Marina is 28. She was depressed after the death of her husband: “Life stopped, I didn’t know how to live. My mother cried with me. In this condition we were caught by my mother's friend, who advised us to address the psychologist of the Fund "Sukhumi". For almost 8 months, I learned to look at myself in a new way. Step by step, I was filled with hope. I don’t know how to express my gratitude not only for the return of a smile on my face, but also for the light in my mother’s eyes”...
Marina is one of the grateful beneficiaries of the psychologist. There are many of them in different municipalities of Western Georgia.
In September, the meetings of psychologist were held in the Women Support Centers of Vani, Chokhatauri, Senaki and Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality), also in Kobuleti - online. 23 beneficiaries took part in the group and individual meetings.
The participants discussed the issues of femicide at the events initiated by the women support centers. Short videos on the topic of violence created a good space for discussion.
- How to break the circle of violence, where the response mechanisms need to be strengthened - discussions on these issues continued.
The participants noted that women are not protected, they are still victims of harmful stereotypes. They spoke about strengthening the role of kindergartens and schools with special emphasis.
If we do not help to break the stereotypes, if the consciousness is not improved, the picture will not change – noted the meeting participants.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
In September, Women Support Centers made a special focus on the problem of femicide. At information meetings in Vani, Samtredia, Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality), Terjola and Tsalenjikha, the participants noted that femicide in Georgia has reached an alarming level, which means that the efforts against violence are not enough...
According to the participants, information campaigns are very important in terms of violence prevention:
“It is necessary to work more in direction of prevention, especially with young people”.
"If the response is not strict, we will not be able to stop this process".
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
In August, the psychologist visited the Women Support Centers of Bagdati, Kobuleti, Tkibuli, Terjola and Senaki. Group and individual meetings were held with participation of 50 beneficiaries.
9 beneficiaries from the regions received online individual psychotherapeutic consultations. Active work with 17 beneficiaries and one married couple was held in Kutaisi, in the office of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”.
Permanent work brings positive results for each beneficiary.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The lawyer of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" held group and individual information meetings: in the village Didi Nedzi (Zugdidi municipality), Dimi (Bagdati municipality), Senaki and Tkibuli. The group meetings were attended by representatives of the City Hall, school teachers and representatives of civil society. During the meetings, a presentation of the web page - "Digital Resource Center of Services for Victims of Violence" was made.
In Tsalenjikha, an individual consultation was given to a woman about the status of a single mother and in Vani - about divorce to a woman who was a victim of violence. All meetings were organized by the Women Support Centers.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
158 people joined the mobilization meetings organized by the Women Support Centers in August. Issues of domestic violence, responses and effective mechanisms of victim assistance have become the basis for active discussions. Participants analyzed the facts of femicide. They noted: “We should not be indifferent when cases of femicide have become so frequent. This is an alarming indicator and requires a greater response from both the state and society”.
The meetings showed the necessity to strengthen the role of the Women Support Centers in terms of informing the population so that as many people as possible know that violence is punishable and the victim is not alone.
The Women Support Centers of Samtredia, Terjola, Tkibuli, Vani, Bagdati, Senaki, Tsalenjikha, Zugdidi, Chokhatauri and Kobuleti, along with informing the population, revealed eight new cases of violence during the month. The response has already begun, the beneficiaries are actively using the services of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" - this increases the guarantees of the victim's safety.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
"I was lucky that I was connected to the Fund Sukhumi”. The day when I was presented with the phone, will follow me for the rest of my life. Thanks to these amazing people I got my faith back".
The Women Fund "Sukhumi” has a tradition of telling people: 'You are not alone. It's a motivation for me to continue life with hope."
This was the feedback of the action, within the framework of which 10 women from vulnerable groups were given mobile phones equipped with the SAFE YOU application and a SOS button as a gift. The action covered 7 municipalities: Terjola, Bagdati, Tkibuli, Samtredia, Senaki, Zugdidi and Kobuleti. Local self-government representatives also participated in the action. All this helps to better understand the social situation of the beneficiaries.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
Meetings with a psychologist in July were organized by the Women Support Centers of Vani, Kobuleti, Koki (Zugdidi municipality), Tsalenjikha, Samtredia. In these municipalities, group and individual meetings were held with the participation of 34 beneficiaries.
Outcomes of the meetings: two victims of domestic violence were identified and work is ongoing.
In addition to field meetings, individual psychotherapeutic sessions were held online for 9 beneficiaries living in the regions.
In Kutaisi, in the office of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, work was carried out with 16 beneficiaries and one with married couple.
The work gradually brings positive results and the beneficiaries express their gratitude for the improved health, solved problems, improved psychological climate in the family.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The lawyer of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" actively met with the beneficiaries in the Women Support Centers. In July, group and individual legal meetings were held in 6 municipalities of Western Georgia: in Vani, Kobuleti, Zugdidi (village Koki), Tsalenjikha, Samtredia and Terjola. 34 beneficiaries took part in the meetings.
The lawyer also gave three individual consultations in Kutaisi.
A free legal service is a serious support for people who receive answers to their questions and can competently solve problems with the help of a lawyer.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
