Paraprofessionals in the field of social work are individuals who do not have an academic degree or professional license in social work, but nevertheless play a major role in working with vulnerable groups. Their function is especially important when social services are not available or are very limited.
This is an excerpt from a new publication.
“A Social Work Guide for Community Leaders: Supporting Women Under the Risk of Violence and Surviving Domestic Violence” is a practical and in-depth resource for community and social leaders who work with women at the local level
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
The role of medical personnel in preventing violence against women/domestic violence and protecting victims - training on this topic was held in Tskaltubo. The training was attended by medical personnel of the municipality: doctors of polyclinics, schools and family doctors.
The training discussed topical issues: the scale of violence against women, the anatomy of violence, the legal environment: the law and mechanisms for its implementation, referral entities, the role and responsibility of medical personnel.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
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
Several new members have joined the women mutual assistance group in Tskaltubo. Terjola group has also been replenished with new members. In Senaki, new serious cases were discussed, and questionnaires are currently being processed.
In all other municipalities, the March meetings were actively held. During the ordinary group meetings, the participants were interested in government services. They already have information about programs and services to support vulnerable groups. One of the important priorities for women is economic empowerment. They try to solve problems through informing and mutual assistance. The group meetings give hope to each participant, as they become more active, stronger and better able to cope with challenges.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
During the meetings of women's mutual support groups in Tskaltubo and Vani, services offered by municipal and non-governmental organizations were discussed. Samtredia group has been replenished with new members, so new cases have appeared. They need to be processed in a timely manner and each one needs to be resolved.
In Kobuleti, the group members outlined their problems and needs. Necessities were discussed in Terjola, Zugdidi, Tsalenjikha, Senaki and Khobi. The woman from Chokhatauri has a great desire to take courses of working with polymer clay, as this is one of the ways to find employment along with therapy. It is important for women that a psychologist from the Women Fund “Sukhumi” periodically works with them, helping them to solve their problems.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada
The Women’s Fund “Sokhumi” continues raising awareness on digital security by organizing workshops across different municipalities in Georgia.
From February 4 to 7, digital security trainer Linda Chikhladze held sessions in Tskaltubo, Samtredia, and Chokhatauri, engaging local women's support groups in discussions on online risks and protective mechanisms.
During the workshops, participants:
- Learned about technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) and its impact;
- Studied personal data protection techniques – strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and privacy tools;
- Became familiar with legal protections against online violence;
- Discussed the importance of mutual support and women’s empowerment.
Women advocacy groups created in Tskaltubo, Zugdidi and Senaki supported a civil initiative for the advocacy of identified needs. In particular: in the IDP settlement of Senaki, there were no signs with numbers on the apartments, which often created problems (for example, when calling an ambulance). There were no benches for parents and children in the courtyard of the school in the village Koki (Zugdidi municipality). In Tskaltubo, in a new settlement of IDPs, women identified a following problem: the buildings do not have information boards on which the necessary information would be posted (for example, information about a hotline).
The implementation of these initiatives will ensure a safe and adapted environment for women
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
In frames of the International campaign "16 active days against gender-based violence", a group of Para-specialists of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" expressed their protest with a mini-action. This group was created to work in different communities to identify conflict families and risk groups. The activities of Para-specialists are aimed at preventing violence. That is why they actively participated in the 16-day campaign.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
Training on "Preparing Para specialists for Social Work" was held on November 29-30 in Kutaisi at the Hotel “Gelati Residence”. The training was attended by 20 women from ten municipalities of Western Georgia: mobilizers and women activists of the Women Support Centers of Vani, Terjola, Tskaltubo, Khoni, Samtredia, Senaki, Khobi, Zugdidi, Tsalenjikha, Chokhatauri.
The participants learned about the essence and importance of social work, received information about services and support programs at local and central levels. The received information will help them to work effectively in local communities to identify the groups under the risk of violence and vulnerable families. And also - to master the skills of a Para specialist, to strengthen the practice of providing consultations and assistance for a timely response to existing challenges.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
In Chokhatauri, members of the mutual assistance group held a meeting of a different format - a cheese exhibition. The women brought out their goods. They discussed the creation of a website called "Women of Gogolasubani", which will help sell the products. Group from Tsalenjikha consider the economic empowerment of women from the vulnerable group in their plans for the future.
New participants gathered in Samtredia, they filled out questionnaires, talked about their needs. Tskaltubo group was replenished with new members. The meeting was held online.
Mutual assistance group meetings were also held in other municipalities (Khobi, Zugdidi, Terjola, Kobuleti, Senaki, Vani). New participants addressed - with their problems and hope for their solution. A psychologist from the Women Fund “Sukhumi” actively worked with the women.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)