Informational meetings with various target groups were held in the Women Support Centers of Samtredia, Tsalenjikha, Chokhatauri, Vani and Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality). The participants got acquainted with the activities of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and the main results that exist in different areas. They talked about victim assistance services and economic empowerment programs.
Through the active discussion, the participants outlined their positions: they believe that, in order to fight against domestic violence, it is necessary to improve preventive measures, and this includes informing young people and improving services for victims.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Monitoring was carried out in the Women's Support Centers of Vani, Tkibuli and Tsalenjikha.
Peacekeeping, gender policy, prevention of domestic violence and protection of victims - after listening to the main results achieved in these areas, the participants voiced their assessments.
According to them, the migration of women, online games have created a lot of problems, so the correct information on these issues is still relevant. They believe that the role of a non-governmental organization is important and call the activities of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" successful.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
7 offline meetings were held by a psychologist in the Women's Support Centers of Terjola, Pakhulani (Tsalenjikha municipality), Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality), Senaki, Kobuleti, Tkibuli and Chokhatauri. 4 group and 11 individual consultations, 12 online meetings were held. 11 psychotherapeutic sessions were held in Kutaisi.
Everyone is satisfied with the results of the work, but it can be especially noted that with the help of developing new skills 2 beneficiaries were able to overestimate their own problems and learned to control emotions, and 3 teenagers coped with bullying.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Information about the services for the assistance to victims of violence must reach the person who needs this type of assistance, - such is the opinion of the participants of the information meetings held at the Women Support Centers of Kobuleti, Senaki and Bagdati.
The aim of the Women Support Centers work is to provide the necessary information to the addressee. Accordingly, the number of applications to the Women Fund "Sukhumi" has increased. With the help of mobilizers, some of the beneficiaries are preparing for a meeting with a psychologist. Two women will complete a full course at the rehabilitation center of our organization. Based on the content of the cases, the work is carried out by a multi-team principle.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Violence against women continues to be the main topic of information meetings of the Women Support Centres. Problems regarding the identification of cases of violence and the lack of information about victim support services still remain.
In order to overcome these problems, Women Support Centers are actively working in villages, in different communities. They help to identify active, leader women in the field. The necessary information is disseminated.
Women Support Centers of Samtredia, Chokhatauri, Terjola and Khurcha (Zugdidi Municipality) already have results in identifying new cases and providing assistance to victims.
At the meeting, the participants were also informed about the practical guide/toolkit: "Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in war and post-war settings - experiences and recommendations of women's NGOs", which was developed by the WAVE Network in collaboration with its four WAVE members in 2022 by the support of the OSCE. The Toolkit describes best practices and the strategies employed by the women's NGOs to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in different phases of conflict.
- Strategies during Wartime and emergency response settings were shared by Ukrainian and Armenian partners Sexual Assault Crisis Center (Yerevan, Armenia), Centre “Women’s Perspectives” (Lviv, Ukraine);
- Strategies during Protracted conflict were described by the Women's Foundation "Sukhumi" (Kutaisi, Tbilisi, Georgia);
- Strategies during Post-war and long-term perspective were based on the experience of the Bosnia-Herzegovina partner. Foundation United Women Banja Luka (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina)
(A practical guide is available here https://www.osce.org/secretariat/530695)
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
- Women who have changed themselves and the world around them. Stories that evoke positive emotions in listeners and increase the level of civic engagement - this is how the mobilizers of the Women Support Centers assessed the meetings held in March.
The participants of the meeting believe that the activities of the Fund "Sukhumi" and the work of the non-governmental sector in general are of particular importance in direction of strengthening the women. They emphasized the necessity of services to support victims of violence.
Five cases were identified in the Women Support Centers of Terjola, Vani, Tkibuli, Chokhatauri and Bagdati. Specialists of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" were involved in the process of the management of these cases.
At the meeting, the participants were also informed about the practical guide/toolkit: "Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in war and post-war settings - experiences and recommendations of women's NGOs", which was developed by the WAVE Network in collaboration with its four WAVE members in 2022 by the support of the OSCE. The Toolkit describes best practices and the strategies employed by the women's NGOs to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in different phases of conflict.
- Strategies during Wartime and emergency response settings were shared by Ukrainian and Armenian partners Sexual Assault Crisis Center (Yerevan, Armenia), Centre “Women’s Perspectives” (Lviv, Ukraine);
- Strategies during Protracted conflict were described by the Women's Foundation "Sukhumi" (Kutaisi, Tbilisi, Georgia);
- Strategies during Post-war and long-term perspective were based on the experience of the Bosnia-Herzegovina partner. Foundation United Women Banja Luka (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina)
(A practical guide is available here https://www.osce.org/secretariat/530695)
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
One of the main tasks of the Women Support Centers is to contribute to the prevention of violence against women. That is why the work in terms of informing the public continues actively. Using the positive examples, the meeting participants emphasized the importance of women's power and solidarity. They heard the stories of successful women who changed the world around them. They talked about women's needs and voiced their own desires: they consider peace and love to be the most important issues.
6 beneficiaries addressed the Women Support Centers of Senaki, Tsalenjikha, Kobuleti, Samtredia and Zugdidi. The management of identified cases has already begun using the resources of the Women's Fund "Sukhumi".
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
In February, group psychological meetings were organized by the Women Support Centers of Kobuleti, Tkibuli, Chokhatauri, Koki (Zugdidi municipality), Senaki, Vani, Terjola, with the inclusion of 53 beneficiaries. Upon request, individual meetings, including online, were also held via messenger and Skype. In Kutaisi, psycho-therapeutic work was carried out in the office of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" with 12 beneficiaries.
With the help of acquired skills, 3 beneficiaries refocused their experiences on a positive position, they were able to cope with personal problems and traumas.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
At the initiative of the mobilizer of Senaki Women Support Center Mzia Bigvava, 2 trainings were held on the topic "Positive Parenthood".
The training was planned according to the needs identified as a result of the research - “The child rights protection and support department’s effectiveness assessment and existing challenges” conducted by the Women Fund "Sukhumi" in 10 municipalities with the inclusion of single mothers, women victims of violence and parents of many children.
Positive parenthood is behavior when a parent shows unconditional love, care, support, and respect for a child.
How to distribute money for the needs of the family, taking into account the interests of everyone and without violence against children and ignoring them - the participants of the training, which was one of the important activities of the Women Fund "Sukhumi", received information on this and many other necessary topics, as a constant connection with the beneficiaries of the rehabilitation center.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)