The earthquake that hit Tbilisi, Georgia in April threatened to ruin more than just buildings, but a sense of belonging. More than just schools and classrooms, but hope for education and a future.

Around 900 children attend the Temka School # 149. Most of them come from poor families of a range of ethnicities. The opportunity of a free education is the one thing they can count on, but the earthquake on the 25th April nearly took that away.

The fact that it registered only 4.8 on the Richter scale may cause some to think that the damage was minor. Nothing could be further from the truth. According to the Ministry of Urbanization, a total of 8,123 public and residential buildings were damaged (with an estimated cost of repair/rehabilitation of US$90m). Out of these, 165 schools/high schools, 57 kindergartens, and 57 hospitals & polyclinics were damaged significantly or beyond repair. Fortunately, the earthquake took place late in the evening and nobody was inside the Temka school.

In the suburb of Temka during the Soviet period, when the train maintenance factory was in operation and parents of school children were employed, the school achieved many good results and saw the graduation of renowned engineers, doctors and teachers. Parents were able to dedicate time and energy into the education of their children.

Whilst the school today is home to champions in state geography and chess competitions, the socio-economic situation in the area has attributed to a drop in results as families focus on survival.

The outcome for many students however still looks positive. According to Mrs. Mary Apkhazava (Director of the school for the past 11 years), the children have a strong will to attend school. They have aims and goals and at an early age talk about university and what they want to do.

On Friday morning, the day after the earthquake, children and parents came to school and were told that the school would be closed until further notice. They were upset and afraid because many had nowhere to go- their houses and apartments weren’t safe either. The building commission visited four days later, having had to assess dozens of buildings. They rated the school damage at category 3- unsafe and irreparable. After this assessment, the Director said she was afraid the teachers would lose their jobs and children would be unable to attend school. The children would ask her ‘what will happen to our school’? What can we do to help? Will the school open in time for the start of term on 1st Sept?

WV Georgia identified the Temka School (149) as being a high priority and significant beneficiary due to the number of students that attend the school, as well as the fact that the school itself is surrounded by the students’ homes. World Vision conducted its own technical assessment using a private company and this company assessed the damage as being category 2 - unsafe, but salvageable. Without this intervention, the majority of students would simply not have the opportunity to attend a school, as surrounding schools were also damaged and at full capacity.

With the rapid response and financial support by World Vision Hong Kong and project implementation by World Vision Georgia, the Temka School was saved. Not only was the school reopened in time to begin the new term, but children and teachers now have a safer school, are better protected and insulated against the elements, and have improved sanitation facilities. They will also enjoy a refurbished sports hall with proper flooring and lighting.

“The school is now at a significantly better standard than average Georgian schools - I wish that I could have studied at such a nice school,” says Lado Kvelashvili, WVI in Georgia Earthquake Response Project Manager.

The children are full of smiles, amazed at the generosity of their unknown friends. “Children who had in the past misbehaved and had drawn on the walls now want to keep the school the way it is - they now feel a sense of pride,” says Mary Apkhazava, School Director. One elderly teacher wept in gratitude when a World Vision staff member visited her classroom at the beginning of term.

Marina Andriadze, 33 years old, is the English teacher at the Temka School. She has been teaching at the school for four years and was afraid of losing her students and her job when the school was declared irreparable. Commenting on the earthquake she said, “I was very afraid, but I thought that I would just have to find some way to keep teaching, even if it meant visiting children at home. I can only pray it doesn’t happen again.”

Her son, Levan, is in the fourth form and is a Karate champion. For Marina, teaching at the school and seeing her young son achieving good results is incredibly important to her and her family, as Levan is following in his Uncle’s footsteps in both his hobbies and school achievements.

Marina’s elder brother also attended the school and achieved the highest results for his year. He graduated at the top of his class but didn’t have the opportunity to apply his education - he was killed during the conflict in Abkhazia, along with others of his class. On the 27th September, the school will come together in memorial of these young men who died, but will also celebrate this next generation of young Georgians.

Gulico, aged 10, is a shy and pretty girl who studies in the sixth form with her elder sister. She likes everything about her new school and likes going to school more now that it has been renovated. Her favorite subject is Georgian literature and language.

Ilia, a well-spoken 10 year old young boy is in the 5th form and loves physical education and playing games. After school he does his homework and then plays as much as possible. He hopes to travel in space one day as an astronaut.

The students’ pictures indeed paint a thousand words. The school is depicted as a church, with a steeple, crosses and a priest - a sacred place. From the many drawings, paintings and letters by the Temka school students, we see that the school is indeed a very special and important place for them. The letter below, written by Giorgi Mumladze, in 4th form, speaks right from the heart of all Temka school students.

“My kind friends, I was very worried when I thought about ruined walls. I never thought that this school, this sacred place, could face such disaster. I could not see help anywhere, but finally you appeared and now I am afraid of nothing. Thank you very much."

Photo: Lado Kvelashvili