The Civil Society Development Center (CSDC) was founded on 4
February 2010 by a group of young women who wanted to support
vulnerable women and children in Georgia. Nino Todua was elected to
lead the organization. For 16 years, CSDC has stood by children
living and working on the street, young people outside the school
system, single mothers and women in crisis.
2010
year founded
16
completed projects
650
vulnerable children (2017–2026)
5,000+
adolescents in the hygiene programme
up to 320
social workers trained
145
single, homeless women and mothers of large families
How it began
The social and economic changes of the 2000s hit children living and working on the street, and their families, especially hard. Most of these children came to Tbilisi from the regions or from conflict zones in search of a better life, but found themselves without permanent shelter. The most vulnerable were single mothers, internally displaced people and large families.
In 2010, a survey carried out in the regions with the support of the Embassy of Estonia showed that 53% of the women surveyed experienced violence from their husbands, and one of the main reasons was women’s economic dependence. The founders decided to improve the situation of women and children through advocacy, social integration, and educational and support services. The International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) provided the new organization with technical equipment.
Our path: 2010–2026
2010
The organization is founded
CSDC was registered on 4 February. With IREX support the
organization received office equipment, and with the support of the
Embassy of Estonia a survey on violence against women was carried
out in the regions.
2012–2013
First programmes for children living and working on the
street
“Empowering Girls” (Women’s Fund in Georgia) — 20 girls living and
working on the street joined a non-formal education programme.
“Together Towards a Better Future” (World Bank) — 30 children took
part in trainings on social adaptation, children’s rights and
computer skills.
2013–2014
“I Am a Citizen Too”
With G-PAC support we researched the rights situation of children
living and working on the street, developed recommendations for
state agencies and ran an advocacy campaign to simplify citizenship
procedures for children without documents. The children’s
photographs were exhibited at the Freedom Square metro
station.
2014
Youth and peacebuilding
With the support of the Open Society Georgia Foundation we prepared
young people in Kakheti, Shida Kartli and Samegrelo for civic
engagement, and introduced information technologies to pupils from
the occupied region — creating the blog ict4peace.ge.
2014–2015
“Invisible Children” and civic activism
With US Embassy support we produced the documentary “Diaries of My
Life”, prepared 24 video/radio programmes on Radio Shokoladi, held
film screenings in 4 cities and distributed 5,000 brochures. With
NED support, 135 young people were trained in Shida Kartli and
Samegrelo.
2015
The Transit Educational Programme begins
Ministry of Education programme “Second Chance for Education” —
classes in life skills and school subjects began for children in
childcare centres, and 50 teachers were trained. The programme
continues to this day.
2016
Erudition course
Commissioned by the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, we ran a
cognitive course for 64 children from 5 family-type homes in
Tbilisi, Mtskheta and Gori.
2017–2018
Training social workers and strengthening families
With the support of the State Fund for the Protection and
Assistance of Victims of Human Trafficking and USAID, we trained up
to 320 social workers across Georgia to work with children living
and working on the street. Funded by the EU and the Austrian
Development Cooperation, we implemented a project strengthening
vulnerable families in Mtskheta-Mtianeti.
2019
Girls’ voices in peacebuilding
With the support of the Global Fund for Women, the project
strengthened the role of girls in peacebuilding and conflict
resolution.
2020–2021
The “Get Involved and Include Me” campaign
During the COVID-19 pandemic we helped more than 100 single mothers
and mothers of large families and their families. A Georgian-Czech
team produced 24 video stories, 50 citizens and organizations
joined the campaign, and nearly GEL 12,000 was raised.
2022
“Hygiene Guardians”
With the support of UNICEF and USAID, more than 5,000 adolescents
took part in a hygiene and COVID-19 prevention programme, and a
mobile hygiene hub travelled across the regions.
2023–2025
Supporting Ukrainian women
With the support of the Global Fund for Women we offered refugee
Ukrainian women in Georgia help from psychologists, lawyers and
career consultants, and produced video trainings and video
interviews.
2024
Development Strategy 2024–2026
The
organization adopted a development strategy that sets CSDC’s goals
for organizational and programmatic growth.
2025
Empowering women and students
With the support of the Skills Agency and together with the First
Medical College, we raised awareness among students and women from
vulnerable groups on civil rights and health care.
2026–2027
A new phase of the Transit Programme
Commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth, the
programme continues in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Rustavi — supporting
homeless children’s education, school integration and career
guidance.
What we have created
We have turned our experience into resources that other organizations, teachers and social workers use today:
Documentary films
“Diaries of My Life” and “This Is Not My Home” — about the lives of
children living and working on the street.
“Invisible Children”
A
23-part TV and radio series on childcare, inclusive education,
violence and reintegration.
Research and handbooks
“Strengthening Families in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti Region”, “Social
Work with Homeless Children”, “Developing Life Skills in Children
and Adolescents”.
Brochures and campaigns
“How to Protect a Child from Violence”, “Every Child in School”,
“Gender and Women’s Rights” and information posters.
Today and tomorrow
Today CSDC’s multidisciplinary team includes social workers, psychologists, special education teachers and trainers. By 2033 we aim to be a membership-based organization with high public trust, running service centres for women and children in Tbilisi and Batumi.