Let us Do Good Together: Georgians Helping Georgians

They raised only GEL 350 that evening, but the event itself was gorgeous: the opera star-studded and flowing with the loveliest melodies of the world’s classic, the National Parliamentary Library main hall packed full, and the expectation of the fidgeting opera buffs vibrating through the famous old building. All of them – the youngest and the ablest Georgian opera singers, interns and Tbilisi Music Conservatory students were poised to let their talent raise some money for one of the most indigent families of the country, consisting of a 24-year-old single mother and her baby daughter, chronically starving with their 10 GEL monthly subsistence and living in unbearably agonizing conditions in a remote Georgian village. Nobody knows how long the raised amount will last, but it is certainly a huge financial help for the time being, literally saving the desperate mom and her little darling.

This outstanding charity concert was arranged by a newly created foundation under the name of ‘Ertad Siketistvis’ (Let us Do Good Together). This is my makeshift translation, calling for apology if not precise enough, but the idea is right there: good needs to be done as soon and as amply as possible.

The Foundation was created by a small group of young Georgian opera singers who have thought well that their motherland needs their help, where thousands of impoverished people need a helping hand. Our wonderful tenors, sopranos, mezzos, baritones, basses and piano players are ready to use their time, energy and God-given gift and capacity for those who truly, and without a tinge of exaggeration, need their shoulder. The Foundation has been around for only two years, in the duration of which they have managed to organize several charity concerts. Their plans are ambitious, though. They are getting ready to travel Georgia with their amazing concerts and marshal their future fans and listeners to raise enough funds for further assistance to the poor and needy. And most importantly, their effort is not going to be a one-time charity event. Functionally, the embodiment of this great idea of charity is much more significant: it strengthens the culture of charity in Georgia, and reminds all of us that we have to be charitable if this society ever wants to be called western and civilized. This is exactly what the whole thing is all about. The concert group have all they need to make it work: elevated thinking, high morality, ready spirit, sensitive conscience, working talent and trained professionalism. Not every charity maker has enough money to slice off a thick bank account, but money could be made as these superb young men and women are making it in their breathtakingly beautiful way. There were many of them in the arena that day, working in concert to raise money for the great purpose of salvaging their fellow citizens. Too many to name here! And the concert was pleasantly embellished with the exhibition of works by a young Georgian artist.

Incidentally, Georgia is not America and we cannot expect thousands to be raised, especially in the initial attempts. The raised cash was of course nominal but it definitely did its job with the heart and pure conscience of the performing artists. I was there and when I came up to the charity box, which stood ready to swallow our symbolic contributions, I noticed people scratching for some change in the bottom of their bags and wallets to put in the gaping slot. That’s when I knew the box would never be ‘sated’, but my heart was filled with love and pride for every contributing person at the venue, and, of course, for the founders of this lovely charity organization.

We are a new democracy with very fragile freedom and independence. Often, it is not the politicians and the governments who cast the winning image of our nation: it is the people, their ability to create, their endeavor to be unique and their readiness to present their country to the world. ‘Ertad Siketistvis’ – Let us Do Good Together – is a powerful tool in the hands of our people to let the world know that the Georgians are coming.

Nugzar B. Ruhadze