MaximsNewsNetwork: GEORGIA: DISPLACED CHILDREN: UNICEF

MaximsNewsNetwork: 21 July 2009 - UNICEF is establishing kindergartens in Georgia to give displaced children access to early childhood education.
The people of Lamiskana are tense.

Their village sits a few hundred meters from territory under dispute between Georgia and breakaway South Ossetia.

Many villagers witnessed the violence of last year's conflict between Georgia and Russia - including children.

But having somewhere to socialize and have fun is helping many children cope with the trauma they've experienced and the stress war has placed on their families.

UNICEF is supporting the Elizabeth Gast Foundation in Lamiskana to offer workshops and activities for local children outside of school hours.

SOUNDBITE (Georgian) Pikria Totosashvili 17, student, Lamiskana, Shida Kartli:
This place has helped us to overcome trauma we experienced during the war. Children were worrying a lot and we had enormous stress. Children are trying to ignore the fact there's a conflict, soldiers are still around and something could happen."

It's estimated that some 30 thousand people remain internally displaced following last year's conflict.

New settlements house people who are unable to return to their homes.

But the settlements offer little in the way of amenities for children.

Together with its partners, UNICEF is establishing kindergartens to give displaced children access to early childhood education - a fundamental child right.

Four year old Mari fled the village of Akhalgori with her parents and now attends kindergarten near her temporary home in Tserovani Settlement.

She's one of thousands of displaced children trying to adapt to a new a life after war.

The new kindergarten also serves a resource centre for parents in need of advice on health, nutrition and protection.




For Mari, it's a welcoming child friendly space.

SOUNDBITE: Benjamin Perks, Georgia Deputy Representative, UNICEF:
"Often we forget that play, learning and exploration and communication are the essential business of children - this is what children do with their lives. And we have to get that back on track as quickly as possible to ensure that the lasting developmental impacts of conflict are challenged immediately."

Supporting children affected by conflict helps to ensure their rights to protection and development.

By establishing child friendly spaces, UNICEF and it's partners are providing a fun place for children to learn, socialize and recover from the stress of war and displacement.

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News & Politics

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• Georgia
• displaced children
• Lamiskana
• South Ossetia
• Russia
• UNICEF
• MaximsNews Network
• Child education
• war trauma