothing, equipment, and medicines and also set up a scholarship fund for Georgian youths from poor families.
PARTNERS IN OUR WORK
UMCOR Georgia works with a variety of partners to make our work possible. In addition to the private funds we receive through The United Methodist Church we also receive support from the following:
US Department of State
US Department of Agriculture
