Overcoming Doubts

Community members in Tbilisi, Georgia worked together to create a sports playground for their children. Photo: Mercy Corps Georgia

In Elia, a district of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, the residents of neighboring apartment blocks decided there were several things they wanted to change to improve life for families in the community.

A group of community members met and developed a plan to make a neighborhood athletic court for children and to create covered seating areas and gardens in front of their apartment buildings.

With funding from Mercy Corps, the group forged ahead with their plans despite doubts that they could complete the project.

"Many people didn't believe me at first when I said we could do this," said Valiko, one of the project's leaders. "I just said to them 'I already have the money and tomorrow I'm going to start work. If you don't believe me just come and see!' So they did and in the end most people participated."

The community decided that the athletic court was the first priority because their kids had no other facility for exercise. Now that the court is built kids from around the district arrive there every day to use it.

"We put a lot of effort into it because we knew we were doing it for ourselves. We care for this stadium very much," said Valiko who added that there are strict rules to make sure kids are wearing proper shoes to protect the surface and that it is locked at night.

While the athletic court is keeping the children happy, the adults in the community are making use of the new seating areas and gardens, which are located where residents used to dump garbage.

"This is a very close community. We have always worked together even in the old times. But right now there is even better communication and friendlier relations between people because we have a place to sit together and socialize. In the evening everyone comes outside and talks," Valiko said.

Valiko said that people from around the community have approached him to discuss future projects.

Mercy Corps' assistance in Elia is part of its East Georgia Community Mobilization Initiative. Launched in September200, the four-year umbrella grant program is funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). With community mobilization as its primary goal, Mercy Corps awards grants to local groups and non-governmental organizations for projects such as winterization of homes, health care, education, local economic development, environmental protection, human rights advocacy, and activities that support the role of women and build bridges among diverse communities.