Young Leaders' School (202)
Young Leaders’ School is working with young people to strengthen them and to form leadership skills. The work is carried out in 9 municipalities of Western Georgia - Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khoni, Terjla, Senaki, Poti, Khurcha / Koki (Zugdidi municipality), Lanchkhuti, Ozurgeti. These are information meetings about gender and domestic violence, workshops on conflictology for young people, meetings with boys, formation of a group of young trainers, trainings and various meetings with participation of young people.
In parallel with the beginning of the new academic year, a new six-month period of work with the boys began. The first meetings took place in the municipalities of Senaki, Zugdidi, Kutaisi and Khoni. One part of the meetings was informational, and concrete period of time was also devoted to the discussion of violence. The boys recognize that the issue is problematic. They have their own opinions, which are openly recorded. The first month was better than it was foreseen. The new group joined motivated teenagers, and working with them will undoubtedly have good results.
- How closely are connected violence and conflicts, how to manage conflicts - these issues were discussed during the meetings with youth groups in Senaki, Kutaisi and Poti.
According new strategy on conflict management the work with these groups will take place within five months. The participants got acquainted with the analysis of the conflict and its methods. They remembered stories from their lives, and then the analysis was done in the group.
- Analysis shows what is the main problem in the conflict situation, what caused the conflict, and what are the results. With the help of analysis you can see your own mistakes in order not to make steps that will lead to conflict in future, the was the evaluation of the participants.
In the Youth clubs of the Fund "Sukhumi" three more groups are selected for a five-month course - this time in Kutaisi, Poti and Teklati (Senaki municipality). Informational meetings were held with the pupils on the topic: "Gender violence, types, forms, reasons, mechanisms of protection for the prevention of violence".
Young people got acquainted with the specifics of the club, with topics on which they will work for 5 months. They actively joined the discussion of the first topic. We talked about traditions, early marriages, the attitude of the older generation to the problem of violence, ways of getting out and mechanisms for protection.
According to the participants of the meeting, the club discusses important and necessary topics, so they expressed a desire to become the club members.
September informational meetings started in the youth clubs. The first meetings were held in Terjola, Didi Nedzi (Zugdidi municipality) and in the village - Kukhi (Khoni municipality). 5 meetings with different modules will be held in these groups during the following months. The topic of the first meetings was the following: "Gender violence, types, forms, reasons, protection mechanisms for the prevention of violence".
The groups differed with experience, activity, creativity, inclusion in the discussion, but there was shown a common desire to work on the topic of violence, gain knowledge, acquire new skills, learn to protect their rights and the rights of other people.
Workshops with young people according new strategy is going on. Since September, in nine municipalities cooperation with new schools began. Target groups of 10-15 people are formed in each schools. A five-month program on conflict management will be held for each group. After five months, "Peace Clubs" will be created in schools. Then the club leaders themselves will continue to work in different classes.
Young people are ready to join the five-month program and use the gained experience in practice.
The first workshops were already held in Terjola, Zugdidi and Khoni.
- What is the relationship between violence to family conflicts, how important is the analysis of the conflict and what methods can be used - this was the topic of the first workshop.
According to the participants, they received important information, as prevention of conflict is impossible without the analysis.
In the second half of August, information meetings were held in the Youth Clubs of Senaki, Ozurgeti, Kutaisi and Lanchkhuti. There was discussion of the topic: "Prevention of domestic violence, protection mechanisms, the role of society", different opinions, active inclusion of young people.
Opinions of the participants:
"I learned a lot in the club. I did not think that I would have such interest. "
"It's very important for me to hold such free meetings."
"Informal education among young people has positive changes. I am one of the brightest examples of this."
Informational meetings of the youth clubs on: “Prevention of domestic violence, Protection Mechanisms, the Role of Society” were held in Tskhaltubo, Terjola, Poti, Khoni, Ganmukhuri (Zugdidi Municipality).
Active groups immediately involved in the work. Leaders who discussed the reasons of domestic violence were identified and they talked about the stereotypes that prevent the measures against violence towards the women.
Young people gave examples from the life of their family and relatives. Very important is the fact that they really perceive the scale of violence and think about prevention.
"It is necessary to talk about these issues not only with us, it is necessary to include parents, teachers, social workers," - this is the opinion of one of the participants of the meeting.
Information meetings of the Youth Clubs took place in the municipalities of Terjola, Poti, Lanchkhuti. The topic of the conversation is violence prevention among young people, the mechanisms of protection and the role of society. Participants actively discussed this topical issue. They talked about the reasons that are often hidden in family, school and society. Like previous months, in July, 9 meetings were held in 9 municipalities.
This year the Fund "Sukhumi" began to work with the boys for the first time. This is a cycle of meetings with the same group during six months.
Aim of this project component is to increase the level of knowledge of boys in the topic of violence against women. It is necessary for the adolescents to realize the main thing: men hereditary are not aggressive and they have a special role and responsibility.
The work was carried out in the schools of the municipalities of Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khoni, Terjola, Senaki, Poti, Zugdidi, Lanchkhuti and Ozurgeti.
In July, the last, sixth meeting was held with each group. There were final exercises and games, talking about the negative side of public stereotypes, the analogue of the game "What? Where? When?". There was also shown the animation. The boys even managed to play small role games.
During the feedback, participants frankly talked about the effectiveness of the six-month work. They noted that each meeting was interesting and informative for them. The obtained knowledge and experience will be useful to them at every stage of life.
And again: they regret that the project has come to the end. However, they know that now the new groups will pass such an interesting six-month cycle of work.
Young people held discussions In Senaki, Zugdidi and Kutaisi on: "Women's Migration – Link with Family Conflicts".
During the discussions, it was mentioned that migration contributes to the development of conflicts in the family. Participants noted that children of such families have difficulties in communication with friends.
- When the mother's functions are taken by other family members, for example by father or by grandparents, there are frequent problems in communication, as no one can replace mother. According to young people: such children become withdrawn, and they express aggression in different forms.
Participants received recommendations on how to help their friends to overcome conflict situations.