January was a short working month. A second obstacle has also emerged – the seasonal flu virus. Despite this, all planned meetings were held with representatives of the Youth Empowerment Centers. Ordinary work was continued - 5 trainings were held in the filed, 5 in an online format.

These were interesting, active and memorable trainings for the participants: discussions of current topics, frank conversations about their own problems. At the same time, leaders started to prepare for the final meetings. This will be a particularly interesting stage in their lives.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

Despite the short working month, Manana Gotsiridze, a psychologist of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, had an active January. She held a group meeting with women from the village Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality). In addition, 12 individual online consultations were conducted in the regions and 13 individual psychotherapeutic sessions in Kutaisi. The psychologist answered 8 phone calls and helped the beneficiaries to combate emotional stress.

A psychologist worked every day in our rehabilitation center, where women victims and their children stayed for two weeks. There was also a lawyer, a social worker and a teacher who spent interesting and educational hours with the children.

One of the beneficiaries noted: “I feel so good here that I don’t want to leave. I’m glad that now I know more, I’m more informed and I have more motivation to solve my problems... Thank you very much - for 34 years these have been the brightest, warmest and most pleasant days for me.”

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

Training on the topic “Evidence-based Advocacy” was held at Khoni Community Education Center.

The training was attended by women leaders representing homeowners associations in the IDP settlement. They discussed barriers existing in the process of advocacy at the local level, identified target groups and stakeholders, and developed a plan for the advocacy of community needs.

The training participants noted:

“Today we gained very valuable experience in how to find the shortest way to solve the pressing problems of our community.”

“We have chosen prior issues and set a strategy for changes, emphasized the ways to solve these issues and better saw our capabilities”.

The work is carried out in partnership with the Center “Abkhazeti” within the framework of the project “Support of the conflict transformation in the South Caucasus and Moldova”.

Representatives of the Women Fund “Sukhumi” together with the Gender Equality Council held an information meeting in the conference hall of Khobi City Hall.

The aim of the meeting was to promote a system of coordination and exchange of information between local referral entities on the issues of violence against women and domestic violence.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the department for the protection and support of children's rights, and representatives of non-profit legal entities operating in the municipality. They talked about the prevention of domestic violence, groups under the risk of violence, identifying the needs of the most vulnerable families and the need for a local system of social partnership, as well as issues of combining inter-sector resources.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

Representatives of the City hall, the Gender Equality Council, the administration of kindergartens and the health service gathered in the meeting room of the City Council of Tsalenjikha municipality. The Women Fund “Sukhumi” held a round table - presentation of a small joint project that was implemented in collaboration with the Gender Council. Within the framework of the project, trainings and information meetings were held during the international campaign of “16 active days against gender-based violence”. In addition, the municipality conducted a women's needs research and published a report.

During the meeting, the participants talked about the work done and special emphasis was placed on continuing active cooperation.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

“Prevention of violence and protection of victims of violence” - The Women Fund “Sukhumi” held a working meeting on this topic in Chokhatauri.

The meeting was attended by the first deputy Mayor, members of the interdepartmental commission on the prevention of violence against women and/or domestic violence, protection and assistance to victims of violence, representatives of the Gender Equality Council, law enforcement agencies, a preschool educational institution, an educational resource center and a center for public health.

The aim of the meeting was to analyze the current situation regarding domestic violence in the municipality and to determine the prospects for social cooperation.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

After the New Year holidays, the youth theater resumed its work. In January, puppet theater and forum theater performances were held.

A puppet theater performance took place in Kutaisi school No 2nd. Primary school students liked the performance, then they cheerfully joined the discussion - they talked about their favorite characters, friendship, and helping each other.

The Forum Theater presented a performance on the topic of migration in the city center. Some viewers were worried because... their family members are also emigrants, but noted that this is a pressing problem, and young people have the right vision...

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

By order of the Gender Equality Council of Tsalenjikha Municipality, the Women Fund “Sukhumi” conducted a research of women gender needs in Tsalenjikha Municipality and published a report. The aim of the research is to collect evidence-based information about the needs of different groups of women living in the municipality. The information obtained will become the basis for more effective measures for the implementation of the social policy of the municipality, which will envisage the needs, visions and prospects of the direct target groups. Based on research results, the recommendations were prepared.

The Women Fund “Sukhumi” starts the project “IDP Women and Girls – Actors of the Needs-Oriented Local Policy Development in Kutaisi” in Kutaisi Municipality. The first information meeting - presentation of the new project was held online. It was attended by the representatives of the USAID Local Government Program, Kutaisi local self-government and the civil sector, as well as partners and beneficiaries.

Representatives of Kutaisi local self-government expressed their readiness to actively cooperate within the framework of the project.

The project is implemented with the support of the USAID

The founder of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, Alla Gamakharia, started the reporting meeting with memories of those years and the past that led us to successful work for 26 years.

Today, the Women Fund “Sukhumi” is one of the most authoritative organizations in the non-governmental sector, operating in 10 municipalities and having a representative office in Tbilisi.

At the final meeting, the speakers:  Ekaterine Gamakharia, Lela Jalagonia, Nino Chabukiani, Khatuna Gogua, Tea Torinava, Emma Kamkia, Tea Goletiani, Mery Gelashvili, Guranda Gvantseladze, Lali Gakharia and Tamar Kukhalashvili presented a report on work in different directions during the year.

These speeches once again convinced us how fruitful and effective is our active work with women, youth and various departments...