A huge thank you to Voice of America for the feature on our organization! We’re thrilled to have our story shared with your readers.
"ამერიკული ქველმოქმედება, რომელიც საქართველოში 30 წელზე მეტს ითვლის/American charity that has been in Georgia for more than 30 years"
Khatia from Adjara
For our english readers here is a brief summary:
American Friends of Georgia, a charitable organization founded in 1994, recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. The organization was established shortly after Georgia gained independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Its founder, Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff, was known for his leadership and deep commitment to humanitarian causes. Under his guidance, the NGO implemented numerous projects aimed at supporting Georgia’s most vulnerable groups, including the creation of the Dzegvi shelter in 1995, which housed over 120 homeless children. Over the years, the organization has expanded its scope, completing over 120 projects with $11 million in aid benefiting more than 16,000 people.
Residents of Dzegvi Shelter
The organization also focuses on health and education initiatives. It established the a hospice facility in Tbilisi in 2003, the first of its kind in Georgia, providing care for terminally ill patients. Additionally, "American Friends of Georgia" has been instrumental in improving healthcare for children with cancer, including repairing oncology departments and funding treatments abroad. They’ve also created art schools and rehabilitation programs to support cultural heritage preservation and youth education. The NGO has continued its mission under the leadership of Simon Sidamon-Eristoff, Lena Kiladze, and Bill Corcoran, with a strong partnership model involving Georgian businesses, U.S. and foreign embassies, and other organizations to ensure sustainable support for Georgia’s development.
President of "American Friends of Georgia" Bill Corcoran (left) and executive director of the organization Lena Kiladze (right), during a visit to "Voice of America"
If you’d like to learn more about American Friends of Georgia, please visit our website at https://www.afgeorgia.org/who-we-are