Dutch-born Sandra Roelofs-Saakashvili, the first lady of the Republic of Georgia and an advocate for orphaned and abandoned children, was honored at a reception at the Southern Center for International Studies in Atlanta last week.
Her visit followed Georgia President Mikhail Saakashvili’s trip here several months ago when he received an award from the American Bar Association for his leadership in legal reform.
She discussed a variety of topics ranging from foster care and adoption to Georgia’s membership in the European Union to the loss of the republic’s intellectual talent to other countries.
Ms. Roelofs-Saakashivi, founder of a charity to help orphaned children, also attended an international symposium on orphaned and abandoned children.
She has written a book titled First Lady of Georgia: The Idealist that will be published in March 2005.
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