Kutaisi Women Initiative Group actively advocates for problems and at the same time works to identify new needs. The leader of the initiative group holds individual meetings with representatives of IDP settlements, studies problems and determines their priority in order to timely solve problems with the involvement of relevant services and improve the situation of IDPs.

The project is implemented with the support

 of the UN Women organization

The problem advocated by  Khoni Women Initiative Group is related to the homeowners' association. This institution has existed in the IDP settlement for many years, and 16 homeowners' associations have already been registered. However, there is no program in the local government budget that would allow the associations to jointly implement various infrastructure projects.

In terms of updating the issue at this stage, the meetings were held with the population. For timely and successful advocacy, the Women Initiative Group is in close contact with local self-government.

The project is implemented with the support

 of the UN Women organization

The groups were updated with new members and are already staffed with women who are ready for active work. They got acquainted with the municipal programs for social protection and health care. During the meetings, they talked about existing services and  they used. All groups have identified issues that they will start advocating.

There are already first results: one woman was assisted with medicines, another - in resolving the housing issue.

Each result is a motivation to the next success.

Project Assistant Nino Chabukiani met with women self-assistance groups established in Vani and Senaki, also in Chokhatauri, Terjola, Kobuleti and Samtredia municipalities. Meetings were held by group leaders, representatives of our organization.

The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)

Women's self-assistance groups have already been established in 10 municipalities. In May, groups were formed in Terjola, Senaki, Chokhatauri, Samtredia, Tkibuli, Vani and Kobuleti. In June, three more municipalities were added to them: Bagdati, Tsalenjikha and Zugdidi. Groups should disseminate information about services available for victims of violence at the national or municipal level. They will try to advocate their problems together with representatives of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and local government. According to them, it is clear that the group will do useful things for women.

Gender, gender-based violence, identification of violence, communication with a child and referral stages, legal mechanisms and the role of teachers in the prevention of violence, international documents - these issues were discussed at the training for teachers held in Kutaisi. The participants represented 5 municipalities: Senaki, Tsalenjikha, Terjola, Samtredia, Kobuleti.

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)

Participants were actively involved in the training process, in discussions, sharing their experience with each other. According to them, the training will contribute to the destruction of gender stereotypes and the prevention of violence - the mechanisms of early identification and intervention.

It was noted that after the training they will introduce gender approaches in schools and will actively participate in the process of identifying cases of violence.

The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)

One of those, met by the psychologist of the Women Fund “Sukhumi” -  Manana Gotsiridze  in June, was 76-year-old Lyubov Maksimenko from the Mykolaev region. She lived in Tskaltubo, but 30 years ago she sold her apartment and moved to Ukraine. She lived happily, but when the situation escalated during the war, she came here, intending to stay for a while. She did not meet any of her acquaintances here, neither the new owners of her apartment, nor former neighbors, nor friends ... For some time she lived with the daughter of an old acquaintance, then the City Hall settled her in a hotel ... She decided to return home again. However, she did not have enough finances. Fund "Sukhumi" bought a bus ticket, gave food for the journey and sent her to Ukraine...

In June, the psychologist met with another 12 people - representatives of 5 families. The  initial consultations, anamnesis, work with traumas and stress was started with them. Two beneficiaries have completed individual psychotherapy sessions and one continues to receive psychotherapy on Wednesdays. Also, all families received a set of humanitarian aid from our organization.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

During the lesson, the hours fly by so fast that we don't even feel it.

Imagination takes us to a completely different world.

Our fingers get used to colored clay and we teach them to read our thoughts.

The teacher tells us that the clay must love us...

These are the words of the women beneficiaries of the Day Rehabilitation Center, who are learning to work with polymer clay with great interest together with the teacher Maka Jishkariani. During the lessons, they talk not only about color mixing, work-related details, but also about art therapy, which helps to overcome problems.

Each lesson is interesting, it is especially pleasant to communicate with each other and the fact that they learn a lot, make new products - each of them has already accumulated a lot of work.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

The initiative of the monitoring group of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" was also accepted by  Vani municipality. In order to respond to the issues of violence, an Interdepartmental Commission on the Prevention of Violence against Women and / or Domestic Violence, Protection and Assistance to Victims of Violence was created in the City Hall, which will be headed by Vice Mayor Vladimir Kheladze. The commission consists of 13 people and includes representatives of the relevant services of the City Hall, the educational resource center, the association of kindergartens, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, NGOs and a social agency.

The Commission will cooperate with the Gender Equality Council of Vani Municipality. It will periodically provide information and recommendations on the current situation in the municipality, measures to prevent violence against women and / or domestic violence, protection and assistance to victims of violence, which will contribute to active work on the problem.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

A meeting  with Kemlin Furley, the representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Georgia was held In Kutaisi, at the head office of the Women Fund "Sukhumi". The meeting was also attended by a representative of  the Georgian Red Cross Society Kutaisi branch.

Mrs. Kemlin was informed about the ongoing projects implemented by the Fund "Sukhumi" and the Red Cross for the assistance of Ukrainian refugees. The conversation touched upon the condition of Ukrainians, existing challenges and needs. Particular attention was paid to problems in terms of health and education and their advocacy at the national level.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

June 20, the International Day of Refugees and IDPs, is traditionally celebrated by the Women Fund "Sukhumi" with various activities. For the third year already, the event “The Aroma of Sukhumian Coffee in Kutaisi Boulevard” has been held. Ukrainian refugees were present last year and came this time. The women prepared cookies with Ukrainian theme. A Ukrainian girl danced their national dance. This day was impressive and everyone saw the active work of the Fund.

The Women Fund “Sukhumi” has already provided assistance to 539 people who came from Ukraine. In June, 16 new people were added to our database. Our support was expressed in a following way:

- 28 families (44 people) received products

- We paid the rent for 6 families

- We paid utility bills for 6 families

- Medical costs for one Ukrainian woman were reimbursed

- We bought a bus ticket with $220 to Ukraine for Lyubov Maksimenko and she returned to her country.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)