“We gained very important information about the advocacy process.”
“We did it like this, but through training we learned how necessary it is to take correct steps”.
“We have been working on drafting an advocacy plan together. The knowledge gained will help us conduct advocacy correctly.”
This is what the participants – leader women and girls, representatives of different IDP communities of Kutaisi – said at the end of the training. The training was held at the office of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" on the topic: "Advocacy for community problems, advocacy strategy and drawing up an action plan".
The participants worked on the reasons and consequences using the “problem tree” method, and also did a SWOT analysis - strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and risks.
After the theoretical part, the participants worked in groups on an action plan for advocacy regarding a specific issue.
The project is implemented with the support of USAID local governance program
Advocacy for community problems, advocacy strategy and drawing up an action plan - training on these issues for women leaders from different IDP communities was held at the office of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”.
The participants identified the factors that determine the relevance of the problem and the path of the problem from identification to solution, which ensures the success of advocacy.
After defining the essence of advocacy, the participants discussed the results and reasons of the problem using the “tree method”. And with the help of the SWOT form, they were able to analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and resources, and identify expected risks.
In the second part of the training, participants were divided into three groups and worked in groups on an action plan for advocacy on a specific issue.
The feedback shows that they are ready to use the acquired knowledge into practice:
“We learned about the advocacy process. All the information is necessary for us".
“We worked on drawing up an advocacy plan, prescribed all the activities, envisaged the risks. We will use all the materials in practice”.
The project is implemented with the support of USAID local governance program
Friendly environment for children is a new project in frames of which the courses for a mixed group of children are held (there are children from Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, as well as children living in Kutaisi).
They come to the office of the Women Fund “Sukhumi” almost every day and attend two or three courses. They study Georgian and English with interest. In addition, they attend the courses of polymer clay, acting art, sewing, photography and videography. There is also a psychological support group.
Children spend their free time from school with interest together with their teachers. They managed to make friends with each other and the first results of their training have already appeared.
The project is implemented with the support of the Czech organization PIN
The training on: "Media literacy and misinformation" was held with the youth group of Tskaltubo. The gained knowledge will help the participants to find the primary source of information and prevent the spread of misinformation. In the second youth group, the participants discussed the topic of solidarity. According to the participants, women need solidarity and support most of all when protecting their own rights. "Women, peace, solidarity" - members of the women initiative group held a debate on this topic. They talked about equality, violence and importance of solidarity. March events in all groups were devoted to women and women's rights.
Women and girls, active leaders of IDP communities in Zugdidi and Senaki municipalities, took part in an online meeting, the topic of which was “Creating a network, defining the principles of the network and prospects for the future.”
Project assistants spoke about the activities and challenges, as well as the need to support women and strengthen partnerships.
The women - participants of the meeting shared the audience the information they received during the training. According to them, participation in the project is a new opportunity for them to advocate for problems identified in their communities.
The work is carried out in partnership with the Center “Abkhazeti” within the framework of the project “Support of the conflict transformation in the South Caucasus and Moldova.
The members of Senaki women initiative group discussed the topic of women, peace and solidarity. Stories of successful women who made significant changes were recalled. Solidarity is important in each issues, it is strength, support, sympathy that determines success – noted the participants of the meeting. The members of the youth group spoke on the same topic and emphasized women's rights and equality. According to young people, solidarity is the most needed for peace building and women should have more support in this work.
A training on the topic: disinformation, the spread of incorrect information and false narratives, as an important challenge of the modern world was held for the youth initiative group of the village Koki - Zugdidi municipality. The young people were informed about the essence and importance of media literacy by an experienced trainer. The participants discussed issues of misinformation and mastered the practical skills of distinguishing fake information from reality. The members of Koki women initiative group focused on the issues of peace and solidarity, discussed the role of women and remembered the stories of successful women, talked about their contribution and the things they did. Solidarity is a serious force, support and sympathy, which determines success and is important in any issue and circumstance - was noted at the meeting.
“Today I understood what rights we have and who we should contact if necessary. Proper communication and action are very important.”
“The training showed me the importance of women leadership. I also envisaged my own resources in the process of advocating for issues.”
“Sometimes we don’t even know about municipal programs, sometimes our needs are greater than it is included in the local government budget. Such trainings create our correct civic position.”
These were the feedbacks from the participants at the end of the training. Women and IDP girls living in Kutaisi, attended a training on a actual topic: “Women’s leadership, forms of communication, mechanisms of civic engagement.”
The participation of IDP women in the local policy-making process will significantly increase as a result of the activities planned in frames of the project.
The project is implemented with the support of USAID local governance program
The meeting of the working group was attended by IDP women and girls living in different communities of Kutaisi.
During the meeting, problems of the target communities were identified and prioritized: the number of stray dogs; rehabilitation of the square and sports ground; problem with cleaning; rehabilitation of the internal road, lack of street lighting, failure of the drainage system.
The collaborative efforts of the working group lay the foundation for focused actions and decisions. The involvement and enthusiasm of the participants reflects the collective responsibility to overcome challenges and improve the quality of life in the IDP settlements of Kutaisi.
The project is implemented with the support of USAID local governance program
