Children in 10 communities are finally returning to classes after their schools were damaged during the August conflict between Georgia and Russia over South Ossetia. Over the last three months, World Vision, with funding and support from the German government, rehabilitated nine schools and one kindergarten in the former conflict zone around the city of Gori. They officially re-opened in February.

'It's great that our school is renovated. Of course, it's an encouragement for us to study well,' Natia, 15, a student at the school in the village of Saakasheti, said. 'Most of all, I like that our gym is repaired and we will finally be able to have sports activities.'

David Womble, World Vision Georgia National Director, H.E. Dr. Patricia Flor, German Ambassador to Georgia, and representatives from the local and regional governments, including the mayor of the Shida Kartli region, visited three of the rehabilitated schools Tuesday, February 24. Children, teachers, and school personnel met the group at each school, gave tours of the building, and put on small shows of traditional Georgian dance and song.

In Saakasheti, northeast of Gori, children lined up on both sides of the school walkway waving hand-coloured Georgian and German flags to welcome their guests. At this school, World Vision not only rehabilitated the building, but fixed the gymnasium as well, and built and outfitted a Child-Friendly Space (CFS). In the other nine buildings World Vision rehabilitated rooms to make them CFS-ready for other organisations that committed to set up the spaces.

'The school was in a terrible condition and had not been repaired for a long time; but especially after the war, its condition worsened -- most of the windows were broken and the roof was severely damaged. In the winter, we were not able to continue with our classes,' Laura Sabanidze, a teacher at the Saakasheti school, said. 'Now everybody is very happy that the school is renovated and that our children will be able to study in normal conditions.'

Many children were not able to return to their communities and lived in collection centres until the conflict zone became safe weeks after the conflict, weeks into September. However, once they returned, their already poor communities looked much different and were badly damaged. The school year already started late, if it did at all, and when winter came, classes had to stop indefinitely.

'Seeing these children and how happy they are - that they virtually have a new school building to learn in is something World Vision is very proud of,' Womble said. 'We are also very happy that the German government made this possible and continues to help the people of Georgia in their still troubled time.'

Some of the schools were in more critical condition than others. A school in Tortiza needed an entire wall of the building to be rebuilt. And at the kindergarten in Shindisi, which was also visited by the group, the condition of the building was so bad that many children were not allowed to go to school.

'We could not heat the building because of old and broken windows and doors. Wind was blowing from everywhere and children were frequently sick,' Laura Sabanize, a nanny at the kindergarten, said. 'Parents did not let them come to the kindergarten when there was bad weather. Now we have a new roof, a new floor, new windows and doors, and it is warm in the building.'

Sabanidze hopes that this new and warm environment will make the children happy and fortify their desire to learn. And for at least one five-year-old girl, Ana, that is exactly how she feels.

'I like our new kindergarten,' Ana said. 'I will come here every day. It is very beautiful now.'

World Vision rehabilitated the kindergarten in Shindisi, and nine schools in the villages of Akhaldaba, Arashenda, Berbuki, Kelktseuli, Kvemo Khviti, Phvenisi, Rekha, Saakasheti, and Tortiza.

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