“I don't like to sleep. This bed is uncomfortable and ugly. You only have nightmares"

“Are girls supposed to sleep in a bed like this?” asks 13-year-old Anna. 

Neither girls, nor boys, nor even their parents should sleep on such a bed. But what to do when you’ve got nothing else? When the allowance is only enough for flour and pasta, and there is simply no money left for other needs.  Suraji and Natia have six children: five girls and one son, Shmagi. The two eldest daughters have started their own families and live separately. Anna, Nutsa, Elene, and their little brother Shmagi live with their mom and dad in a squat building with no amenities. Everything they have at their home is things found at the garbage dump. 

“We have nothing new and nothing of our own at home. All things are made of garbage"

Suraji: Perhaps not everyone has the right to a happy life. Some people are born to suffer! We didn't always live like this. Until I had a heart attack, I worked very hard! Children are sacred to me, I’m willing to go to any lengths to make them feel good. But my heart couldn't take it. I was ready to not sleep, to work in two shifts, to carry any weight, but my body could not stand it. I was operated on my heart, my gallbladder was removed, I had pneumonia recently. But that's not what we're talking about now. My children are starving, they have nothing to wear, nothing to sleep on. Everything that you see at home, I assembled with my hands from the garbage. I can do everything. I dream of somehow putting aside some money from the allowance and at least buying paint to paint the room. It's just impossible to live here!

“I bring everything into the house, then I fix it. We can’t buy anything other than bread”

Suraji: If I had only known that my children would live in such poverty, I would never have married. If I had known that I would not be able to work and that we would have to live on allowance only, I would not have had any children at all. I love them very much! My girls and son are the whole world for me. But I wouldn't want that kind of life for them. I want to create a fairy tale for them, but for 820 lari it turns out to be more of a horror movie than a fairy tale. They say that men should not cry, they are strong, hardy. But how can one not cry when children ask if it is possible to buy one ice cream and divide it into five parts?!

“I want to scream in pain and hopelessness! Our children don't deserve such a life."

Suraji: I worked as a turner. In Tbilisi, in a car repair shop. Then at construction sites. I have good hands, I succeeded in everything that I took on. When the children were born, we could no longer pay the rent, so we moved to the village, because rent is cheaper here. But then I had a stroke, cardiac arrest. I became unable to handle the same loads. We could not pay rent, so we occupied this building. Even stray dogs, probably, would not spend the night here. And people live here because they have nowhere to go. 

Elene (5-year-old): And I know that I will have a beautiful bed, like a princess! Dad says he doesn't know when it will be. And I know that it will happen! He doesn't believe. Do you believe?

“Do you believe that I will have a beautiful bed and dress?” 

Elene: I also believe that I will have a dress like Elsa has. And when I go to school, everyone will call me princess!  I will also have a school bag with Elsa, with wheels. There will also be all sorts of pencils and notebooks with Elsa.

Elene: Yes, I really want! But I will name all my children Elsa! And also, when I have a cake with Elsa for my birthday, I will blow out the candles.

Elene: Look how smart you are! It is a pity that your name is not Elsa, we would have become friends!

Shmagi (7-year-old): I'm not like my sister! I have one dream - I want my own bed. We're all sleeping together now. The girls are pushing me. And I can't sleep well and then I get tired at school. So, I want a bed to lie down alone and fall asleep! I'll probably sleep for three days!

Shmagi: I want to become a policeman - I will catch everyone. Well, not everyone, but only the bad ones.

Shmagi: When I catch them, then I'll count them and tell you. And now my sisters and I played tag and hide-and-seek. Although I am little, I found and caught everyone!

Shmagi: If there were toys, we would probably love to play with toys. If there was a TV, we would probably watch TV. And now there are only tag and hide-and-seek!

“Someone threw it away, but I like it! It's good that people throw away their toys!"

Anna (13-year-old): And I want to be an artist. I attend drawing classes, there I have paints and pencils. I have nothing at home. If I come up with something to draw at home, I try to remember it. And when I go to class, I draw there.

Anna: Oh, I'm afraid even to think about such expensive things! Sketchbook and pencils are better.

“I love drawing, but I don't have pencils and a sketchbook. My teacher drew this heart to me because I study well.

Nutsa (10-year-old): Nutsa wants a TV and a nice house. My classmates have nice houses, but we don't. Sometimes I am embarrassed that I cannot invite them to visit me. And I don't want anything else. 

“Mom and dad need help in everything. Now the water will warm up a little, and I will wash the dishes.”

Suraji: How can one listen without tears to how bad your children are? And I can't help, I can't do anything for them. The only thing in my power is not to take the medications prescribed to me by the doctor.

Suraji: Only one of them - cardiomagnyl. So, it’s the only thing I take. It is unacceptable for me to spend money on my medications at the expense of children's food!

“Can happy children live in this house?”

Suraji: The only thing I thought about when I contacted you was to improve living conditions for my children. I know you won't be able to give me a house - even the state can't do that. If there are repair materials, I will arrange a fabulous room for my girls with my own hands.

 I can do it. We also need beds and a small refrigerator. The rest - food, clothes, school supplies - is up to you.

Elene: And Elsa's things, please! I can't survive without them!

Shmagi: I have an idea! Bring us something delicious! Because it is boring to have only bread all the time. We would like ice cream or candy!

“I want all the bread to turn into candy!”

***

Here is another story about a Georgian family. We have not told you anything new. Thousands of families are suffering all over Georgia! We want to get them all out of the despairing gloom, the swamp where they found themselves with no fault on their own. The disease came to the Ognadze family. The father of six children became unable to work. He really wants to, but he can't! He only can cry, and it makes him feel worse!

You are their only hope. We need to save the children. Look how good they are! Beds, repair materials, food, and a refrigerator are all they ask for. And you also need to dress the children, give them toys, and bring sweets, because without all this they will grow up as evil adults. Children should have toys!

If anyone is willing to visit and help them in person, here is their address: Dmanisi, 11 Gorgasali Str.

Every time you can help someone, just do it and rejoice that God answers someone's prayers through you! 

We are sure that all together we will manage to save them from imminent death. 

Please don’t forget to repost our story. Let your friends know about the grief of this family! It’s extremely important!

Friends, there is one more request: if you know about the misfortune of a neighbor or friend do a godly deed, drop us an email at: office-fsp@fsp.ge.

Our Fund’s accounts are:

#GE15TB7194336080100003

#GE42LB0115113036665000

#GE64BG0000000470458000

(purpose: The Ognadze family).

You can also transfer money from our website.

It is also possible to transfer money from TBCpay and ExpressPay terminals. Find our Fund under "Charity" section (You can read more about rights and responsibilities of the Fund following the linkhttps://goo.gl/GY2Gus).

We have already helped thousands of disadvantaged people! Let’s support this family too! And who knows, maybe someday we ourselves will need help of strangers! Life is always unpredictable!

We have good news for you - now you can read the stories of our beneficiaries on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chernovetskyi.fund/ and Telegram: https://t.me/ChernovetskyiFund.

Even if you dial once this special number, it might save someone's life: 0901 200 270! God bless you!