This March a new book The Story of an Idealist will appear on bookshelves in the Netherlands. Sadly for non-Dutch readers it will be several months before appearing in other languages, among them Georgian.

Since its author is Georgia's Dutch-born First Lady Sandra Roelofs, who in the book tells the story of her life in Georgia over the last turbulent decade, it is only natural that it would be published in both Dutch and Georgian.

But bearing in mind the author can boast of a remarkable resume of achievements - well before her husband Mikheil Saakashvili became president, she had already distinguished herself as a trained linguist, a respected diplomat, leader of her own charity and a successful business owner - it seems ironic to label her an idealist.

Consider her very tangible 'to do' list for the past year: foster a cooperation agreement between Georgia's Poti Port and two Dutch ports, open regional branches of her Tbilisi-based charity, solicit donor support for the international landmine-clearance group HALO, promote international business connections, write a book and, above all else, raise a son.

She is a person with strong opinions, a person who believes international aid organizations would be better off investing in local Georgian talent rather than in bringing in foreign consultants. As a first lady she calls on western countries to share more of their wealth with the developing world, justifying this not in terms of charity but in terms of investment in a relationship with another people.

At the same time, firsthand contact with so many suffering people in the country over the last 12 months has made her acutely aware that her powers are humanly limited, a shortfall that she describes as "more painful than any business issues." She remains proud of her work over 2004, especially that she has managed to do so many things. "My greatest victory was that I could continue my work, humanitarian activities, teaching, being with my son and raising a family, and still have a public life," she says in an interview with AmCham News. "It is balance and harmony."

Reaching an equilibrium becomes an even greater feat considering the variety of interests Mrs. Roelofs pursues. She maintains a teaching schedule as a lecturer of French at Caucasus School of Business. She travels widely - both on official visits with her husband President Mikheil Saakashvili and on a mix of humanitarian, developmental and personal trips throughout Georgia. 'Hectic' would understate the condition of her schedule, but she still politely insists on personally picking her son Eduard up from school everyday.

Taking time for very human activities, she says, helps her understand what issues exist for families in the country and what improvements can be made. "I want to be the eyes and ears of the president and government," she enthuses. "I see my role as a constructive bridge between them and the country."

Pieces coming together

Bridging gaps is an apt metaphor for the first lady's approach to the mix of duties, interests and responsibilities in her life, including bridging gaps between Georgia and the Netherlands, rural communities and urban, and international donors and local groups in search of support.

In February 2004, she contacted the international mine-clearing group HALO, asking them to investigate the presence of mines near a former Russian military base in Sagarejo. The group was able to survey the area and identified the territory as a 'high priority' humanitarian task and quickly located donor support for humanitarian demining. The project has stalled over legal issues Parliament must address, but her success lies in the fact that the danger has been identified and people are ready to eliminate it.

Seeking to assist the country's most vulnerable and to promote education, Sandra Roelofs established the NGO Soco in 1997 and has remained an active leader. "My mission is to assist the most vulnerable. This can be lonely pensioners, kids in institutions... people that are neglected or discriminated against," she says.

The organization has launched medical programs, bringing medical resources directly to needy families. In serious cases, the group also seeks out specialists in Tbilisi to assist patients. "They are always ready to cooperate," she says of doctors in the capital.

In economics too, the first lady has found bridges to build. Pulling from her upbringing in a seaport, the first lady initiated in October 2004 a partnership program between Georgia's Poti Port and two Dutch ports, Terneuzen and Vlissingen. Now the ports' managements will participate in professional exchanges intended to share experience and knowledge.

For other businesses arriving in Georgia she has sage advice to be successful. "Foreigners should understand," she says, "that in Georgia friendship is more important than business. If you stay distant and avoid social events like birthday parties, the connection is not going to work. Georgians will not feel at ease."

She speaks from experience gained in running her own consulting firm, managing an exchange program for Dutch managers and working for the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) in Georgia. "I would suggest people to stay for a long time - by being involved you can really grasp the mentality," she says, adding a hint for those who just arrived, "it is better to call than to e-mail because you never know what problems a person may have, either technical or personal."

She gives another simple rule for newcomers to follow: "The main investment is in the human field - only then can you be a good business partner."

Working in so many spheres has come naturally for the first lady, putting together the pieces of her resume. "Everything that I did in the past now falls in to place," she says, "Everything from selling rolls in a bakery when I was young, to talking to diplomats, to discussing taxes - it all fits together now in what I do."

Human investment

While Mrs. Roelofs has abstained from getting directly involved in business, she says it would be a waste not to use her contacts to connect businesses; 2005, after all, "will be the year of economic stability and revival."

Already she sees positive developments in 2004. "There is much more dialogue between business and the government and the dialogue is much more transparent and realistic," she says.

Investors are more active and will only become increasingly active as the country becomes more stable. "When there is peace and stability, that is when investors come," she says.

But when speaking about economics, she leaves the impression that more than anything she hopes individual Georgians and their families will have opportunities for a real livelihood. "This way they can take better care of their families and need social support even less," she says.

Prosperity also means families taking greater responsibility and in 2005 Mrs. Roelofs aims to encourage self-insuring among homeowners and families. A similar message echoes in her health programs, encouraging a healthy lifestyle, sports, no alcohol or smoking and tolerance to others.

The outlook of an idealist

Working with international aid groups including the International Committee of the Red Cross, and having worked so extensively in Georgia, Sandra Roelofs has her own opinion of what works and what does not in international aid.

Asked to describe how best international aid can help Georgia, she again emphasizes investment. "It would be better if there were more investment in Georgia's human resources to strengthen local capacity rather than bringing in foreign consultants," she says. "My suggestion is for international groups to involve the local Georgian capacity - even if someone doesn't know English, they are still able to do something."

Another pitfall of aid she sees is a prevalence of used or secondhand donations coming into the country. "This is a very careful and sensitive issue," she says, "Bringing in secondhand goods, like computers or clothes, gives Georgians the impression that these are leftovers and scraps."

She calls on western countries to understand better what giving means to recipients. "It would be so much more if western countries would be more generous and share more of their wealth. Sharing more than leftovers and secondhand goods creates a bigger impact and builds mutual respect."

But she also sympathizes with those who work in the sphere of charity. "The humanitarian field is the hardest. Very often you feel powerless and you run into a wall. There is a person who needs help but the government can't do it. Aid organizations are working only with groups or institutions and cannot help this one person. That is much harder and more painful than any business issues."

To balance this feeling of helplessness, she says it is important to take stock of what she does have: "I only have 24 hours in my day, two hands to work with and I also have a family to take care of and a son to raise."

Looking toward the future, Mrs. Roelofs holds unabashed enthusiasm, something she states she shares with her husband. "We are still idealists and there are still dreams. It doesn't suddenly end at becoming president or first lady. Dreams remain, dreams to make the impossible possible."

As for the title of her book, she casually admits that the editors picked it out. The choice nonetheless carries significant relevance for her. "If you were in Georgia ten years ago and believed it could get to where it is today, you cannot but be an idealist," she says, before moving off to pick up her son from school.

Warren Hedges
AmCham in Georgia