Georgian FLEX Alumni Celebrate Thanksgiving and Giorgoba with the Elderly
On November 23, 2006 the Georgian FLEX alumni club conducted a charity action called “We Do Remember” at the Satnoeba elderly home in Tbilisi. The idea for the event came from Mikheil Benidze FLEX ’06 and Lana Chkartishvili FLEX ’04 as a way to celebrate American Thanksgiving and Georgian Giorgoba (St. George’s Day) which fell on the same day this year. The alumni decided to visit an elderly house rather than an orphanage, as they feel society pays less attention to the elderly.
To prepare for the event, in October several alumni visited elderly homes all around Tbilisi and selected Satnoeba because of it was in particular need of assistance. Lead by FLEX alumni Irina Gaprindashvili, Sophiko Balanchivadze, Eka Rostomashvili, Nana Kalandarishvili, Tako Chaladze, and Anzor Misabishvili, the alumni club raised funds through a Halloween party and bake sales at their universities. They also marched in downtown Tbilisi on Rustaveli Avenue singing American songs and asking citizens to donate money. More than 200 GEL were collected.
The alumni club members used the funds to make bundles of fruit and sweet snacks for all 27 residents of Satnoeba, bake a cake for the Thanksgiving/Giorgoba dinner, and acquire St. George’s icon, cards and other board games to present to the elderly. The event culminated in a visit and celebration for the elderly. Together, the alumni and elderly talked, sang, played, and took pictures with each other. The elderly home residents also remembered their youth and told the stories of their lives.
|
