Strategic Report Strategic Report Strategic Report Financial Additional Overview Strategy Performance Governance Statements Information Supporting people with disabilities Conserving nature Since 2014, the Bank has focused its efforts on supporting Another priority of the Group’s charitable activities is the people with disabilities – one of the most vulnerable social preservation of wildlife diversity. The Bank cooperates with groups in Georgia. In 2018, the Bank donated up to GEL the Caucasus Nature Fund (CNF) and each year donates 75 thousand to the Tree of Life Foundation for this cause. US$ 100,000 for the maintenance of ten protected The Tree of Life Foundation distributed the funds through areas: Borjomi-Kharagauli, Lagodekhi, Tusheti, Vashlovani grant competitions – one intended for the relevant NGOs Mtirala, Javakheti, Kazbegi, Algeti, Kintrishi and Pshav- that work with people with disabilities and another with Khevsureti. the specific aim of promoting social entrepreneurship. In order to qualify for the competition, the proposals had to In order to promote eco-tourism in Georgia, the Bank’s focus on the creation of a small enterprise with a social Tree of Life Foundation financed an eco-camp in Lagodekhi component aimed at improving the livelihood of people Protected Area in Kakheti, Eastern Georgia. The eco-camp with disabilities. can host 50 visitors at a time and is equipped with water closets, kitchens, a wooden cafeteria, and communication infrastructure. Moreover, the visitors can hold conferences, Case study training, sport competitions, screen films and organise A social enterprise Tsnuli events in open air. The camp has a space for tents, Bank of Georgia financed a social enterprise, Tsnuli, including large ones designed for people with disabilities. founded by the People with Disabilities Union in Kaspi The eco-camp received its first visitors in the summer – a town 65 km from Tbilisi. The enterprise makes of 2018 and had hosted c.800 people by the end of handmade wood-woven products of various shapes 2018. The camp employs five people, including people and sizes, namely, baskets, lamps, furniture, etc. Tsnuli with disabilities. employs seven beneficiaries with disabilities, who were taught the craft in just three months. Employment in Tsnuli gave the beneficiaries a unique opportunity to learn new skills and materialise their newly gained know-how in a supportive atmosphere. The enterprise aims to improve the quality of life of its employees and plans to expand in the future and benefit even more people on its way. In order to raise awareness about conserving nature and the importance of ecology, Bank of Georgia is actively involved in a number of activities such as World Cleanup Day. Over the last two years, the Bank has recycled around eight tonnes of used paper in its headquarters and saved 136 trees as a result. In 2018, Bank of Georgia’s employees continued using a car pooling application called “Gzad”. The application enables them to share a ride to and from the Bank, which in turn The Bank continues to focus on the adaptation of its own helps reduce air pollution and ease the traffic in Tbilisi. infrastructure. In 2018, an additional ten service centres became available for people with disabilities. Annual Report 2018Bank of Georgia Group PLC 79