Teenage cancer patient lives a day as Georgia’s Economy Minister

A Georgian teenager battling an aggressive form of cancer found himself in the hot seat of Georgia’s Economy Ministry today, gaining first-hand experience of the working environment of the official position he dreams of claiming one day.

Eighteen-year-old Giorgi Kovziridze spent the day with Georgia’s Economy Minister today to learn about life in politics.

The first-year business student, suffering from an advanced bone tumour, was shown around the Ministry by employees of the Protocol Department and took part in meetings alongside Minister Dimitri Kumsishvili.

The teenager learned about a range of economic topics such as growth, investment and trade during the day’s official proceedings.

Afterwards Kumsishvili told Palitra TV reporters his Ministry would stay in touch with Kovziridze and would offer him a job in the office once he completed his three year degree.

Kovziridze was shown around the Economy Ministry and took part in official meetings today. Photo by Georgia’s Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development/Facebook.

Meanwhile, having passed the 2015 National University Examinations like the rest of applicants, Kovziridze has never lost sight of his dream of becoming Georgia’s Economy Minister, despite fighting the complex disease for the past four years.

Assisted in his medical needs by the Priest Andria Fund – an organisation founded in 2012 to help cancer sufferers under the age of 18 – his condition has become unresponsive to standard chemotherapy and now required further special care.

Kovziridze’s day at the Economy Ministry took place one week before he planned to travel to Japan to receive necessary specialist treatment.

The teenager’s travel and medical costs will be paid for by Georgia’s Ministry of Health, Tbilisi City Hall and the Solidarity Fund charity organisation.