Alumna Helping Rebuild Lives in Republic of Georgia

An Illinois State University graduate is helping to rebuild the lives of families and students affected by the recent South Ossetian conflict in the Republic of Georgia.  After witnessing the beginning of the conflict first-hand, Kelly Uphoff ('08 MS) established an organization to provide college scholarships to students whose families lost their homes and livelihoods during the clash between Russian and Georgian forces.

Through a program at Illinois State's Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development, Uphoff received her master's degree in economics and began serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Gori, Georgia.  When the South Ossetian conflict broke out in August, Uphoff witnessed several days of Russian airstrikes on Gori and the occupation of that city by Russian and South Ossetian troops.  She and other Peace Corps volunteers were evacuated from the region. 

Her Peace Corps assignment suspended, Uphoff returned to Gori and established the Gori Regional Education Fund, a registered non-governmental organization that is raising money for college scholarships.  The scholarships will support students attending Gori University, a public institution with around 1,400 mostly low-income students.  Uphoff and other volunteer organizers of the Gori Regional Education Fund hope to raise enough money through donations to provide scholarships for at least 45 students over the next two years.

More information on the Gori Regional Education Fund can be found at www.gorifund.org  To contact the organization directly, please send an email to info@gorifund.org