LOCATION: TBILISI, GEORGIA
FOCUS: REFUGEE AID
LOCAL PARTNER: VOLUNTEER TBILISI
TOTAL DONATED: $4,200 - to restock their pantry of food and medicine for Ukrainian refugees.
VOLUNTEER/CHARITY SUMMARY:
I spent multiple days with "Volunteer Tbilisi" - a small group of young people from all over the Cacausus's that provides immediate and daily assistance to over 400 refugees who currently are living in Georgia. They provide weekly medications, food, support with local resources, and are a remarkable little band of joyful warriors. They're mostly young Russians and Georgians, working together for Ukrainian refugees, and it was a beautiful thing to see.
While in Tbilisi, I was able to raise $4,200 in order to build up their food supply, as well as help them in their office in strategic sessions. Since I had a bit of experience regarding fundraising for immediate aid, I sat in their offices going through their past and their plans, trying to streamline their efforts, even though I wanted to be out with distribution. But, they wanted me with their business plans, helping with fundraising pitches, and developing (or deleting) long term strategies. I always believe in doing whatever is asked by whomever you're helping, so I sat in their offices, doing skype calls and thinking through strategies!
Not only did I experience a wonderful new country by visiting Georgia, but I made new friends who are doing beautiful work. What a stunning and beneficial stop!
WHY I CAME TO GEORGIA
I wasn’t sure where I’d go after Armenia, and looked on a map to see neighboring options, and my choices were: to the south - Iran (Impossible - even though I’ve always wanted to see it), to the East - Azerbaijan (Visa challenges and US govt warnings = No), to the West - Turkey (closed border = No), …and to the north? Georgia!
I knew nothing about Georgia (or its capital Tbilisi), but after a quick google, I thought it looked beautiful, and I wanted to go even deeper into the Caucasus Mountains!
My second google was, “volunteer Georgia, volunteer Tbilisi, non-profit Tbilisi, NGO Tbilisi” and up popped a group called, “Volunteer Tbilisi!” I found their instagram page and their work looked recent and sound, and they focussed on Ukrainian refugees. I sent them a quick message asking if I could come visit, and within the day they responded with “Of Course!” So, I made a $200 donation so they knew I wasn’t a flake, and found a hotel in Tbilisi.
Also, I guess I look Georgian. Everywhere I went in Armenia I was treated as tourist - of course everyone was kind, but they knew I wasn’t from there. But in Georgia, every time I opened my mouth in a coffee shop, restaurant, or when meeting someone, they immediately looked a bit shocked, and said, “I thought you were Georgian!” “You look Georgian!” and as I’ve looked around, it’s true - the men here are gorgeous.
FOOD
Georgian food is delicious, and their most well-known dish is Kinkhali. It’s a large dumpling filled with a variety of things, meat, potatoes, mushrooms - similar to Tibetan Momos, but even larger and doughier!
One thing about Kinkhali is they have a big hunk of dough at the bottom, like a foot, and they look like little trees. I went to a Kinkhali restaurant to try the traditional dish, as I always do, and ordered a potato one (five pieces per order), and a mushroom one, and immediately tucked in when they hit the table. Holy shit - they were delicious. I love a dumpling with a thick dough!
I was sitting there, minding my own business and eating my kinkhali with a knife and fork (as one does), when out of no where this girl from across the room, got up and came over, showing me her phone with google translate open, and it said, “You’re eating them wrong. Can I show you?”
I laughed, and nodded in the affirmative and she proceeded to pick up my kinkhali by the foot and ate around the edges, like holding the base of a piece of broccoli, holding the stem, and eating the crown, then discarding the foot (which just happened to be my favorite part). Mind you, I love a good chunk of dough, so was a bit bummed, but I did it right the rest of the meal!
I sneakily paid the bill of the girl and her boyfriend, so when they got up to pay - they were stunned, and came over to talk with me in their broken Georgian/English. It was the loveliest exchanges I’ve had in Georgia, and they thought I was the nicest tourist they’d ever met.
When I told my friends at Volunteer Tbilisi about eating kinkhhali with a knife and fork, they all laughed in horror, “NOOO, that would be like eating pizza with a spoon!” - noted, and it never happened again.
Besides Kinkhali I spent most of my meals at the Kiwi Cafe - the best vegan place in Tbilisi!
WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT GEORGIAN POLITICS
Georgia is on the precipice of it’s future…either the EU or back towards Russia.
The vast majority of Georgians (89%) are looking West, and want to join the EU. There are EU flags everywhere, they HATE Russia, and desperately want to leave their Russian history behind. They are hopeful and on track to join the European Union. Right now, their ruling government is pro Russia, as the main ruling party was founded by a Georgian oligarch that made his money in Russia. He is loyal to Putin, and just pushed through a “foreign agent” law that will effectively ban dissenting media, and kill their bid for joining the EU. There are nightly protests, and all the young people are freaking out that they are sliding back towards Russia. It’s a very challenging time in Georgia, and with this law being pushed through, there may actually be a revolution.
SITES and DAY TRIPS
The Caucasus Mountains - Kasbeghi
Cathedral
Old Town
Baths
CULTURE
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