According to official data as of 2022, 15.6% of the population in Georgia lives below the absolute poverty line. This rate varies by gender and place of residence. For us, this means that 2 out of every 10 girls aged 0 to 17 living in rural areas are in absolute poverty.

Association Merkuri has daily contact with women and children from vulnerable groups in the region. We know that each item donated to them is often a means of survival or alleviation of their hardship.

The humanitarian work of Association Merkuri can be divided into several directions:

- Response to acute humanitarian crises;

- Humanitarian aid for target groups;

Humanitarian volunteering;

- Collection of donations.

Acute Humanitarian Crises

Since its establishment, Association Merkuri has played role in addressing acute humanitarian crises in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region. This includes the 2008 Russia-Georgia war and the displacement from the Kodori Valley, the flood in Chuberi, and the situation created by lockdowns related to COVID-19. During each of these events, members and volunteers of the organization provided humanitarian aid to the population.

Humanitarian Aid for Target Groups

Women and children who are victims of domestic violence, single parents, and socially vulnerable large families are among the vulnerable groups whose social and economic situations are often extremely challenging and require long-term support.

To improve the conditions of these groups, Association Merkuri primarily collaborates with international humanitarian organizations. Clothing, footwear, household and school supplies, and essential items received from these organizations and other donors are distributed to the beneficiaries. It has also become a tradition for the Merkuri to provide New Year’s gifts and school kits for young beneficiaries.

Association Merkuri supports the promotion of sports and a healthy lifestyle at the local level. For this purpose, in 2022-2023,

sports clothing was distributed to over 15 girls’ teams and more than 20 institutions (schools, kindergartens).

Humanitarian Volunteers

Since 2019, Association Merkuri has been accredited as a host organization within the EU Aid Volunteers program (2014-2020). This program aims to promote the principles of EU humanitarian assistance and strengthen the potential for providing humanitarian aid. Through this program, the Merkuri has hosted nearly 10 volunteers with different profiles.

მოხალისეობის მიმდინარე შესაძლებლობებზე შეგიძლიათ გაიგოთ  ამ გვერდზე

Collection of Donations

To enable Association Merkuri to respond to community or individual humanitarian needs, various resources are needed. The organization has partners who strive to support humanitarian activities through their donations. Among these, for the past five years, have been the Polish-Georgian tourism company Tamada Tour, the HumanDoc Foundation, and the Estonian organization MTU Mondo.

თუ გსურთ ასოციაცია „მერკურის“ საქმიანობის მხარდაჭერა, გადადით ამ გვერდზე