Bringing life to the village – Sopho’s journey of transforming lives

Sopho is an enthusiastic and driven girl who moved from the city to her village in Kakheti, eastern Georgia, two years ago. The transition was not easy – she faced many challenges – but, as she says, the SKYE NET project and EU support gave her life new meaning and purpose.

Living in Vazisubani village, Sopho quickly became an active and trusted member of the community. She began volunteering by organising charity activities and hosting free suppers for local residents and parishioners after church liturgy. Helping others had always been close to her heart. Over time, however, her vision grew. Sopho dreamed of reaching more people, creating lasting change, and having a wider impact, especially for women in her community.

Sopho strongly believes that such projects are especially important in rural regions, where opportunities are limited and many people leave villages due to a lack of prospects.

“In places where nothing seems to be happening, initiatives like this give people hope, motivation, and a reason to stay. It was a wonderful coincidence that I learned about the innovative project run by World Vision Georgia soon after moving back to the village. Through this project, I was able to move to a new stage of my life and develop myself,” she says.

Most residents of her village in Kakheti face serious socio-economic challenges, particularly elderly people, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable families. For Sopho, addressing these issues is deeply personal. A former oncology patient, she has been on a long healing journey for more than eight years. She endured over 40 rounds of chemotherapy and multiple surgeries. Although her hand no longer moves freely and she lives with a medical implant, she overcame stage III osteosarcoma and continues to lead an active and dignified life, setting a powerful example for others.

“I spent so many years in hospitals that, after finally defeating the disease, I could no longer stay in the city. My native village was calling me. I wanted to return home, be part of my community, and support those who need it most.”

The project reignited her enthusiasm to establish a social enterprise, Kakheti Events, and gave her the confidence to act.

Sopho enjoys working behind the scenes – writing project proposals, developing business strategies, and planning operations. Yet her ambition goes far beyond business. She is determined to support people with disabilities in socialising and feeling included in community life, something she understands deeply from personal experience. Another key goal is to encourage companies to engage more actively in charity and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Sopho learned about the SKYE NET project (Skills and Knowledge for Youth Empowerment Network) from a friend, and immediately applied without hesitation. Soon she was selected alongside other young people from across Georgia. Following intensive training in social entrepreneurship and business development, her project won the final competition and received funding. With this support, Sopho launched her social enterprise, Kakheti Events – a multi-directional initiative that combines event organisation, CSR activities, and collaboration with companies, while creating employment opportunities for former and current oncology patients and inspiring others that life continues despite challenges.

“Through the project funding, we were able to purchase event decorations and essential inventory. This support was unique, as it combined both knowledge and financial resources, allowing the enterprise to start on a strong foundation. The equipment is reusable and eco-friendly, including furniture, flowers, and decorative items. With these resources and the skills we gained, we began offering a wide range of services, including event management, PR activities, corporate events, and even weddings. Most importantly, a significant portion of our revenue is dedicated to charity and to supporting current oncology patients,” she says.

Following her success, Sopho brought together local residents who were eager to join and become part of the enterprise. She shared the knowledge she had gained during the training with 14 community members, most of whom were oncology patients or people with health challenges. Many of them had no prior experience in event management, but through training and teamwork, they developed new skills and confidence.

“This kind of work has been truly transformative for us, as the village has come alive. Local residents now feel more empowered and are coming forward with their own ideas – some offering local products and crafts, others preparing traditional sweets and jams. We now know that we can successfully organise any kind of event,” she notes with a smile.

Kakheti Events has been operating for several months and has already delivered meaningful support to those in need. Through their charity work and in collaboration with local companies such as Pepela, Carrefour, Wishlist, and Entrée, they have distributed educational kits, school bags, and food supplies to vulnerable children and families. The social enterprise continues to grow, actively involving more and more local residents. It has built a strong reputation and was entrusted with decorating the annual Winter Fair in Tbilisi, hosted by IWA Georgia – the International Women’s Association. In addition to decorating the fair, Kakheti Events also presented its own corner, offering traditional Georgian sweets such as churchkhela, pelamushi, dried fruits, and wine – all produced by local women and families. All proceeds from sales were directed towards supporting vulnerable residents of the village.

During the event, the Kakheti Events corner was also visited by the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Paweł Herczyński, who sampled the eco-friendly products made by local women and expressed his appreciation for their work.

“We were responsible not only for decorating the space, but also for preparing banners and supporting promotion and media coverage of the event. It was a great responsibility, and we are truly grateful for the organisation’s trust in us,” says Sopho.

Furthermore, during the Christmas and New Year period, the enterprise received a major order to prepare 365 gift boxes for TBC Pay staff, as well as 25 gift boxes for Aversi, a pharmaceutical company. To manage this task, Sopho involved up to 25 local women in preparing the boxes filled with natural, locally produced sweets. The team successfully completed the order, creating both income and meaningful engagement for the women involved.

Today, Sopho’s journey stands as a powerful example of how enthusiasm, support, and opportunity can transform challenges into lasting social impact – not only for one person, but for an entire community. She looks forward to growing her enterprise and empowering more women.

“Charity and helping others make me happy and give my life meaning. I will consider my mission accomplished when no one in my region goes hungry and every person feels fulfilled and happy. And most importantly, I believe that enthusiasm can move mountains,” Sopho concludes.

The SKYE NET project supports young entrepreneurs in developing innovative ideas and advancing youth social entrepreneurship across Georgia, particularly in regions with limited resources. Through the project, 60 young people received training in social entrepreneurship and business development. Sopho is among the 10 finalists who received funding and essential resources to turn her idea into a social enterprise benefiting her local community.

The project was funded by the European Union under the EU4Youth Programme and implemented by World Vision Georgia in partnership with World Vision Armenia, Millennium Training and Development Institute (Moldova), and IRIS Business Incubator (Armenia).

Author: Lika Chigladze