Online practical training was provided for moderators of Women's support groups affiliated with the Women's Fund "Sukhumi." The session focused on the crucial topic of the preventing and responding to GBV during the war and in post-war settings. Ekaterine Gamakharia, the head of the Tbilisi office of Women's Fund Sukhumi, led the training session.
During the training, participants gained insights into typical forms of gender-based violence during war and conflict. They engaged in discussions regarding the direct and indirect impacts of armed/violent conflicts on women, girls, and other vulnerable groups.
Women’s mutual assistance groups actively cooperate with local governments, and in all ten municipalities they have already started to advocate the problems of group members.
Women face a number of problems; especially these are the violence victim women. Group members feel strong support from the social agency, the City Hall and the City Council. This helps in advocacy and problem solution.
In November, project assistant Nino Chabukiani conducted offline and online meetings, and some of them were conducted by group leaders.
Three-month courses of digital literacy were held in Terjola, Bagdati and Kobuleti. The group members learned a lot of useful things from the trainer Kristi Kutateladze. In order to actively use theoretical knowledge in practice, several women (who did not have phones) were given mobile phones. According to them, this is serious support.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
The training course is actively continuing. The next five trainings were conducted in the Youth Empowerment Centers of Bagdati, Tsalenjikha, Zugdidi, Khobi and Vani. The participants discussed many interesting and topical issues.
Now all groups are actively preparing for the international campaign of “16 active days against gender-based violence”. Group leaders were identified and they will organize the initiated events. They will conduct various activities; involve their peers and representatives of the older generation. They will express protest against violence together.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
How to combat gender stereotypes, how to break the cycle of violence, how accessible existing services are, what are the mechanisms to support and empower the women victims - these issues were discussed by participants during information meetings held in Women Support Centers.
Participants believe that the role of education is valuable in the process of destroying gender stereotypes. The need to introduce appropriate programs as a component of women empowerment in the economic direction was emphasized.
During the entire month, eight families under the crisis were identified. Mobilizers of Women Support Centers actively cooperate with them and offer beneficiaries the necessary services.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Psychological consultations and psychotherapeutic sessions are part of the assistance that our organization provides to refugees from Ukraine.
The psychologist of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, Manana Gotsiridze, actively worked with these people in November. Many years of experience in psycho-rehabilitation of IDPs helps her to understand the emotions of Ukrainians and to choose the best method to work with them. This is why the beneficiaries express pleasure when communicating with her.
During a month, representatives of 6 families contacted a psychologist, and 18 people received consultations. Three of them attend individual psychotherapy sessions.
According to them, this is a great support for Ukrainians living in Kutaisi.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
There is a beautiful village - Pirveli maisi (first of May) in Khobi municipality. Our psychologist Manana Gotsiridze visited the village for the first time to talk with women working in the kindergarten.
The initiator of the meeting, Nino Uridia, is the mobilizer of the Women Support Center. After the meeting, she said that she did not expect so much benefit from one meeting. Women Support Center was recently opened in Khobi, and there is little information about the benefits of psychological consultations.
At the end of the meeting, the women mentioned:
- How quickly time flew by. I wanted to talk and listen more.
- I learned so many interesting and useful things.
- I looked at life in different way, reevaluated my priorities.
- I thought about my behavior, emotions, what I do and how it affects me.
- Thanks to everyone who prepared this meeting and especially to the psychologist.
- Please, visit us more often.
In addition to this meeting, the psychologist conducted 14 psychotherapeutic sessions in Kutaisi and 11 individual online consultations with beneficiaries living in different regions. She talked to one boy individually and, with the help of art therapy, helped him adapt to school and overcome his fear of failure.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The Ukrainians who came to us have many problems. The assistance with vouchers that our organization provides is a support for them. But support is also provided in another way: utility bills were paid for 2 families, assistance in paying for apartment rent was provided to 7 families, and telephone communication costs were paid for one family.
Medicines worth 400 GEL were purchased for one of the cancer patients. Another one was paid for doctor’s communication.
One of the refugees, living in Tkibuli, asked for help in purchasing a heating device, and this issue will be resolved soon.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The Women Fund “Sukhumi” opened the international information campaign “16 active days against gender-based violence” a day earlier.
November 24. 19.00.
Kutaisi. Stadium named after Ramaz Shengelia – “Shengelia Arena”.
Match between “Torpedo” Kutaisi and “Dinamo” Tbilisi.
And... the most unusual and special:
The entire “Torpedo” team came out wearing white T-shirts with the slogan of our campaign: “Break the silence! Stop the violence”!
The footballers carried this slogan in the form of a large banner.
“Torpedo” Kutaisi has been the face of the 16-day campaign before - in 2003 and 2013.
In 2003, the action also took place at the stadium before the match with “Dinamo” Tbilisi. Then the players carried a long white ribbon into the stadium with the slogan: “Violence is evil! Let's unite against violence against women”!
This was quite a serious demonstration and an unusual action for that time!
As a result of the efforts of our and other organizations, society has realized that violence goes beyond the problem of one family and has more harmful consequences than we think. Three years later, in 2006, the Georgian parliament adopted a law against domestic violence...
From November 20 to 22, a working meeting was held among the network members at the Ambassador Hotel Kachreti within the framework of GIZ's global program 'Shaping Development-Oriented Migration Policy.
At the meeting, our representative, Linda Chikhladze, shared the experiences of the Women's Fund 'Sukhumi' with the participants.
