The most difficult day, 08.08.2008 - anniversary of August 2008 War… hundreds killed, more than 136 000 became displaced, destroyed and looted villages, and lot of physical and psychological wounds on body’s and souls of people…
Since the first day of August war IDP Women Association “Consent” staff and more than 50 volunteers were standing together with newly displaced: meeting them on the entrance of Tbilisi with a hot tea, each day going to 21 shelters for IDPs bringing food, bed linen and clothes, helping and compassing them.
The members of Association, who practically all were IDPs from 90s, very well knew what are the most urgent needs of IDPs and were trying to easier their pain and address their needs. Shoulder to shoulder with IDP Women Association were our constant German partner, EED (now Brot fur die Welt) - who helped us to mobilize resources for emergency assistance. And since August we felt friendly support of our dear Polish friends - Lublin Foundation for Global Solidarity, Pater Mietek and volunteers who collected donations from Lublin citizens for Georgia.With these resources “Consent” could permanently assist to IDPs residing in 21 temporary shelters, as well as in “tent town”. Later” Consent” activists followed IDPs to new settlements - Gardabani, Shavshvebi, Khurvaleti, Bazaleti, Gori, Metekhi and others. We were not only providing humanitarian assistance, we were teaching people resilience, helping those with psychological and physical trauma, connecting people who lost each other after the war. Each month our volunteers were distributing in eight settlements supplementary food: oil, buckwheat, condensed milk, butter, and other necessary products for children. Mobile medical team was serving IDP families (and continue to do so already ten years).
In each settlement we found many great people – new IDPs, who became our volunteers and civic activists. In each village and IDP settlement women and men were creating self-help groups to overcome war consequences.
It takes a while, also today IDPs still need help, psychological assistance and social inclusion. “Consent” continues to stay with them, supporting them for self-reliance, community resilience and their development and peace initiatives. Our work is possible and efficient due to highly valuable contribution of civic activists from communities and we take this opportunity once more to appreciate their dedication.
