Wounded Warrior Support Foundation for Georgia’s veterans and military servicemen
Since being established by Silknet in 2018, Wounded Warrior Support Foundation stands by Georgia’s veterans and military servicemen, who fought for the territorial integrity of Georgia and participated in international peace missions. Silknet donates 300 000 GEL annually to the fund. There is also quite a big number of contributors form business sector as well as individuals. The fund cooperates with the government by co-financing expensive surgeries, medical services, prosthetics, etc. During 2024 January-April WWSF has financed different medical treatments for military servicemen in cooperation with the Minister of Defence of Georgia and the amount of the joint financing made approximately 200 000 GEL.
In total this year (January-April) WWSF has supported 28 wounded warriors (veterans amd military servicemen), as well as their underaged children and spouses. The entire amount spent for this support makes 170 620 GEL. There were made following types of support with this financing:
- 9 cases of supporting underaged children - 17 261.90 GEL
- 4 cases of provision with medications - 44 105.08 GEL
- 7 cases of finansing medical treatments of spouses - 11 411.43 GEL
- 4 wounded warriors received medical treatments abroad - 65 240.00 GEL
- 2 wounded warriors received the needed medical facilities - 4 500 GEL
- 3 cases of finansing learning cources - 3 752.50 GEL
- 1 rehabilitation course - 2 100 GEL
- 1 medical treatment - 6 221.00 GEL
- 3 operations - 11 300.00 GEL
Besides financing the above mentioned needs, WWSF constantly seeks for contacts oversees with similar organizations, in Great Britain and in the United States in order to get valuable experience. One of the examples of such recent cooperation of WWSF is cooperating with the British international charity foundation, Invictus Games Foundation. WWSF received grant from the British fund for purchasing 10 seated basketball chairs for Georgian wounded warriors’ team, which actively participates in Warrior Games.
Wounded Warrior Support Foundation also gives much focus to issues related to psychological rehabilitation of veterans. By the end of 2023 in cooperation with State Service of Veterans Affairs WWSF co-financed a pilot program of veterans’ psychological rehabilitation. The project was participated by 12 veterans, who passed a course of psychological rehabilitation. The goal of this pilot program is to evaluate the results and findings in order to create a full-scale psychological rehabilitation program for veterans. Wounded Warrior Support Foundation will take an active part in this work.
The very first steps of cooperating with foreign rehabilitation centers for veterans was made in 2019, when WWSF financed a trip of two Georgian veterans in the United States, where they spent some time with American veterans in American rehabilitation center for veterans, Boulder Crest Retreat. Their experience was important for considering the implementation of the similar programs in future in Georgia. Wounded Warrior Support Foundation continues this trend, finding active contacts with more rehabilitation centers for veterans, where Georgian veterans can be sent for gaining experience regarding the functioning of veterans’ psychological rehabilitation centers.
Starting from the moment of its establishment in 2018 till today overall up to 2.5 Million GEL was raised as a result of consolidated contribution from Silknet, other Georgian and foreign companies, individuals and co-financing from The government. This amount was spent for supporting wounded military servants and veterans, who fought in Abkhazia, Samachablo and international peace missions.
Among other ways of support, Silknet offers a special charity number - 0 901 777 771. By dialing this number 1 GEL will be transferred to the fund’s account from Silknet mobile subscribers. The number is active for subscribers of all Georgian mobile service providers as well. Donation is also possible from WWSF web page by making bank transfer.
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