Women Fund "Sukhumi" presents a new rapid assessment report - "Identifying the Needs of the Mayor's Representatives in Target Municipalities”.
The main objective of the study was to identify the needs of the Mayor's representatives in target municipalities of the Fund "Sukhumi" and to develop relevant recommendations to strengthen their role in promoting gender equality and identifying cases of violence against women and/or domestic violence, assisting victims and informing the citizens on existing local and central services in terms of participating in referral system.
The current rapid assessment highlighted the need for scheduling clear commitments to strengthen the digital skills of the Mayor's representatives, better inform them, improve their skills to promote gender equality in job descriptions, and to include domestic violence prevention and protection measures.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Gender-based violence takes on many forms during conflicts, as we are witnessing in Ukraine. Rape and sexual violence are used as tools of war, and women and girls face higher risks of trafficking, as well as domestic violence and exploitation. Women’s specialist support services (WSSS) play a vital role in supporting survivors of violence, both during the conflict, as well as in the medium and long-term in post-conflict areas.
WAVE, with the support of the OSCE, started a new project to address capacity building and exchange of promising practices between women’s specialist support services to better support women survivors of violence in conflict and post-conflict areas. The WAVE members involved in the project are the Sexual Assault Crisis Center (Yerevan, Armenia), Women Fund Sukhumi (Kutaisi, Georgia), Foundation United Women Banja Luka (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina), and Centre “Women’s Perspectives” (Lviv, Ukraine).
24.02.22 - the day that shocked the whole world and all of us, the women of the Fund "Sukhumi" - the war in Ukraine!
25.02.22 - we wrote an Appeal in support of the Ukrainian women and sent it everywhere!
26.02.22 – fundraising to support people in Ukraine began. 54 employees of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" transferred money to various funds to help Ukraine.
28.02.22 - we collected an additional 1500 GEL and bought baby food, diapers, hygiene products and took 12 boxes to Tbilisi, to the point of receiving aid for Ukraine.
We sent letters of support to all familiar and unfamiliar women organizations in Ukraine - with the question: how can we help, what can we do for them?
08.03.22 - organized the action "Solidarity of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" - to the women of Ukraine!" The action was attended by women from Western Georgia.
10.03.22 - started to provide assistance to Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Kutaisi.
They are interested in: when the next training will be held? Because they liked the work. Their feedback is following:
- It is interesting and necessary to conduct trainings on the topic of conflicts and violence.
- Live training is completely different!
- It is very good to play small scenes, the topic is better understood, and they got amused...
- They learned a lot about new and useful things.
The trainings in Tkibuli, Terjola and Kobuleti Youth Empowerment Centers were live, with role-playing games, exercises and discussions.
Also interesting were online trainings conducted with youth from the municipalities of Chokhatauri and Bagdati.
The participants were active, joined the discussions, frankly shared their views and experiences with each other.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
In order to make the process of responding to facts of violence and assisting the victim more effective, other referral entities should be included in the process - for this purpose, important meetings were held in Senaki, Kobuleti, Terjola, Chokhatauri, Bagdati. Women Support Centers
- The victim should not be left alone at any stage. She needs to be supported so that she feels secure and safe - this was the general position of the meeting participants. Women who went through violence emphasized the need for psychological support.
The participants noted that the web page “Digital Resource Center of Services for Victims of Violence”, created by the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, will provide serious assistance to women victims so that they have full information about existing services.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
A working meeting was held with members of the Initiative Group of IDP Women in Senaki. In the first part of the meeting, the participants talked about how they conducted the survey, which contributed to the successful completion of the process. In the second part, they got acquainted with the plan for April. It was noted that a cycle of trainings will be held with the members of the group. They were provided with information about what topics will be covered during the trainings.
According to the participants, their awareness, competence, civic activism will increase through the training - all this will contribute to initiating the needs of IDPs at the local level.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
Like other four municipalities (Khoni, Tskaltubo, Senaki, Zugdidi), the Initiative Group of IDP Women actively worked in Kutaisi municipality. Members of the group conducted an online survey. Then, meetings with different groups were held to obtain additional information and the completed questionnaires were reviewed. As a result of the research the needs of IDP women and girls were identified. Then the Initiative Group will work on their advocacy.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
A survey was conducted and questionnaires were filled out In the IDP settlement. Khoni IDP Women Initiative Group was actively involved in the process.
In order to fully reflect the existing problems, meetings were held in the village, the completed questionnaires were discussed, additional information was received, and the population clearly saw which problems were prior.
A number of issues were identified on which it is necessary to put emphasis and direct the advocacy strategy of the Initiative Group - for example, the problem of stray dogs, the problem of rehabilitation of entrances and external facades, etc.
Проект осуществляется при поддержке
Женской организации ООН
The Women Fund "Sukhumi" actively began to work in support of Ukrainian refugees.
There are 61 people in our database, 23 of whom have already left Georgia. 4 of them live with relatives, the rest either rent or stay with friends who provided them with accommodation free of charge. A Facebook was created, where all relevant information is placed.
The Women Fund "Sukhumi" is in touch with the Tbilisi organization "Help for Ukraine", they have information about the assistance that we can provide to refugees, they also share with us information that may be useful to us. We are also in touch with humanitarian organization “Mercy”, which distributes humanitarian aid to different regions of Georgia.
An online survey continues on the Facebook page of the Fund "Sukhumi" to assess the needs of Ukrainians. The needs of majority are similar: food, hygiene products, clothing.
Tekla Genelidze is a 17-year-old entrepreneur from the village of Fersati in Baghdati Municipality. She has been interested in winemaking from an early age and is actively involved in this business.
Women's Fund "Sukhumi" continues the campaign to break down gender stereotypes - to provide equality, tolerance, and a non-abusive environment in our society.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)