“Such a meeting is important for me. There was a detailed explanation on how to enter a web page, how to find and download the necessary information.”

"It's hard to be a single mother and allocate time to educate yourself. These meetings are useful because they explain how to use the web page."

"So much information in one space is a comfort... I'm already thinking whom to consult, whom to help."

This is the feedback from the participants of the online meetings held in April. Meetings were held with women from the municipalities of Kobuleti, Chokhatauri, Senaki and Tkibuli. They received detailed information about the website of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" - "Digital Resource Center of Services for Victims of Violence" - www.sosfsokhumi.ge - why it was created, what materials are posted, how to use, how it will help vulnerable groups.

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

They were brought from one of the municipalities of Western Georgia, where the Fund "Sukhumi" Women Support Center operates.

I. 37 years old - was the eldest in the family. She helped her father in raising younger brothers and sisters after her mother left the family. Since childhood, she has gone through suffering and trauma. She was married twice. She is a victim of violence. She looks after a niece with disabilities. Her second child has a problem with birth trauma. This is a family living below the poverty line.

A woman with three children stayed in the rehabilitation center of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" for 10 days. During this time, a comprehensive joint daily intensive psycho-rehabilitation was held. A psychologist, a lawyer and a social worker actively worked with the victim. For the first time, a teacher was included in the process. She took care of the children - played with them, conducted various activities.

The work of a psychologist is carried out in the regions where the Women Support Centers operate and in Kutaisi, at the head office of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”.

In April, there were meetings in Terjola, Kobuleti, Senaki and Zugdidi (village Khurcha) municipalities. Individual and group meetings were held with women – there were 21 participants. Such meetings often identify victims of violence, with whom specific communication begins. In April - 4 victims of domestic violence were identified. They were given the first recommendations and continued psychotherapeutic sessions.

Despite live meetings, online individual sessions are still going on – during the month 15 beneficiaries communicated with the psychologist online.

Finally, live communication with the audience has begun!

April was especially active for the forum - theater. There were 4 performances: in the school of the village Didi Nedzi (Zugdidi municipality), in the conference hall of Zugdidi municipality, in Terjola Youth Center and in Kutaisi Central Park.

A live performance in front of the audience was important for the actors of the forum-theater. The audience was actively involved in the discussion. Young people frankly spoke about how important it is for society to be involved in violence prevention. It was noted that such real scenes give the viewer, especially teenagers, the opportunity to think and look for a way out.

The teachers, who attended the performances noted that it would be fine to invite the forum - in schools in order to have a positive impact on teenagers.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

Maka Jishkariani completed one of the courses of polymer clay at the Day Rehabilitation Center of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”. She had never done this before. During the course she differed from others. A few months later, an exhibition and sale of her products was arranged, and she had more motivation. Then she was offered to work as a teacher of the courses. She is already giving her knowledge and experience to the beneficiaries.

Now I have a special group - she says. Motivated, talented, hardworking women, with amazing ideas. They do their work with all their heart. Everyone understands from a half-word. They are very creative, creating examples of art...

Khoni, Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Senaki, Zugdidi and Tsalenjikha - these are 6 target municipalities, in which the process of implementing youth projects is underway.

The members of the initiative groups have already held informational meetings, discussed various ideas and selected two of them, that will be implemented as a project.

Submission of project applications for discussion by the competition commission has already started. ...

The project is implemented with the support of the USAID

"Women's Participation in Political, Social and Economic Activities - Existing Barriers and Opportunities" The participants discussed the presentation of a report on the systematic date of Quantitative and Qualitative Survey conducted by the Fund “Sukhumi” in Khoni, Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Senaki, Zugdidi and Tsalenjikha Municipalities, which reflects the public attitude towards women's participation in political and public life and economic activities. The participants had opportunity to express their position and share useful experience.

The project is implemented with the support of the USAID

Members of IDP Women Initiative Groups from five target municipalities (Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Senaki, Khoni, Zugdidi) attended the online training. The work was devoted to the topic "Evidence-Based Advocacy".

The aim of the training is to improve the skills of women's groups for successful advocacy. Participants considered factors that hinder advocacy at the local level; identified target groups and stakeholders; developed a working document of a plan for advocacy of the needs existing in local governments.

Participation in the training was useful for the members of the Initiative Groups, because they will be included in the process of advocacy within the framework of the project.

The project is implemented with the support

 of the UN Women organization

50 participants attended the two-day online training on "Building Peace and Trust". They remembered the past, discussed the mechanisms for peace negotiations and building trust.

Members of the IDP Women Initiative Groups of Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Senaki, Khoni and Zugdidi demonstrated conflict resolution and trust building skills during interactive and group work.

The participants of the training noted:

“For a society that has gone through a war, building peace is a difficult and painful process, but it is possible and necessary.”

“We - women should not be victims of war or passive objects of abuse, but should become important actors in peacebuilding.”

"Similar projects help to prepare society for conflict resolution - with information, with necessary skills, especially with effective communication."

The project is implemented with the support

 of the UN Women organization

The advocacy group of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" held the second meeting from the series of information meetings in Terjola municipality City Hall. Among the participants there were women living in the municipality, representatives of the City Hall and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, heads of departments, members of the Gender Equality Council.

The participants received information about two researches of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" - “Importance of Behavior Change Programs of the Perpetrator at an Early Stage and Existing Best Practices” and "Development of Child Care Services - to Promote Women's Employment and Ensure Effective Prevention and Response to Domestic Violence."

A short presentation familiarized the participants with the web page created by the Women Fund "Sukhumi" - "Digital Resource Center for Services of Victims of Violence" - www.sosfsokhumi.ge. During the meeting, flyers were distributed, and at the end there was an active discussion - they talked about the situation in the municipality in terms of domestic violence and assistance to victims.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)