SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP: Female inmates in Georgia follow felt courses. By Nino Akhvlediani-Hulst.

As part of a social assistance programme, eight female inmates in Georgia’s 5th Female Colony are following weekly felt courses. This aims to increase their skills in working with felt, and to prepare them for a professional life after their time in prison. The results are astonishing.

The eight women have been engaged since early October 2009 in weekly feltmaking sessions, under the guidance of Georgian fashion designer and felt maker Nino Akhvlediani-Hulst. Although none of them had had any exposure to working with felt prior to their conviction, within a few months the
women demonstrated remarkable progress, getting some time off from the everyday prison routine to work in the prison’s atelier.

Sharing particular skills and techniques with each other while working, they have produced an amazing variety of works, using high-quality Caucasian and Merino wool with interesting colour combinations.

The most successful creations will soon be exposed to the outside world, showing the tremendous skills that these female inmates possess and thus enhancing their self-esteem. The intention is to keep on mentoring the women including when they are released from prison, accompanying them towards reintegration into society.

Those with particular interest and talent will require assistance to develop their potentials and possibly turn their newlyfound dedication into gainful business. It would be great if they made a profession out of the activity that they have been wholeheartedly investing their time and energy in over the past few months.

The women have meanwhile created their own brand name called “Dream No. 5”. Using this joint brand name they will further develop their products.





This project has been implemented by the NGO “Peoni”, with support from the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance of Georgia and with financial support from the Government of Norway (NORLAG), Penal Reform International, the Polish Embassy and the European Commission.

For more information on this story, please contact Nino Akhvlediani-Hulst at ninodiani@hotmail.com


A felt turtle that the female inmates produced for kids in a Tbilisi orphanage

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JOB: Drei Freiwillige für ein FSJ in Georgien ab September 2009 werden gesucht. (fib-eberstadt.de)

Der FIB e.V. (Förderverein für internationale Beziehungen im CVJM e.V.) besteht seit dem Jahr 1998. Er hat den Zweck, die Aufbauarbeit des CVJM (Christlicher Verein junger Menschen) in Zentral- und Ost- Europa zu unterstützen.

Unsere Hauptziele sind:

1. Den Aufbau von Jugendarbeit auf Grundlage des christlichen
Glaubens in Zentral- und Osteuropa zu fördern und zu unterstützen
2. Benachteiligte junge Menschen zu unterstützen, indem wir ihnen
eine Chance für eine berufliche Ausbildung eröffnen
3. Mitarbeiter zu schulen, die die Arbeit vor Ort langfristig
eigenverantwortlich weiterentwickeln können

Für die Kinderheime in Kodjori und Telavi werden junge Menschen mit Idealen gesucht, die im Rahmen eines Freiwilligen Sozialen Jahres (FSJ) dort mitarbeiten wollen. Für den Einsatz gelten die üblichen
Bedingungen für ein FSJ im Ausland. Die Landessprache ist Georgisch, auch Russisch ist sehr hilfreich. Deutsch und Englisch können nur bedingt zur Kommunikation eingesetzt werden. Die Freiwilligen werden in georgischen Familien untergebracht.

Wer Lust hat sich in einem ungewöhnlichen Land sozial zu engagieren, ist bei uns herzlich willkommen.

Kontakt:

FIB e.V.
Lindenstr. 4
D-74246 Eberstadt

Phone: +49-7134/13 40 51
Fax: +49-7134/13 40 52
Email: info@fib-net.de
www.fib-eberstadt.de