The Fund "Sukhumi" in partnership with the Association "Peaceful and Business Caucasus" and with the support of the USAID is implementing the project “Bridging the Gap: People to People Initiatives for Conflict Resolution”.
The project has been actively started since February and includes civil, educational, medical and economic areas.
Numerous activities are planned during two years on both sides of the conflict dividing line. Youth clubs and councils will be established in 11 municipalities, trainings and meetings will be held, exchange programs will be organized, small grants will be funded, etc.
All of these activities are based on a trilateral strategy: overcoming mistrust through personal contacts, identifying common topics, finding and supporting ways of reconciliation.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
"Young leaders for peace, tolerance and non-violent culture" - this is the name of new project of the Fund "Sukhumi".
First of all, schools and participants under the age group envisaged in the project - pupils of the eighth-eleventh grades were selected.
The project includes 8 schools of Kutaisi, Zugdidi and Tsalenjikha municipalities.
At the first stage of the work envisaged the survey on: how tolerant, sociable and peaceful adolescents are and how they contribute to the formation of a non-violent culture.
Fifty questionnaires are filled in, they are in the process of adaptation and in parallel, preparation for the next project activities is underway.
From the day of its foundation to the present day, the Fund "Sukhumi" has been continuously involved in confidence-building between conflict divided societies, peacebuilding and positive transformation of the conflict. Long lasting cooperation with partner organizations operating in Abkhazia and the study of the peacebuilding experience of various countries have laid the foundation for numerous partnership projects aimed at increasing the role of women and raising trust in the process of peacebuilding. Within the framework of joint projects, numerous researches were conducted, numerous documents, analytical works, and methodological guidelines on peace and security issues were published and widely distributed.
Through the trainings, information meetings and discussions, the Fund "Sukhumi" actively works with population (women - IDPs, youth) in the direction of rethinking the past, destroying the enemy image created by the conflict, reducing tension and spreading a culture of peace.
Fund "Sukhumi" developed and launched community-based Responsive Early Warning System. The organization constantly monitors the situation of IDP and conflict affected women and girls, as well as the level of their human security. It develops strategies for a timely warning against possible escalation of violence and instability, as well as actively participates in the problem solution process at the local, national and international level.
Fund “Sukhumi” has been actively participating in elaboration of National Action Plan (NAP) for implementation of UNSC Resolution 1325 and other UN Security Council resolutions on Women, Peace and Security. The organization was involved in integration and localization of the National Action Plan on UNSC Resolution 1325 at the local government level and enhancing the participation of internally displaced (IDP) and conflict-affected women and girls in dialogue with the local government officials.