Ukrainian psychologists Marna Stepanenko and Anna Shalimova conducted a training for Ukrainian women on the topic "How to identify violence" in the office of the Women Fund "Sukhumi"
The following topics were discussed at the training: the manifestation of violent relationships and skills to combat violence. The trainers spoke about the support of the state and the Fund "Sukhumi" during emergencies.
According to the participants, it was special to conduct the training in their native language. Topics have been chosen correctly and this is a good opportunity to empower women.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
- Women who have changed themselves and the world around them. Stories that evoke positive emotions in listeners and increase the level of civic engagement - this is how the mobilizers of the Women Support Centers assessed the meetings held in March.
The participants of the meeting believe that the activities of the Fund "Sukhumi" and the work of the non-governmental sector in general are of particular importance in direction of strengthening the women. They emphasized the necessity of services to support victims of violence.
Five cases were identified in the Women Support Centers of Terjola, Vani, Tkibuli, Chokhatauri and Bagdati. Specialists of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" were involved in the process of the management of these cases.
At the meeting, the participants were also informed about the practical guide/toolkit: "Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in war and post-war settings - experiences and recommendations of women's NGOs", which was developed by the WAVE Network in collaboration with its four WAVE members in 2022 by the support of the OSCE. The Toolkit describes best practices and the strategies employed by the women's NGOs to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in different phases of conflict.
- Strategies during Wartime and emergency response settings were shared by Ukrainian and Armenian partners Sexual Assault Crisis Center (Yerevan, Armenia), Centre “Women’s Perspectives” (Lviv, Ukraine);
- Strategies during Protracted conflict were described by the Women's Foundation "Sukhumi" (Kutaisi, Tbilisi, Georgia);
- Strategies during Post-war and long-term perspective were based on the experience of the Bosnia-Herzegovina partner. Foundation United Women Banja Luka (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina)
(A practical guide is available here https://www.osce.org/secretariat/530695)
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The time has come for the final meetings at Youth Empowerment Centers. The meetings in three municipalities of Samegrelo region: Zugdidi, Senaki and Tsalenjikha were attended by 122 people: youth, representatives of youth departmanents, education resource centers and gender equality councils, teachers and parents.
Through presentations, young people presented what they had learned during the five-month course. There were interesting discussions, exchange of impressions. Parents and teachers noted that the students participating in the project have changed for the better, they know a lot and have become quite active.
All three meetings were successful. Young trainers were awarded with certificates and other participants received certificates for active involvement.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
One of the main tasks of the Women Support Centers is to contribute to the prevention of violence against women. That is why the work in terms of informing the public continues actively. Using the positive examples, the meeting participants emphasized the importance of women's power and solidarity. They heard the stories of successful women who changed the world around them. They talked about women's needs and voiced their own desires: they consider peace and love to be the most important issues.
6 beneficiaries addressed the Women Support Centers of Senaki, Tsalenjikha, Kobuleti, Samtredia and Zugdidi. The management of identified cases has already begun using the resources of the Women's Fund "Sukhumi".
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Our organization has been cooperating with Khobi municipality for many years. Work will be renewed again. That was the reason of conducting this meeting.
Tea Goletiani and Khatuna Gogua, representatives of the Fund "Sukhumi", met with the Chairperson of Khobi City Council Levan Kavtaradze, Deputy Mayor David Beraya, City Council and City Hall specialists on the issues of gender equality.
The aim of the information meeting was cooperation between the municipality and the Women Fund in terms of strengthening women's rights and promoting gender equality.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The Women Fund "Sukhumi" organized the action of women's solidarity in Kutaisi in front of Lado Meskhishvili State Academic Theater - thus the organization joined the march of the women's movement in Georgia "Women against total control!".
The action was attended by women activists of the organization, beneficiaries from four regions of Western Georgia, local civil society organizations and ordinary citizens.
The participants of the action demonstrated a common position regarding the Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia, which is declared in the Constitution of Georgia.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The campaign "Kutaisi for Dnipro" has finished.
30 000 GEL was collected in a month! The amount was fully transferred to the account of the social service of Dnipro City Hall.
The final event was held in the courtyard of Kutaisi University. An exhibition and sale of paintings was held. The Women Fund “Sukhumi” organized the participation of Ukrainian women who brought their culinary and confectionery products for sale. It was also a kind of advertisement for their work.
Our organization transferred 300 GEL to Dnipro Fund. Concrete members of the organization also transferred money.
Peace and victory for Dnipro and Ukraine is the desire of our organization and all participants of the campaign.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
In February, group psychological meetings were organized by the Women Support Centers of Kobuleti, Tkibuli, Chokhatauri, Koki (Zugdidi municipality), Senaki, Vani, Terjola, with the inclusion of 53 beneficiaries. Upon request, individual meetings, including online, were also held via messenger and Skype. In Kutaisi, psycho-therapeutic work was carried out in the office of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" with 12 beneficiaries.
With the help of acquired skills, 3 beneficiaries refocused their experiences on a positive position, they were able to cope with personal problems and traumas.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
“I want to tell you about one perfect woman. She showed me the other side of life - who I am and who I want to be! Mrs. Manana, you have become my closest friend. I really miss talking with you, thank you for every day spent with you!" - Eka D.
The addressee of this letter is our psychologist Manana Gotsiridze, who works a lot with women during personal meetings, via the internet, at the Women Support Centers of 10 municipalities, at the head office of the Fund "Sukhumi", at the Rehabilitation Center. And gratitude is often heard in her address.
The changed life of women is a great motivation for the work of a psychologist.
“During a group meeting at the Women Support Center of one of the municipalities, I met a woman who had completed a two-week course at our Rehabilitation Center,” says Manana Gotsiridze. - Now she is much better, both financially and emotionally. When she came to our center, she was sad and ashamed to talk about her problems. She was especially worried about the aggression from the side of one of her children. And at this meeting she looked happy and was glad to talk about her successes.
- An Ukrainian child was taken from Poti to Kutaisi hospital. While the child was in intensive care, the mother lived in our Rehabilitation Center. In those days, we took care of both the mother and the child. We bought everything that the baby needed: diapers, baby food, medicines. Now he already left the clinic and feels better,” says Sophie Tsirghava, an assistant for working with Ukrainians.
The Women Fund “Sukhumi” provided such assistance to several other people: two cancer patients were compensated 375 and 370 GEL from the amount of medical examinations. We helped one woman to get referral funding for chemotherapy.
Assistance continues in matters of renting an apartment (provided to 19 families) and paying utility bills (5 families received this assistance). Particular attention is paid to the distribution of products. This month, 20 families received food and hygiene products.
In February, 15 people were added to our information base and now there are 467 people.