Kindergarten opens after 25 years in Georgia’s conflict zone

After 25 years of waiting, a village located across the so-called border line of Georgia’s occupied Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia), now has its own kindergarten.

Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili personally visited the Ditsi village today and attended the opening ceremony together with the American and Latvian Ambassadors, representatives of diplomatic corps and members of Georgian Government.

"It is an emotional day for me as Ditsi is my village, which I would frequently visit in my childhood,” Garibashvili said.

"For 25 years a kindergarten did not function here and with the help of our friends one has been opened now. I would like to express support [to the kindergarten] on behalf of the Government and friends of Georgia,” Garibashvili noted.

After 25 years children of Ditsi will enjoy the benefits of a kindergarten. Photo by Prime Minister's press office.

The kindergarten was a joint initiative between Georgia and Latvia.

At today’s ceremony Garibashvili thanked the Foreign Ministry of Latvia and its Embassy to Georgia for fully furnishing the kindergarten and said the project was "another good example of the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries”.

United States (US) Ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland spoke at the ceremony and stressed how important it was for the people living in the conflict zone to feel support.

"No one has forgotten these villages and their population. No one has forgotten that your presence here and your efforts are very important,” he said.

Ambassador of Latvia to Georgia Elita Gavele said today’s event was "very important” and the visit of PM Garibashvili and diplomats to Ditsi showed that the issues facing border villages were important for the Government.

PM Garibashvili with Lithuania and US Ambassadors at the opening of the kindergarten. Photo by Prime Minister's press office.

The former kindergarten in Ditsi village, located in Gori municipality, closed down 25 years ago – at the end of the Soviet era when the kindergarten education system was revised.

In 2014 the state-owned building was renovated as part of a Governmental program to develop villages, and supported financially by Greek medical fund ‘Hippocrates’.