Today, we took another important step toward strengthening women’s safety at the community level. Community women leaders and paraspecialists are the ones who notice the early signs of violence, hear women’s stories first, and support them in taking their very first steps toward safety. Their knowledge and capacity directly determine whether a woman in the community receives timely and adequate support. On 15 November, we held an intensive training: “Strengthening Community Leaders in Identifying, Referring, and Supporting Women Affected by Domestic Violence.” Throughout the day, we worked together on essential topics, including: the nature, forms, and indicators of domestic violence, referral mechanisms and effective coordination among key actors, practical case-based exercises, and, importantly, the use of the new Digital Resource Center as an information and support tool for women experiencing violence. Our goal is to strengthen an informed, sensitive, and well-coordinated community response system. This system ensures no woman is left alone, neither at the first sign of violence nor at any point afterwards. This training is part of a long-term process that the Women’s Fund “Sukhumi” has been building for years: creating safe, empowered, and violence-free environments for women, community by community. Together, we create spaces where women’s voices are always heard. Together, we make sure that violence is no longer invisible.

The project implemented with the support of the DANNER - Kvindecenterfonden Dannerhuset

   In today’s digital world, violence against women often goes beyond the physical space and manifests behind screens, through messages and social media. The Charity Humanitarian Women Fund “Sukhumi” is launching a new project - “Invisible No More: Naming and Confronting Tech-Facilitated Intimate Partner Violence,” implemented with the support of the WAVE Network.. The project aims to raise public awareness and shed light on the often invisible forms of violence carried out through digital means - acts that violate women’s privacy, independence, and security. Tech-facilitated violence in intimate relationships includes digital surveillance, online harassment, unauthorized sharing of personal information, communication control, and other behaviors that restrict women’s freedom. As part of the project, we will produce video narratives based on real stories of women who have experienced digital violence, conduct thematic training and online awareness activities. These initiatives will help reveal the hidden forms of tech-facilitated violence, warn women and girls about risks, strengthen their digital skills for protection and prevention, and promote timely response mechanisms.

The project implemented with the support of the WAVE Network

The Women's Fund “Sukhumi” has launched the project “Empowerment of Women Survivors of Violence and Development of a Community-Based Support System in Georgia.” Within the project, a psychologist visited women’s groups in Khoni and provided consultations to the participants.  The goals of the meeting were to reflect on the psycho-social impacts of violence, strengthen participants’ self-esteem. The psychologist discussed - factors contributing to domestic violence, its causes and consequences, and the social attitudes that often reduce empathy. Participants shared their personal experiences. The importance of group-based support was emphasized, as a process of restoring strength and reconnecting with oneself. 

The project implemented with the support of the DANNER - Kvindecenterfonden Dannerhuset

Within the framework of the project “Empowerment of Women Victims of Violence and Development of Community-Based Support Systems in Georgia,” legal consultations were held for women’s groups in Senaki and Khoni. The main goals of the consultations were to introduce women to the existing mechanisms of legal protection, to explain what steps can be taken in cases of violence, and to clarify the responsibilities of the state and society in the response process. During the meeting, the lawyer discussed: protection mechanisms, procedures provided by law, and the responsibilities that arise in cases of violence. Participants reviewed various real-life cases and emphasized that legal awareness is an essential foundation for women’s safety and freedom of choice.

The project implemented with the support of the DANNER - Kvindecenterfonden Dannerhuset

Fund “Sukhumi” Participated in a Masterclass on Digital Inclusion in Tallinn

Linda Chikhladze, representing the Fund “Sukhumi,” was one of ten participants from Georgia who took part in a two-day masterclass held in Tallinn, Estonia, aimed at promoting digital awareness and inclusion in Georgia’s regions, especially rural communities. The event introduced participants to service design methodology and focused on identifying the key barriers vulnerable groups face in accessing digital services. For Linda, the experience was a significant step in her professional and personal development, reinforcing the importance of the Fund’s approach, that technology must be designed based on real human needs. Alongside the masterclass, the Georgian delegation also had the opportunity to attend the high-level e-Governance Conference – #eGov2025.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JWuS-5O3gUk

This isn’t a reason for conflict – on the contrary, it might be the starting point for a meaningful conversation.

Nini’s experience shows how even the toughest topics can become an opportunity to strengthen relationships.

Watch how Nini builds her argument and tries to balance listening to her father with expressing her own perspective.

Want to test your communication skills?

Visit survivefamilydinner.ge – choose a phrase and see how the conversation can unfold in different scenarios.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3obOzj4CRts

Difficult and controversial topics shouldn’t mean conflict. Watch our video and learn how to keep the conversation constructive.

Play here – Survive the family dinner –

https://survivefamilydinner.ge/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=georgia

At the Gelati Residence, over thirty students from Akaki Tsereteli State University and high school students came together to discuss:

• How can we talk about difficult topics without losing the ability to listen and understand?
• How can we prevent conflict and avoid unnecessary tension?

This workshop wasn’t just about theory - far from it!
Participants shared real-life stories and personal experiences, engaging in open, and at times, intense and emotional conversations.

One student shared their reflection:

“In today’s reality, where widespread gender stereotypes and misinformation hinder the advancement of equality in society, it’s crucial to develop effective ways of dealing with them. For many people, these stereotypes are a part of daily life, and without proper communication, they’re nearly impossible to change. Navigating tough conversations in a constructive way is essential. I believe workshops like this really help strengthen these skills and empower us to challenge gender stereotypes more effectively.”

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TiPj-3vdyOU

Difficult and controversial topics don’t have to lead to conflict.
Watch our video and learn how to keep a conversation constructive.

Want to test your communication skills?
Visit survivefamilydinner.ge – choose a phrase and see how a conversation can unfold in different scenarios.

On April 3, via Zoom, 67 students from 10 municipalities in western Georgia (Chokhatauri, Kobuleti, Tskaltubo, Kutaisi, Khoni, Terjola, Samtredia, Senaki, Zugdidi, Tsalenjikha) participated in the workshop “How to Navigate Difficult Dialogues.” The session aimed to build skills for engaging in constructive conversations and avoiding conflict when speaking with people who hold different perspectives.

The main topics of the workshop included:
• Distinguishing between stereotypes, disinformation, and accurate information
• Five practical strategies for navigating difficult dialogues
• An interactive game: “How to Survive the Family Dinner” - https://survivefamilydinner.ge/how-to-play/

Even in an online format, the workshop was lively and interactive — students actively shared their personal experiences, asked questions, and reflected throughout the session.

“This was a powerful experience. I realized I can become the best version of myself and express my thoughts clearly. Now I feel confident to stand up for myself and for others who are being bullied. Thank you for creating such an interesting, impactful, and meaningful project!” — Student from Samtredia Municipality