Mariam grew up in Ponichala, a settlement for the blind that was first set up by the Soviets in the 1930s. She lives with her parents, her sister and nephew in a two-room apartment, said photographer Marcel Maffei. She is pursuing her dream to become a classical singer.
Mariam grew up in Ponichala, a settlement for the blind that was first set up by the Soviets in the 1930s. She lives with her parents, her sister and nephew in a two-room apartment, said photographer Marcel Maffei. She is pursuing her dream to become a classical singer.
Marcel Maffei
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the infrastructure of Ponichala began to crumble. Many residents lost their jobs.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the infrastructure of Ponichala began to crumble. Many residents lost their jobs.
Marcel Maffei
Zurab lost his sight when he was 2 years. In his teenage years, he moved with his parents to Georgia and started to attend a school for the blind.
Zurab lost his sight when he was 2 years. In his teenage years, he moved with his parents to Georgia and started to attend a school for the blind.
Marcel Maffei
Maffei said many blind people he met in Ponichala avoided using white canes because of the stigma attached to them there.
Maffei said many blind people he met in Ponichala avoided using white canes because of the stigma attached to them there.
Marcel Maffei
Natali is part of Ponichala's newer generation. She was born with a heavy visual impairment to parents who are both blind. Natali's parents used to work in Ponichala's community facilities, but the definition of work has since changed for them. Now work is what Natali's mother calls going to the train station to beg for money.
Natali is part of Ponichala's newer generation. She was born with a heavy visual impairment to parents who are both blind. Natali's parents used to work in Ponichala's community facilities, but the definition of work has since changed for them. Now work is what Natali's mother calls going to the train station to beg for money.
Marcel Maffei
These are Natali's birds, and Maffei thought the cage was sort of a metaphor for the whole settlement.
These are Natali's birds, and Maffei thought the cage was sort of a metaphor for the whole settlement.
Marcel Maffei
Niko manufactured tools for nearly two decades until the factory was shut down in the early 1990s. He hasn't found work since, and today he lives with his two daughters in a studio.
Niko manufactured tools for nearly two decades until the factory was shut down in the early 1990s. He hasn't found work since, and today he lives with his two daughters in a studio.
Marcel Maffei
Nino, a Ponichala resident, and her two daughters. "Most of the people never leave Ponichala," Maffei said. "From what I could see, it felt like the community is still closed off and society in general is still not ready to handle people who are different."
Nino, a Ponichala resident, and her two daughters. "Most of the people never leave Ponichala," Maffei said. "From what I could see, it felt like the community is still closed off and society in general is still not ready to handle people who are different."
Marcel Maffei
Many of the settlement's buildings have been torn down since the Soviet Union collapsed.
Many of the settlement's buildings have been torn down since the Soviet Union collapsed.
Marcel Maffei
Sauri still yearns for the Soviet era. He says it was the best time of his life and he would never be able to have that kind of lifestyle again. He misses the work.
Sauri still yearns for the Soviet era. He says it was the best time of his life and he would never be able to have that kind of lifestyle again. He misses the work.
Marcel Maffei
Inside Sauri's living room, where he and his wife have books, dishes and family pictures in a showcase beside the table.
Inside Sauri's living room, where he and his wife have books, dishes and family pictures in a showcase beside the table.
Marcel Maffei
Dato works as a liaison between Ponichala and the Union of the Blind, and in his spare time he goes mountain climbing. He even climbed Shkhara, the highest peak in Georgia.
Dato works as a liaison between Ponichala and the Union of the Blind, and in his spare time he goes mountain climbing. He even climbed Shkhara, the highest peak in Georgia.
Marcel Maffei
"Maybe everything there will get torn down in the next 10 years," Maffei said. "They could start to destroy these old houses or build something new there. It could be possible that this place will get erased."
"Maybe everything there will get torn down in the next 10 years," Maffei said. "They could start to destroy these old houses or build something new there. It could be possible that this place will get erased."
Marcel Maffei
Dato's niece Nino plays with a few toys at his place.
Dato's niece Nino plays with a few toys at his place.
Marcel Maffei