Fostering inclusive futures – How MAC Georgia is transforming lives and communities

Since its inception in 2004, MAC Georgia has been working to improve the lives of people with disabilities and marginalized communities across Georgia. The organization has opened independent living centers across the country to give people with disabilities access to crucial services, and it is working to tackle social stigmas around disabilities through storytelling on its platform Shuki Movida. MAC Georgia’s rural scholarship program has also provided support to more than 500 students around the country to prepare for higher education. And in 2023, MAC Georgia and AmCham partnered to give scholarships to students from disadvantaged families; thanks to the support of AmCham members, this program now pays the full tuition fee and a small living allowance for 61 university students.

MAC Georgia was officially founded in 2008, but its work began four years earlier through the efforts of educational psychologist Kathy McClain, her husband Roy Sopworth (the World Bank country director at the time), and their friend Rezo Chinchaladze. They knew that there was a major issue with the lack of support for children with disabilities in Georgia that needed to be addressed.

In its early days, the team conducted home-to-home assessments, provided families with essential information, and helped establish the first disability daycare center in Zestaponi. “In those days, families often kept children with disabilities hidden away,” says Executive Director Jeremy Gaskill. “We wanted to break down those barriers and ensure these kids had access to education, healthcare, and a future.”

Breaking social stigmas

And while it initially began with a focus on supporting children, MAC Georgia has expanded its scope to help people of all ages with disabilities. One of the non-profit’s major achievements has been independent living centers across Georgia. The living centers are run by people with disabilities and help others with disabilities by providing advocacy, legal support, and access to services. The centers are established in the country’s major cities (Lagodekhi, Telavi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Ozurgeti, and Batumi) and act as both resource hubs and advocacy platforms, ensuring that local governments stay informed about community needs.

“Many of the individuals working in these centers had never held a job before,” Gaskill explains. “Now, they are leading efforts to support others in similar situations.” Each living center adapts to its local community’s needs – for instance, the center in Lagodekhi focuses on outreach to the region’s Azerbaijani minority.

Beyond its structural programs, one of MAC Georgia’s missions is tackling societal stigmas surrounding disability. One way it’s working to address this is through Shuki Movida, a platform dedicated to sharing personal stories of people with disabilities to foster understanding.

In 2024, they partnered with Chai Khana, a regional media platform that focuses on storytelling and journalism across the South Caucasus, to host a short film competition on disability. “Storytelling has the power to change minds,” says Gaskill. “When people see the human side of disability, they start to understand and empathize in a way they hadn’t before.”

Scholarship programs

Beyond its critical work with people with disabilities, MAC Georgia is also helping children from remote and rural areas pursue a higher education. In 2012, the organization launched a rural scholarships program, which offers classroom activities, camps, and assistance from teachers to prepare students for higher education, as well as scholarships to help fund their studies. Since its inception, MAC Georgia has awarded almost 250 scholarships.

MAC Georgia’s Gaskill says that the scholarship programs, which were first introduced in the Imeretian village of Dzevri, have played a crucial role in shifting societal norms. “We saw a direct correlation between increased scholarships and a drop in early marriages,” notes Gaskill.

Building on the success of this initiative, MAC Georgia partnered with the American Chamber of Commerce in Georgia (AmCham) in 2023 to launch a national university scholarship program aimed at supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds. These scholarships provide not only financial aid but also a chance for young Georgians to break the cycles of poverty and limited opportunity.

At the university level, the organization also has the program Mestumre, which aims to bring students together with elderly individuals in nursing homes to foster meaningful connections on both sides. Launched in 2018, the project initially had 30 volunteers and has since expanded to 160 participants that meet weekly over a six-month period. Through participation in the program, students gain invaluable life insights, while elderly participants enjoy regular companionship and enriched social engagement. In the future, MAC Georgia aims to extend the project’s reach by connecting young adults with seniors still living at home, broadening the program’s impact.

Fostering inclusive futures

On the horizon, MAC Georgia is also working on developing the MAC Institute, a professional training program aimed at bridging the gap between university education and the practical needs of rehabilitation centers. “When we talked to rehabilitation centers, they felt that students coming out of the universities weren’t equipped to provide the care needed on the site,” says Gaskill.

In partnership with the American non-profit Health Volunteers Overseas, the institute will offer certificate courses, masterclasses, and guest lectures in various fields, such as psychology, physical therapy, and speech therapy, equipping graduates with hands-on skills needed for real-world practice. MAC Georgia hopes to not only improve the quality of care, but also create a ripple effect, with graduates returning to universities as educators, creating a positive loop and elevating the quality of the sector over time.

As it continues to serve communities throughout Georgia, the organization is searching for alternative funding sources. Following recent donor disruptions and recognizing the role businesses can play in fostering social change, MAC Georgia is actively seeking corporate partnerships. “There’s untapped potential in the private sector,” says Gaskill. “If companies align their values with meaningful social initiatives, they can make a lasting impact while strengthening their corporate culture.”

As MAC Georgia continues its work, its focus remains on expanding educational opportunities, advocating for policy changes, and amplifying the voices of those they serve. With ongoing community engagement and strategic partnerships, the organization is determined to push forward, ensuring that disability rights and social inclusion are at the forefront of Georgia’s development agenda.

If you’d like to learn more about the work MAC Georgia does, visit their website at macgeorgia.org or reach out to CEO Jeremy Gaskill (email: jeremy@macgeorgia.org ; phone: 555-63-95-50)

You can support their work to foster inclusive futures in Georgia by donating at macgeorgia.org/en/donate/