The FINANCIAL — The foundation Tree of Life has funded the paraorchestra established by the union Parents Bridge. The union won the second grant competition organized by the foundation Tree of Life.
The paraorchestra is an orchestra consisting entirely of musicians with disabilities. It was formed as a project to create a platform for the top disabled musicians, with the hope that its success would lead to better integration of the disabled into music and performing arts. In total, the foundation Tree of Life funded various projects, worth over GEL 1,600,000 in 2014.
Members of the paraorchestra are children and adults suffering from deaf, blind, autistic spectrum and mobility disorders. The project promotes the expression of the potential of disabled children. It encourages the realization of their abilities and social integration. Besides that, music therapy helps children to develop skills.
The first concert of the paraorchestra was held on 2 April at Movement Theatre. It was devoted to World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD). WAAD has been observed on 2 April every year since 2008. It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly.
The association Parents Bridge was created by children with disabilities, including staff working as psychologists and their parents in 1999. Members of the union aim to develop educational and social conditions for children with disabilities. The union has 50 beneficiaries. They are offered systematically: music therapy, drum therapy, art therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and ‘logorytmika’. Professionals, as well as psychologists, special teachers and methodists are working with the beneficiaries.
The Tree of Life charity was created in 2008. It aimed to support issues of concern to the public. The foundation held two grant contests for supporting children with disabilities in 2014. Within the frames of this, 26 projects were funded. The total worth of the projects implemented in 2014 amounted to over GEL 1,600,000. The diversified directions of the projects include: education, environmental protection and the support of children with disabilities. The foundation also supported 13 individuals with different projects and gave wheelchairs to 300 people with disabilities.
At the end of 2014, Tree of Life supported the creation of the first website showing hundreds of sign language symbols and gestures, giving additional support to Georgia’s deaf community. The country’s first online dictionary outlining 500 sign language gestures was published in Georgian and had sections in English and Russian. The innovative website showed gestures for each alphabet letter, as well as video tutorials on how to spell certain words.
With the support of the Tree of Life, over ten key avenues and streets in Georgia were adapted for disabled people by building ramps.
Discussion about this post