Beghurebi - Psycho-Social Rehabilitation Centre
                           for Street Children

In 1996, Child and Environment, in partnership with OXFAM,received a grant from
TACIS Lien programme, which aimed at the
comprehensive assistance to street children
and their psychosocial rehabilitation.
With this end, an open-type, round-the-clock Centre Beghurebi was set up in one of the districts in Old Tbilisi. This was the first centre of this type in Georgia, different from
orphanages, boarding schools and Children’s Distribution Centre functioning at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

A building was allocated for the NGO with the support of the Department of Education of Tbilisi and the State Chancellery. The first residents of the Centre were the children picked up by the mobile team, as well as those without shelter.

At present, Beghurebi Centre offers night shelter to 25-30 children and diverse assistance through various programmes to 50 children in the Day Centre. Throughout its operation, the Centre has provided for the rehabilitation of about 700 children. At present, it is functioning within the framework of the Rebuilding Lives Project supported by Save the Children/USAID.

Basic Service

The acceptance of children to the Centre and their medical examination is carried out under a doctor’s supervision. The Overnight Centre offers shelter to homeless children and those who, due to family problems, are made to live in streets. The main function of the Centre is to supply these children with meals, clothes, footwear and hygiene items.

The children are provided with medical care right in the Centre. In cases of emergency, they receive free treatment at the Children’s Hospital #2, where urgent operations are also accessible. Each year, a team of doctors from the Ministry of Healthcare carry out free medical examination of the children (echolocation, cardiogram, analyses, etc

Education

Integration in regular schooling system is one of the major goals of the Beghurebi Centre. Educational activities in the centre have throughout years been supported by UNICEF. The Centre’s teachers assist children in doing lessons. Emphasis is made on reading and writing and basic mathematics, as well as on assisting in doing school lessons and developing schooling skills.

The children take part in cognitive and interactive quizzes, competitions, and specially designed educational games.

Sport

The Beghurebi children are ‘professional’ football players. Five of them benefit from the free training at the Merani club. The children often take part in school and district tournaments. In 2003, they played as part of the team in an Olympiad of children with special needs held in Ireland, where they were awarded bronze medal.

At the centre, the children play table tennis, basketball and volleyball, chess, and exercise on training simulators. They are trained in Aikido combat by the volunteer coach.

Computer

The Centre provides computer classes. The computer room is a favourite place of the children. Here they learn basic computer skills and create animated stories. In addition, an alternative software is used to teach reading to children with learning difficulties.

Painting

The Centre’s teachers, some of which are volunteers, pay particular attention to the development of the children’s creative skills.

The children’s paintings have gained appreciation at various exhibitions organised by UN agencies, Vernisage Art Gallery and various NGOs (e.g. Genesis).

Some of the paintings have been sold at the exhibitions and sales arranged in various art centres in Tbilisi.

The children have also taken part in international exhibitions and won grand price and diplomas.

The walls of the buildings are adorned with the paintings revealing the rich inner world of the children and instilling hope in.

Drama

Drama classes are aimed at the development of speech and transformation skills.

Joyful musical performances, such as Cippollino, Buratino (Russian version of Pinocchio) and Chinchraka (based on a Georgian fairy tales) were performed by the children on the stages of the Children Puppet Theatre and other cultural centres.

The audience of our performances are children of the centres that are being run by Child and Environment ( Jejili, Tsisartkela, etc), children of Tbilisi schools and childcare institutions, the public.

Please find attached fragments from musical performance Buratino (Russian version of Pinocchio, director Gocha Kapanadze) and fragment of musical video created in 2005 with participation of famous Georgia singer Zumba and children of Begurebi

Papa Carlo and Buratino	Harlequin and Buratino	Buratino stops the play	Carabas-Barabas and Buratino	Buratino is tricked
Alice and Basilio dance	Malvina's song	Malvina and Piero dance	Tortilla's classes	Tortilla puts the key
Malvina and Basilio's quarrel	Defeat of Carabas-Barabas	Buratino revives toys	Zumba and Begurebi 2005. Audio and Videoclips
Zumba and Begurebi 1	Zumba and Begurebi 2	Zumba and Begurebi 3

Singing

Singing classes are conducted parallel to drama section activities, often are being implemented jointly.

The children sing traditional Georgian and modern songs on various events and concerts dedicated to New Year Celebration, Mothers' Day, Tbilisi City Day, etc. The performances of Begurebi always include much music

Begurebi's anthem	Chiamaia	Fairy mask	Smile	Sun
Little Red Riding Hood	The Train	Tu-tu-tu	Malvina's song. Buratino 2005.

Dancing

Twice a week inflammatory rhythms of Georgian traditional dances are heard in the Centre.

Impetuous and gracious dancers of the Girls dancing ensemble take part in all concerts and presentations organized by the Child and Environment

Handicraft

The room for handicraft is full of brilliant colours and various types of artworks, such as embroideries, appliques, beadworks, beads, bracelets and clothing for little actors/actresses, all created by the children.

The girls and boys of all age groups make their first works and over time enhance their skills.

The children are provided with apprenticeship under guidance of volunteer trainers – the children are trained in enamelwork, quilting and beadwork.

Activities and Integration

The activities and accomplishments of the Centre are well-known in Tbilisi. Therefore, the children are often invited to take part in various events arranged in the city, such as jubilee, New Year and Easter concerts and activities (e.g. against smoking, dedicated to the Day of Environment).

Above all we remembered our participation in the children's festival 'Let's Begin Together' - the event dedicated to the International Children's Day, June 01,2005, Vake Park, Tbilisi initiated by Save the Children and funded by USAID.

The children attend theatrical performances, concerts of pop musicians, exhibitions; joint activities are being implemented together with Centres Tsisartkela, Jejili, Tbilisi Youth House, SOS Kinder children.

The level of the involvement of the Beghurebi children in public life is high. Some of the former residents of the Centre are already employed.

Some of the children of the Centre have successfully finished comprehensive schools. One girl, who has become a student of the State Drama Institute, is a future actress.

Four children from Beghurebi Centre took part in training course Street Wise provided by World Vision. Now these youths provide training to the children residing in other shelters, explaining the harmfulness of substance abuse and the danger of AIDS.

Leisure

Various governmental, non-governmental and grant programmes have provided the children with an opportunity to spend time in splendid resorts, such as Borjomi, Bakuriani, Likani, Gostibe, Tskhvaritchamia and Tsemi.

The camping tours made the children healthier. They were engaged in sports and cognitive exercises, competitions and tournaments and educated in environmental problems.

Such camps facilitate the integration of the youth in the society and their social rehabilitation.

Psychological Support

The Beghurebi children suffer serious psychological problems, such as backwardness of cognitive skills, behavior disorders, anxiety and PTS. The psychologist of the Centre is responsible for psychological diagnosing and correction. She works with the children individually as well as in groups. Particular attention is paid to psychological disorders of the children with learning problems. Measures are taken to identify the interests of the elder children to assist them in selecting their future profession.

The Centre regularly works with substance abuser children. A team including teachers, a psychologist and a doctor explain to the children the negative effects of substance abuse and try to change their attitude to this pernicious habit by replacing it with interesting and helpful activities. The approach has brought certain results. A booklet against substance abuse, featuring speeches of the former abusers sharing their tough experience with their peers, was prepared and published with the participation of the children. Booklets were disseminated among childcare institutions and schools.

Social and Legal Services