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Akhaltsikhe Boarding School – A Look Inside

October 8, 2007

With a high concrete wall and a large iron gate the building reminds you of a house of a witch in fairy tales. The gate has pointy black edges. However, you will see the difference as soon as you enter the yard. Forty-two children live behind that fence with their individual dreams, happiness and different histories.

“72 years ago there was an orphanage in the area. Somebody left me at the gate. Tutors heard my voice and found me crying and wrapped up in bandages. They could not help be surprised. Tutors raised me and named me; as for my surname, my nurse gave me her family name. I grew up here. I never looked for my parents. If they were nice people they would not have abandoned me. In 1954, when the school was transformed into a boarding school, I remained here as a teacher of physical exercise and music. I have never in my life thought of leaving this place,” Roza Abisoghomonian told her story.

Dato’s mother was expecting her tenth child when she decided to abort the child by non-medical methods. She was poisoned and died. Now, Dato lives at the Akhaltsikhe Public School with his siblings and cousins.

The Markoidze brothers from the village of Zanavi in the Adigeni district have sent their seven children to live at the boarding school. Their cousins have gotten used to the situation at school and do not want to go home at all.

“It is very nice here. We have good food,” said Dato.

Both Markoidze families do not have a house in the village and live in the cattle shed. Therefore, the boarding school provides a more appropriate accommodation for the children.

Akhaltsikhe Public School, more precisely the school for mentally disabled children, accepts children from socially excluded families.

Children arrive there from various towns throughout Georgia; from Akhaltsikhe, Adigeni, Akhalkalaki. Kareli, Tbilisi.

You will hear any noise common to public schools. However, as soon as I enter the schoolyard children surround me and try to come close to me. All of them call me Teacher; they refer to everybody this way - relatives and visitors.

They mostly enjoyed taking photos. Each of them asked me to take his/her photo standing at the flower pot in the corner of the dining room. “Teacher, please take a photo of me! Me! Me! I hear them begging.

Children have meals four times a day. Both girls and boys work in the kitchen. They set tables together; they give the cook plastic cups and plates through the kitchen bar.   

These children are not so happy and despite the fairly normal situation in the house they seem gloomy. Children never speak about their impoverished families; more accurately they do not want to remember. However, they are eager to tell me about their toys in the boarding school.

“We have balls, toys, Eva brought us bicycles,” said Dato.

Eva Berger, Austrian Consul to Georgia, frequently visits the school and is like family and a friend to these children.

Children have another favorite guest, Father Ioseb, who visits them once a week.

Fruit jam is boiling in a large saucepan in the right corner of the schoolyard. Teachers bought plums and children will have jam with bread and tea during the winter.

Most children can paint. Last year their paintings were exhibited in the Hotel Metekhi.

The paintings on the topic of “Angels and Me” attracted the spectators. Representatives of various embassies purchased seven pictures,” said Dali Kravelidze, chairwoman of the school administration.

When the children got more comfortable with me they told me about their dreams.

“I want to be a doctor,” said Teona Abutidze.

“I will be a teacher,” said Nana Mikeladze while grabbing my shoulder.

“I will be a policeman, “Dato Markoidze whispered to me.

Otar Mazmishvili, who is different from the others and is very active, dreams to go to America.

Gulo Kokhodze, Akhaltsikhe

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