Team
Yulia Mushkudiani is the founder and president of KERA Georgia. She is married to Vasil and has four beautiful children, Elizabeth, Milena, Daniel, and Timothy. She has a bachelor of arts degree in Christian studies and a teaching degree in elementary education. Volunteering at the government shelter and working with pregnant women, Yulia learned how many problems single moms face. She recognized that the problem is not just for them to have a place to live, but they also need to gain skills to raise their children, and become educated. Many women in Georgia are suffering physically and emotionally, even in families, especially those who have no support. By taking care of their physical needs, women are beginning to trust us and open their hearts. KERA's vision is to help mothers who have taken the bold decision to give birth to their child, despite their difficulties life circumstances. Yulia is passionate about this vision and says, "By rescuing them, we help women make the right choices and protect children from abortions or from life in an orphanage. In time, we are able to return these young families back to a healthy and independent life in society."
Nikoloz (Nika) Chachkhiani and his family, wife Stephanie and daughters Sofia, Makayla and Lucia, have been supporting KERA shelter since the day it's first beneficiaries, several single mothers with small children, left the government supported shelters and ended up on the street, desperate for help, not willing to give up their small children and no one to turn to for support.
As one of the board members of KERA, Nika brings extensive experience in managing U.S. Government funded education and economic growth projects in Georgia and over 10 years of project management and quality control experience in the U.S. He is a strong Christian with a love for children and a strong desire to make a difference in his home country, by supporting people in need and applying his knowledge and expertise in building an organization with a strong Christian foundation that can serve as a transitional home for single mothers with their children.
The Chachkhiani family is very proud and thankful for the opportunity to be part of this amazing initiative, since there is nothing as rewarding as helping and supporting others who are in need, especially single mothers who are trying very hard not to be separated from their children, therefore, facing a lot of challenges and hardships.
David Chan joined the board of KERA in 2017. David and his wife Kristi direct the Tbilisi International Christian Union, an English-speaking international non-profit providing various Christian activities in Georgia. The vision of TICU includes supporting and promoting other local non-profits that are making a positive difference in society. For the past 3 years, TICU and KERA have partnered together to help develop a financial support base for the vision of KERA to advance. "We are rejoicing that the vision is becoming a reality and look forward to seeing the great impact the KERA house will have on many moms and children for years to come!" The Chan's with their 3 children moved to Tbilisi in 2015 from Kansas, USA.
Charlotte Matheson joined the KERA team at the beginning of 2015. Before coming to Georgia she studied Theology in London. At present Charlotte is working as a 1st grade teacher, she is married to Phil and they have two children.
Shortly after arriving in Tbilisi they heard about the work of KERA and were compelled by the social injustice and suffering the women they met. Since then Charlotte and her family help KERA in their mission to provide shelter, counselling and training to these women and their children.
“The Bible challenges us to; ‘learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless;’ and that is exactly what KERA does and it is what makes me so passionate for its cause. At KERA we are not just an pit stop that helps a single mother to survive for a little longer, we aim to give love and nurturing in order to build life long foundations”.
Rachel Hardgrave is originally from the United States where she grew up in Texas. After finishing her university studies in international relations, she came to Georgia in 2012 to get field work experience and to serve in the local church. She started as a volunteer at the shelter in the spring of 2014 and realized the incredible impact this organization is having on women's lives. "After I started volunteering, I saw that KERA looks like a picture of Jesus. Jesus doesn't just tell us how to live, he walks along side us in every part of life, shepherding us through the most difficult times." She believes KERA has a very integral position in Georgian society to help give mothers a chance at raising their children with strength and confidence.