Shining Some Well-Deserved Light on ‘Shuki Movida’

The world contains a plethora of stories. Most of them don’t get told. Many don’t get heard.

Meet Shuki Movida (“The Light Has Come”), an online organization which aims to get some of the most touching stories in Georgia told, most of which highlight pressing social issues well=deserving of our collective attention.

The idea, organizers admit, comes from Humans of New York. Stories of triumph, stories of difficulty, stories of the every day. Each captures a person with disabilities (or someone that cares for them) on film and then shares a glimpse of their story.

“Our first post was on September 14, 2016,” Jeremy Gaskill, a former US Peace Corps Volunteer in Georgia, and current McLain Association for Children (MAC) Chief Executive Officer, tells GEORGIA TODAY. “It was started by MAC with the simple idea of raising awareness by letting individuals tell their own story. The stories come from a variety of places. Some are people we've worked with, others are people that were recommended to us. As the page has grown in popularity, people are now contacting us, asking us to come and interview them”.

The Shuki Movida team, made up of three amazing people- Nika Zibzibadze, Karen Gaskill and photographer, Natela Grigalashvili- posts 1-2 stories per week with photos, each giving a peek into what it's like living with a disability in Georgia.

“We've been really amazed to see the impact,” Gaskill says. “Each week, we watch as the new stories get shared around various parents’ groups in Georgia. Likes often climb into the 1000s and on a couple of occasions we've seen shares climb over that. We also get lots of comments many from people wanting to know how they can help”.

The team set up the project as a means of communicating a shared experience for those who are going through similar circumstances. “It’s a way of letting them know that they aren't alone in what they're going through,” Jeremy says.

Karen Gaskill volunteers for Shuki Movida and provides editing and strategic direction. “Whenever I read a Shuki Movida interview and see a photograph, I feel like I’m getting a window into a life, into someone's unique story,” she tells us. “And I think the stories being told are ones we all need to hear, stories and lives we don't encounter often enough. Knowing a little bit about these people, their realities and challenges, opens up my perspective, my world, and influences my life. The stories are real and sometimes sad, but there is usually something in each one that is inspiring and broadening. They make us want to do more in our own lives. I think what makes Shuki Movida special is that the stories people tell are their own. And I appreciate the beautiful photographs Natela takes of each individual, highlighting personality, strength, feeling and hope. We never really know what it's like to live in someone else's shoes, but the stories and photographs of Shuki Movida can help us see a little better what the journey in their shoes is like”.

The photos are captured on location by Natela Grigalashvili, an accomplished freelance photographer who hosts several shows each year and teaches photography at Tbilisi State University.

“My work on the project turned out to be fascinating,” she says. “I realize how much I learn from each of these individuals when I see how strong they are and how they are fighting for self-assertion. This is one of the best projects in my professional experience.”

We asked Jeremy which story he’d found most poignant, and after a moment of thoughtful reflection he admitted that there were a few that came to mind.

“One is a great story about a 19-year-old girl, Veriko, who grew up as a beneficiary of First Step, a Tbilisi-based day center and then graduated to become a teacher's assistant at the same center...There's another that highlights the love between a father, Levan, and his daughter, and shows a picture which captures a touching moment as they look at each other and he concludes, ‘she is my world’. There are several that highlight persons that suffered through the institutional system but have persevered...some have even found love,” he says. “I appreciate that each story is different. Some are very happy stories about overcoming obstacles. Others highlight the hopelessness or sadness they feel”.

Common negative themes that appear in the stories are feelings of being different, of being looked at and viewed with pity or fear, the difficulties and frustrations of not having access to the services or support needed. Positive themes see appreciation for the opportunities the subjects have, or recognition by family that these persons can do or understand much more than the outside world thinks them capable of.

“Another theme that comes up is the struggle against lack of information or understanding,” Jeremy tells us. “There are stories of misdiagnosis, of being confused and not having support. A feeling of isolation comes up frequently.”

There are success stories, too: On November 9, Shuki Movida highlighted Shorena Kravelidze in Marneuli. In her story, she talked about how she was going to be graduating soon and said how hopeful she was that she'd get a job. The post was seen by an employer who then offered her a job.

Jeremy says there have been a lot of questions from readers about how they can give money directly to the persons highlighted. “We ask each family if we can share their contact information if we get such a request. If they say yes, then we share it with individuals on a case-by-case basis,” he says. “Giving is wonderful and I really admire the desire demonstrated, but we try and encourage people to look at the broader issue. We encourage them to move beyond just giving money in reaction to a particular and story to think about the broader story...”

The posts appear on facebook and the stories, sorted according to the geographical location of the story-tellers, are then uploaded to their website shukimovida.com. At this point, awareness of their work is achieved through word of mouth.

“Our goal is to cover the entire map - each region - by the end of the year. Achieving this will involve more strategic planning. We have connections throughout most of the country and can reach out to many of them to learn of new stories. I think as someone from a community is highlighted, more people become aware of the project”.

Nika Zibzibadze has served with MAC as a program officer since March 2016 and is currently pursuing his degree at the Caucasus School of Business.

“I always say that that the biggest success of the project is that it gives people a platform to start speaking up for their children, their rights and, in general, for their life which is full of both challenges and successes,” he says. “What I love most in this project is that Shuki Movida brings happiness to the families. We visit the families with empty hands, there are no expectations from their side of any help, but they still look forward to meeting us and telling their life story”.

“Our hope is that these stories will help connect people,” Jeremy concludes. “That hearing these stories will reduce the feeling of isolation, of stigma, and that they will begin to speak up more. We want them to get more involved- with each other, within the local government, in the lives of their children. We hope that the stories of success will resonate and inspire individuals, families and communities,” he concludes.

Katie Ruth Davies

Photo: Dali Sikmashvili from Tsnori and her daughter Mariami, age 16: "Look at her smile, her happy, shining face. You will never see her bored or sad. To be her mother: this is a great gift from God!“