Toma Kakabadze — Social entrepreneur, founder of “Free Space” Café, Batumi, Georgia

Toma is a disability rights activist from Batumi, Georgia, who has been protecting the rights of people with disabilities for 8 years. Educated as a technician-programmer and later graduating in psychology from Batumi State University, he co-founded the accessible café “Free Space” in 2016 — because at the time, there was simply no accessible public space in Batumi where people with disabilities could gather, work, or attend events. Starting with almost no resources, he rallied the support of friends, volunteers, and local companies through social media fundraising, and later secured a grant from the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia. Today, “Free Space” is a beloved community hub that employs people with disabilities and promotes inclusion across the city.