Online meetings were held with Youth clubs in Senaki, Kutaisi and Ganmukhuri (Zugdidi municipality). This is an interesting format, as it is new and proceeds from the current situation... During the meetings, the project moderator, together with the students, discussed the topic of domestic violence, as well as the current situation regarding the new coronovirus.
The most important thing is that there is no panic among young people. They are waiting for the renewal of their studies, and on our initiative, members of Youth clubs join the youth campaign in the social network called: “We are not afraid, we will win!”
“Such meetings are necessary to reduce the conflict situations”, “We need to conduct more educational meetings so that children can learn more”, “Active work is necessary with children, so that they can manage conflict”, “We are learning to respect each other’s opinions”, “School needs this topic"," Today I learned what a “mediator” is, “I would have rated this meeting with ten scores on a ten-point system,” “I want the work to continue”.
These assessments of teachers and students well reflect the importance of workshops, their meaning, interest, impact and change. Workshops on conflicts and peace were held in school of village Teklati (Senaki Municipality), at school No.13 in Kutaisi and in LTD “Gymnasium” in Poti.
Since February, the work with the boys has started again. A new cycle of meetings has begun. The first meetings were held in the municipalities of Kutaisi (February 3), Senaki (February 5), Poti (February 7). Following actual issues were discussed: “The harm of violence” and “Understanding the essence of masculinity”. The main goal of the meetings is to inform the children and motivate them to disseminate information.
Different methods were used during the meetings: mini-collection, role-playing games, discussion, group exercises. All this was interesting for the boys. They actively joined in the work, openly expressed their opinions. According to them, the society still does consider violence as a problem and therefore more work should be carried out in this direction.
During five months, a cycle of workshops on the topic of teaching conflict management was held in nine schools of Imereti, Samegrelo and Guria. In January, a conflict expert of the Fund “Sukhumi” summarized the work done.
The geographical data of the work are as follows:
Three cities: Senaki, school No. 3 - author’s gymnasium of Tamar Pachulia and Kutaisi, school No. 11.
Six villages: Gurianta (Ozurgeti municipality), Melauri (Samtredia municipality), Gamukhuri (Zugdidi municipality), Lia (Tsalenjikha municipality), Zeda Simoneti (Terjola municipality), Lesa (Lanchkhuti municipality).
The final meetings, together with the teenagers included in the project, were attended by school directors, teachers and students of other classes. According to them, the topic of conflicts is relevant, and it is necessary to work with youth in this direction. According to young people, they use the knowledge and skills acquired at workshops and share their experiences with others.
Feedback of students and teachers:
“These were timely, necessary, and useful workshops.”
“Thanks to the Fund “Sukhumi” for choosing our school.”
“It is good that they noticed the activity of our students, and they were given certificates”.
January began with final meetings in Youth Clubs. A five-month training course was summarized in nine municipalities: in schools of the village Ozurgeti (Ozurgeti municipality) and the village Nosiri (Senaki municipality), in private school of Samtredia, in school No. 33 of Kutaisi and No. 21 of Poti, in schools of the villages Orsantia (Zugdidi municipality), Pakhulani (Tsalenjikha municipality), Nigvziani (Lanchkhuti municipality) and Gvankiti (Terjola municipality).
Work on various topics was held in these schools during five months, and at the end the pupils themselves conducted final informational meetings.
Interesting presentations, free choice of topics, discussions revealed changes in the minds of adolescents. They talked about a lack of love and mutual respectalso about a fact that most people are aimed only at their own well-being. All this causes conflicts and violence. It was noted that during information meetings of Youth clubs, pupils are better aware of problems, they are looking for ways with the help of which violence prevention is possible. The maximum inclusion, innovative approaches to holding meetings were highlighted.
Active groups will continue to operate independently. Directors and teachers are ready to support youth initiatives.
The possible results of the conflict and the types of behavior in conflict situations were discussed by the members of the conflict management group together with the conflict expert of the Fund “Sukhumi”. The workshop was held in School - Gymnasium of Tamar Pachulia in Poti, schools of the villages Gurianta (Ozurgeti Municipality) and Lesa (Lanchkhuti Municipality). Through specific exercises and role games, they better understood the essence of the topic.
The workshops were held as part of the International Campaign 16 Active Days Against Gender-based Violebce.
The students liked the workshops, they have a desire to continue the work. They have already independently held informational meetings with students of their schools, made an exhibition of paintings and expressed the solidarity to the cam
Regular meetings with the boys were held in Terjola, Senaki, Kutaisi, Poti, Ozurgeti, Zugdidi, Samtredia, Tsalenjikha, Lanchkhuti municipalities.
The work - conversation and role games - mainly were related to violence and bullying. It was noted that when the members of society are happy, the whole society is also happy. The emphasis was placed on the fact that during communication, children should not express aggression, they should solve the problems and conflicts without violence.
Ethics, aesthetics, sex education, healthy lifestyle - as tools for violence prevention- these actual topics were brought up for discussion at information meetings of the Fund “Sukhumi”. Young people spoke frankly about the problems of early marriage, drug addiction, club life. They emphasized the need for a healthy lifestyle.
The meetings were held in the schools of the villages Ozurgeti (Ozurgeti municipality) and Nigvziani (Lanchkhuti municipality) and in school No. 21 - Poti.
The workshops on the topic “Possible conflict results and the types of behavior in conflict situations” were held in public schools Zeda Simoneti (Terjola municipality), public schools No. 3 - Senaki and No. 11 – Kutaisi. The workshops held in early December were dedicated to the campaign of 16 Active Days Against Gender – based Violence.
The students presented their drawings. They also made up the “Wall of Rights”. The volunteer of the Fund “Sukhumi” – Sofia Wagner visited the village Zeda Simoneti. Participants of the groups worked on specific exercises and through different roles, they showed the types of behavior.
Workshop participants independently held informational meetings with students of different classes on the topic of conflict.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklunsdienst (Germany)
Informational meetings of the Youth clubs were held in schools of the village Gvankiti – Terjola Municipality, the village Nosiri - Senaki municipality and Kutaisi, school No. 33. Following topics were discussed: ethics, aesthetics, sex education, healthy lifestyle - as tools for violence prevention.
Participants of the meetings noted that schools pay little attention to these issues in schools, and the lack of information causes problems, including early marriages. Therefore, it is necessary to discuss such topics with both – children and parents.