Sandra Elisabeth The wife of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili Date of Birth: 23.12.1968 Country: Georgia

1. Sandra Roelofs: A Humanitarian with a Heart of Gold
2. Early Life and Education
3. Meeting Mikhail Saakashvili
4. Work in Georgia and Abroad
5. The Global Fund and SOCO Foundation
6. First Lady of Georgia
7. Ukrainian Citizenship and Multilingualism
8. Personal Life

Sandra Roelofs: A Humanitarian with a Heart of Gold

Sandra Roelofs is a renowned figure in Georgia and beyond. As the former First Lady of Georgia from 2004 to 2013, she has dedicated her life to advocating for the marginalized and empowering the underprivileged.

Early Life and Education

Born in Belgium, Sandra hails from a Flemish background. She pursued higher education in foreign languages in Brussels and later earned a degree in human rights from the International Institute of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Meeting Mikhail Saakashvili

Sandra's path crossed with that of her future husband, Mikhail Saakashvili, in 1993 at the International Institute of Human Rights. She taught human rights law, while he was a promising young politician. Their shared passion for human rights sparked a connection that would shape their lives forever.

Work in Georgia and Abroad

In 1996, the couple relocated to Georgia, where Sandra worked for the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Consulate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Tbilisi. From 1999 to 2003, she served as a guest lecturer at Tbilisi State University, teaching French language.

The Global Fund and SOCO Foundation

Sandra is a member of the Board of the Global Fund, a renowned organization dedicated to fighting AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. She is also the president of the SOCO Foundation, a non-profit charity that provides assistance to children, refugees, and underprivileged communities.

First Lady of Georgia

As First Lady, Sandra played a pivotal role in promoting human rights, social welfare, and educational initiatives in Georgia. Her dedication to improving the lives of her fellow citizens earned her widespread admiration and respect.

Ukrainian Citizenship and Multilingualism

In addition to her native Dutch, Sandra is proficient in French, English, German, Megrelian, Georgian, and Russian. She holds Dutch, Georgian (since 2008), and Ukrainian (since 2015) citizenship.

Personal Life

Sandra Roelofs and Mikhail Saakashvili have two sons: Eduard (born 1995) and Nikoloz (born 2005).