Nata

Nata has an incredibly gregarious and positive energy. An activist and a prominent voice on transgender and sex worker rights, three years ago she lost her job as a chef and has worked as a sex-worker ever since. It was not a free choice—she was refused to numerous jobs because of her gender identity and ended up taking up sex work, in order “not to beg others for money” or “starve.”

Despite the external challenges and social pressure, Nata grew up having a lot of support from her grandparents who raised her in a remote village in an Imereti region of western Georgia. When she was 14 her grandmother died and she was left without her strongest ally and defender of all times. Whenever Nata wore her grandma’s jewelry or clothing, she was not afraid to go out in the streets because she knew that her grandma would always have her back.

She has recently moved into a new apartment with her friends in Tbilisi, after finally having found a landlord, who would accept them as tenants. Being with her friends who love her and whom she can trust is one of the most important things to Nata. She would not necessarily like to leave Georgia.

Nata’s dream is to build a nursing home as she believes the elderly are the people most in need love and affection. It would be in the countryside and would welcome everyone, for free, and it would provide all that is needed to help the elderly to spend their last years of life in dignity. Nata herself would work as one of the caregivers. Free nursing homes are rare in Georgia...