Protection of children's rights and local cooperation in terms of improving social services” - an information exchange meeting on this topic was held this time with the staff of preschool institutions of Kobuleti municipality. The event was attended by the head of the City Hall Department for the Protection of Children's Rights, the Chairman of the Gender Equality Council of the municipality, representatives of the Women Fund "Sukhumi".
The participants were familiarized with the specifics of the work of the new structure of the municipality - the City Hall Department for the Protection of Children's Rights, as well as with local programs. Information was provided on the monitoring carried out by the Fund "Sukhumi", which revealed positive practices and challenges that exist in different municipalities.
It was noted that some representatives of preschool institutions still do not understand their responsibility according to the law in terms of protecting children from violence. There were issues when communication with the City Hall Department for the Protection of Children's Rights is necessary.
Teachers of preschool institutions touched upon the painful issues of children with specific needs. There was an agreement on the topics of future cooperation.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
On October 6-9, the feminist forum "Body and Environment: Feminist Ideas and Practices of Organizing Care, Resistance, and Solidarity" was held.
During four days, together with queer and feminist activists, researchers, and forum participants, Representatives of Women's Fund "Sukhumi" - Nino Korinteli and Linda Chikhladze were involved in a process to created a safe space for the exchange and discussion of interdisciplinary, local, and regional knowledge and experiences.
Together with the WISG team, we also hope that these inspiring days will certainly lay the foundation for new opportunities for thinking, working, and collaborating. Among them, is to continue the forum's tradition of creating and transforming new spaces for queer feminist imagination, knowledge, and practice.
Marina prepared a beautiful and sweet Ukrainian dessert - Lviv syrnik and Anya - Kiev cutlets. Marina and Anya are Ukrainian psychologists who work in our organization and together with other women, they participated in the preparation of the Day of Ukrainian Cuisine at the Women Fund " Sukhumi on September 15. They believe that it turned out to be an interesting, pleasant and rehabilitative event.
Psychologists from Ukraine actively worked in September professional direction.
Anya Shalimova says that she met with members of four new families and with one family again. She conducted 12 individual consultations. Both regular clients and new ones were among them. There were also consultations with children and their parents.
“Ukrainians respond positively to the fact that I am also from Ukraine,” Anya says. - They are interested in what city I am from and how I survived the war. If the Ukrainians are from my hometown, then we are interested in concrete area we lived” (that is why two Ukrainian psychologists were invited to work with Ukrainian refugees).
Marina is 28. She was depressed after the death of her husband: “Life stopped, I didn’t know how to live. My mother cried with me. In this condition we were caught by my mother's friend, who advised us to address the psychologist of the Fund "Sukhumi". For almost 8 months, I learned to look at myself in a new way. Step by step, I was filled with hope. I don’t know how to express my gratitude not only for the return of a smile on my face, but also for the light in my mother’s eyes”...
Marina is one of the grateful beneficiaries of the psychologist. There are many of them in different municipalities of Western Georgia.
In September, the meetings of psychologist were held in the Women Support Centers of Vani, Chokhatauri, Senaki and Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality), also in Kobuleti - online. 23 beneficiaries took part in the group and individual meetings.
From September 19 until the end of the month, a comprehensive rehabilitation work was carried out with three women victims of domestic violence. They were placed in the Rehabilitation Center of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" with their children - there were 6 beneficiaries in total. A teacher, a social worker, a lawyer and a psychologist were included in the daily active work.
At the end of the rehabilitation course, one of the beneficiaries (she is 26 years old) said that she felt great support, she already knows that she is not alone. The days spent here gave her and other women more strength and they know how to work on their weaknesses. They received a lot of necessary information, positive, useful advice and decided to open a new page of their life with new power.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
According to the participants, the information exchange meeting (Topic - "Protection of children's rights in Tkibuli Municipality and local cooperation in terms of improving social services") was very interesting and important. It was held on the initiative of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and Tkibuli Children's Rights Protection and Support Service.
The participants were introduced to the findings of the research conducted by the Fund "Sukhumi", the activities of the Children's Rights Protection and Support Service and the existing challenges.
The heads of the municipality, providers of municipal services and citizens exchanged their opinions. The main challenge was identified - lack of resources for the improvement of services; The need for more flexible legal regulations.
Close cooperation with the civil sector and unification of resources for the assistance of the beneficiaries was highly appreciated.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
A meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission for the Elimination of Violence Against Women was held in the Bagdati City Hall. The meeting was held in the round table format. Together with the members of the commission, the meeting was attended by representatives of the Women Fund "Sukhumi", police officers, teachers, members of the City Council commission and the Department for the protection of Children.
Concrete cases, work with these cases and subsequent response were discussed during the meeting. The issues of violence prevention, victim protection and prospects for cooperation with local government agencies were also discusse
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The participants discussed the issues of femicide at the events initiated by the women support centers. Short videos on the topic of violence created a good space for discussion.
- How to break the circle of violence, where the response mechanisms need to be strengthened - discussions on these issues continued.
The participants noted that women are not protected, they are still victims of harmful stereotypes. They spoke about strengthening the role of kindergartens and schools with special emphasis.
If we do not help to break the stereotypes, if the consciousness is not improved, the picture will not change – noted the meeting participants.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Solar energy has been used by people for a long time. Today, the mentioned issue is especially relevant. 10 informational meetings held in Khoni, Vani, Terjola, Senaki, Tskaltubo and Tkibuli were devoted to the topic of renewable energy efficiency.
The participants received full information on how efficient and profitable the solar battery is. The participants were interested in many things: how many liters are in the tank? What is the price? Does the price depend on the volume? Can it be installed individually in the flats? Can it be it damaged by natural phenomena?
Participants of the information meetings received competent answers to all questions.
