Greenhouse Economy Run by the Inmate’s Family

Lia Jgenti is living in one of the villages of Guria, being an inmate’s mother. Her son was arrested in 2007, when she was only 18 year old and getting prepared to pass at the University, though due one severe case, his future plans changed.

According to mother, after imprisonment he was mostly suffering from being isolated by his family, having absolutely different plans and occurring in an absolutely different place.

“Being a school-leaver, he was taking [private lessons at the tutor, show everything was changed due to life accident. It is unknown what he is going to do after being released from custody, though he has not planned anything up to now, neither giving up learning in prison or surrendered. I often visit her, sending books, he is learning English and I want him to continue living in usual way and become a successful person. – says inmate’s mother.

One year remaining before his release from custody, he is fully aware about his future plans, though as his mother thinks that his son’s activity will be related to family business.

Inmate’s family has been running a nursery economy for years, growing the saplings of kiwi, feihoia, walnut under greenhouse conditions, being highly demandable and realized in the whole westerner Georgia.

Inmate’s family is involved in the program supporting former inmates, inmates’’ families and probationers. With the support of Guria Youth Resource Center, watering pipes and water basin were purchased for greenhouse economy.

“We were in extreme need of water basin, as young saplings need special and frequent watering during draught period, we filed to sufficiently provide them with water as the result of which the saplings were damaged. With the help of this basin and watering pipes we will be able to grown more sapling during draught period, enabling us for increased realization and income”.

The project for strengthening former inmates is being implemented by the Institute of Democracy, Guria Youth Resource Center and Foundation Abkhazinterkont in four regions of western Georgia, Ajara, Guria, Samegrelo – Upper Svaneti and Imereti regions.

Main directions of the project include:

• Launching Social Enterprise and supporting employment of former inmates, inmates’ family members and probationers;

• Beneficiaries’ internship with employment condition;

• Beneficiaries’ self-employment through formation of a family business;

• Former inmates’ education and vocational training;

• Supporting former inmates’’ health state.

• Legal aid.

Persons interested with the project can contact us:

Institute of Democracy/ 107 Chavchavadze str., Batumi; Tel.: (0422) 27 57 44

Abkhazinterkont / 27 Ninoshvili str., Kutaisi; Tel.: (0431) 26 48 61

Guria Youth Resource Center / 4 Rustaveli str., Ozurgeti; Tel.: (0496) 27 41 26

Tanaziari /88 Rustaveli str; Tel.: (0415) 22 10 78