Tsisartkela (Rainbow) -
     Centre for Working and At-Risk Children in Tbilisi

A day centre was set up for the children working in a crowded and noisy area in the vicinity of the Tbilisi Central market in 2002 (with the financial support of UNICEF). Working children is a recent problem in the Georgian reality and is a result of economic hardship, forceful displacement and migration faced by this group of children in the large cities. They work from morning till night as loaders, sellers trading in greens and cigarettes and other items. These children are thus left without schooling, playing and proper development.
The Tsisartkela Day Centre aims to assist such children by providing the
micro environment for meaningful entertain-
ment and development.
At present, the Centre is rendering assistance to fifty working and risk group children whose age ranges from 6 to 16. The Centre continued functioning in 2004 within the framework of Rebuilding Lives Project supported by Save the Children/USAID.

Basic Services

A doctor working for the organization provides weekly check-up of children, of the kitchen, and hygiene and sanitary conditions in the Centre. The children are examined and those in need, are transferred to the health care centres. The doctor educates the children on the healthy lifestyle.

Education

The Centre’s teachers assist children in doing school lessons.

Some of the children have missed certain stages in education and therefore are lagging behind.They are provided with individual catch-up classes.

Sport

The Tsisartkela Centre is functioning between the blocks of houses, which is a favourite place of children’s gathering place. The Centre children play and hold sporting events with the local children. A similar event are organised together with the Beghurebi Centre children

Painting

The children at the Centre particularly enjoy painting. Expressive colour paintings and other works can be seen everywhere – in the rooms, corridors and by the stairs of the Centre building. The paintings created here were exhibited in the Museumof Fine Arts as well as at the exhibition dedicated to the tenth anniversary of the NGO Genesis held in the National Library, where some of the pictures were even sold. Such events are organised on regular basis.





Singing

At singing lessons, the children are taught folk songs with the accompaniment of a chonguri (folk musical instrument).

The lessons are lively and creative.
The children’s singing was much appreciated at the presentation of the Centre.
Listen to Tsisartkela's choldren songs and see some songs' video.


   
Shenma survilma damlia
and video
Ananuri
Shamaskhdebian kornebi
Acharuli

Vadjkatso mtashi
gazrdilo		    
SaqarTvelo
and video
Tsisartkela's anthem

Dancing

The Centre makes particular emphasis on teaching folk art. The children are taught folk dances. Lately, they have also enriched their repertoire with Roma melodies.

Drama

The children have their own puppet theatre at the Centre. They themselves make puppets and ‘enliven’ them. At present, they are staging fairytale Cat in Boots.

Let's introduce our poppet theatre's young artists
and see some videos from Cat in Boots.


Handicraft

At the handicraft lessons the children make beautiful clay puppets, appliques, etc. Among their works, one can find multicoloured ornamented decorative frames adorned with real spaghetti.

The children are taught tapestry weaving, which is a skill they may find useful in their future lives.

Events/Relations with other Organisations

The Centre has forged close ties with the Tbilisi Youth House. The Tsisartkela children take part in the debates organised by the Youth House and attend classes on journalism, producing and television/video art, etc.
The Centre arranges joint activities (visiting museums, going to the theatres and concerts) together with the NGO Kenchebi (Pebbles) the latter being a group of young people engaged in the promotion of art.

An exhibition of children’s paintings was organised within the framework of the project The Sun’s Kilometres project (implemented by a group of the State University students), at which four of the children of the Centre were awarded prizes.

Together with Temka special boarding school the Centre arranged a concert dedicated to the Mother’s Day. The children were provided with training under the heading Street Philosophy carried out by World Vision. Two children were awarded the title of a ‘Street philosopher’. They meet with the children of various childcare institutions to discuss common problems.

Above all we remembered our participation in the children's festival 'Let's Begin Together' - the event dedicated to the International Children's Day, June 01,2005, Vake Park, Tbilisi initiated by Save the Children and funded by USAID.

Volunteers

At present, an English language teacher works as a volunteer at the Centre. She contacted Tsiasrtkela from the Tbilisi Youth Centre and provides lessons twice a week.

Psychological Assistance

The psychologist of the Centre sets diagnosis of the children and ensures their psychological rehabilitation by working individually as well as in groups; she uses exercises enhancing communicative skills and facilitating development. She identifies fields of the children’s interests and when needed, consults parents to get a comprehensive understanding of the children’s problems.

Social and Legal Services

The social worker of the Centre studied the family issues of each child and their economic and social problems. The lawyer of the organization provides legal advice to the parents.
The Mothers’ Club was established under the leadership of the management of the Centre. The members of the Club meet each month to discuss the problems related to the children, as well as the activities and plans of the Centre. Three of them were hired in the Centre.