Letter from our Donor Organization -Brot für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Berlin,17 March 2022
Dear sisters and brothers,
Dear friends and colleagues,
Dear partners in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries,
We cannot imagine your situationatthe moment.And we lack words to expressour feelings as we witness theimmeasurableamount ofsuffering in these days.War isincredibly horribleandcruel, war leads to destruction and death–warcontains everything which we wantedto overcome together in common serviceand inourpartnershipfor life in dignity.War is aterrible attempt to cutconnections and to divide humans, it is carried out to destroyclose andlongtermrelations.
At the moment our means to change thissituationare limited. But we wouldliketo reassure you that we want to dofor youwhateverispossible.We want tosupport you and stand with you as much as we can. Please tell us what youneed, what is happening, what we can do for you now–because situations andneeds change quickly. We build on information from your side when we takedecisions.We try to react as fast as we can and to be as flexible as possible. Ourhumanitarian branch Diakonie Katastrophenhilfehas installed anemergencyfund, and wereceivedonationsin order to expand this fund. We are alsoclosely connected to political and ecumenical processes of dialogue, we areengaged in building bridges between countries and groups and conflictingparties. We raise our voice together with churches and civil societyorganizations–and we speak out also for those who at the moment have nochanceto raise their voices.We put as much resources as possible into disasterrelief, and by doing sowe want to express active solidarity with our partners inUkraine and with all refugees in the neighbouring countries, as well as with the refugees who come toGermanyin these days.
A meeting-consultation was held with the IDP Women Initiative Group Kutaisi Municipality, which was attended by 12 members.
According to the agenda of the meeting, a developed questionnaire was discussed with the participants, which aims to study the needs of IDPs living in collective centers. Advocacy and resolution of these issues are also planned.
Tasks were personally distributed and decisions were made on all technical issues.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
On March 15-16 Mrs. Lia Kaplan – Director of USAID Georgia Office for Democracy, Human Rights and Governance, Mrs. Tamar Sirbiladze - Rights and Resilience Team Leader, Mr. Giorgi Khechinashvili - Senior Advisor of Youth Programs visited the Fund “Sukhumi” office in Kutaisi. They talked with the executors of the project "Bridging the Gap - People to people Initiatives for Conflict Resolution", heard the information about the results of the work done and discussed future plans.
They also met with representatives of youth and women initiative groups in Tskaltubo and Senaki.
Participants talked about the important activities that are carried out within the project, about interesting meetings, experiences etc.
The meetings were held in an informal and pleasant environment.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
The online meeting with civil society organizations’ representatives was organized by the coalition "More Involvement”. The meeting was dedicated to the current crisis in Ukraine, where the members of the coalition discussed the basic needs of refugees from Ukraine in Georgia and strategies to be implemented to help them.
Nukri Milorava, Executive Director of the International Humanitarian Center "Abkhazia" (the organization has a branch office in Kyiv), provided comprehensive information on the situation in Ukraine and the needs of Ukrainian refugees in Georgia. As he said, according to the official data, there are about 200 Ukrainian tourists and about 250 refugees in Georgia, whose needs are mostly addressed by the private sector, citizens, and civil society. The level of coordination of state structures is rather weak and at this stage, there is no clear strategy for assistance to Ukrainian refugees.
Ekaterine Gamakharia, a representative of the Women's Fund "Sukhumi", talked about importance of employing an orderly registration mechanism for Ukrainian tourists and refugees in Georgia and the need for access to refugee statistics by regions of Georgia. She also pointed out that it is desirable to create a database of coalition members, which will define the list of assistance or services that can be offered by the coalition members.
During the meeting the need of creation of a platform for inter-sectoral cooperation and inter-agency coordination was highlighted, and the importance of joint effort to provide effective assistance to Ukrainian citizens was stressed.
Members of Khoni initiative group heard information about the history of International Women's Day, March 8, and its proclamation as a holiday.
They discussed the urgency of the issue of solidarity today, as well as the current situation in Ukraine.
They spoke about the support and assistance provided by members of the Women Club and the Khoni Municipality to the Ukrainian people.
"It is always important to feel support, solidarity."
"We, the women who passed through the war in Abkhazia, especially remember the cruelty of the war, we know its consequences and that is why we condemn the war, we want peace for all nations."
"We helped Ukraine with what we could".
What is solidarity?
In current difficult situation, we often come across this termin, but the understand of its meaning is a completely different issue...
According to the club members, solidarity is - support, sharing the pain of others, a visible example of which is Ukraine today.
The young people also spoke about the origin of March 8, the International Women's Day and underlined the importance of the solidarity to women, which is relevant and important at all times...
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
An initiative group of IDP women in Senaki joined the research process. The survey will identify problems and challenges that are actual in collective centers of different status. 40 families will be interviewed in Senaki municipality. As a result of the survey, a social profile of collective centers and privatized facilities will be formed.
A consultation meeting was held with members of the Initiative Group. The group is prepared for the survey.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
Solidarity, Feminism, Women Movement in Georgia - These issues were discussed at the meeting of Senaki Youth Initiative Group.
Solidarity is a power, responsibility, positive impulses, solidarity brings us closer to the goal.
This was the position of the youth about the essence of solidarity.
The participants heard the stories of the first feminist women, how they tried to support women through their activities, to strengthen their rights in Georgia!
According to the participants, such information has a positive effect on their consciousness. They believe that women solidarity is still important and relevant today, because women still have to talk about protection of their rights.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
Why is solidarity important? – the discussion of this issue was interactive.
According to the participants, solidarity increases the results, the scale and its power is unlimited.
The participants got acquainted with the stories of Georgian feminist women, who played an important role in the development and assistance of women.
At the end of the meeting, the participants noted that solidarity is important in any case, in any situation.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
