An information exchange meeting was held Kobuleti City Hall. The meeting was initiated by the Municipal Gender Equality Council and the Women Fund "Sukhumi", in cooperation with the Educational Resource Center and the Department for Children's Rights of the City Hall. The topic of the meeting was “Local cooperation for creation of a child/family-oriented psycho-social environment”.
During the meeting, representatives of the education sector were acquainted with the main activities of Kobuleti department for the protection of children's rights and their support. There was a dialogue regarding the services focused on children/families, challenges and prospects for cooperation with the educational sector in the field of protecting children's rights. Specific cases requiring urgent management were discussed. An agreement was reached to exchange such information systematically.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
A round table with the participation of members of the Interdepartmental Council of the municipality was held in Senaki. The local referral entities: members of the Gender Equality Council of the City Council, representatives of local government, healthcare, educational resource center and police participated at the meeting.
There was a conversation about the situation in terms of violence and assistance to victims. Important time was devoted to the lawyer, who familiarized the participants with the referencing document, as well as the duties and functions of concrete authorized persons.
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)
June in youth groups started actively. All planned events are being held. Trainings were held in Tsalenjikha, Bagdati, Zugdidi and Samtredia municipalities. The fifth municipality is Khobi, where the Youth Empowerment Center has been established and will also become active, as in the other 9 municipalities.
All trainings differed from each other. The training in Khobi was special, the trainers met young people for the first time.
102 participants were involved in the work. Most of them have leadership skills, show initiative and already hold interesting events.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
An information meeting organized by the advocacy group of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and the Children's Department of the municipality was held in the kindergarten No. 2 in Samtredia.
The participants - the administration and teachers of the kindergarten - got acquainted with the work of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and the services that the organization provides to women. They also received information about the program of the City Hall Department for the protection of children's rights.
During the meeting, a number of acute problems were identified that require immediate response. The participants also planned cooperation with the children's department.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
After June 1, events dedicated to the International Children's Day continue for a few more days. Together with the forum theater, this date was celebrated in Tsalenjikha and Bagdati municipalities.
The performance of the puppet theater was held in Tsalenjikha Theatre. A lot of spectators gathered in the hall – there were children and their parents. They really liked the characters of the performance.
On the initiative of the Gender Council, puppet theater and forum theater performances were organized in two villages of Bagdati municipality - Sakraula and Zegani. After the performances, members of the Council gifted the children with sweets.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The memorandum of mutual cooperation was signed by the chairman of Khobi City Council Levan Kavtaradze and the chairman of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" Alla Gamakharia.
The memorandum, in partnership with the non-governmental sector and local authorities, is another guarantor of democratic principles and gender justice in civil society. The parties agreed to strengthen the Gender Equality Council, improve the psycho-social and economic situation of women, jointly implement effective initiatives, youth projects, etc.
Fund “Sukhumi” has been cooperating with the municipalities of Western Georgia for many years, and we have managed to implement many successful projects. We hope to create many “success stories” in Khobi municipality also, with the correct cooperation strategy”, said Alla Gamakharia.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Mobilizers of the Women Support Center actively work with the activists of women communities to identify priority issues. Infrastructural problems are mostly identified. Women's centers in Senaki and Terjola have chosen the issues of cleaning sewer wells and regulation of street lighting for the advocacy.
In May, monitoring was also carried out at the Women Support Centers of Kobuleti and Bagdati. As a result of the monitoring, it was revealed which direction needs to be improved, what are the most acute necessities. The next meetings will be planned envisaging these needs.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The training course continues. The next five meetings were held in Chokhatauri, Tkibuli, Kobuleti, Vani and Bagdati municipalities. The meetings were active, interestin, with group work and effective feedback.
Guests from local governments, teachers, parents attend our trainings. According to them, such non-formal education is necessary in schools. They place particular emphasis on conflict management and other important issues that they work on during the training course.
10 meetings have already been held at Youth Empowerment Centers of 10 municipalities. Leaders have been identified in all groups and they will carry out the initiated activities in their schools.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The advocacy group of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and Vani Gender Equality Council organized meetings in the schools of the villages Isriti and Salkhino. The meetings were attended by upper-graders, teachers and administration.
The meetings were very informative for the participants. They got acquainted with the work of the Fund "Sukhumi" and the services that the organization provides to women.
They also received information about the program of the City Hall Department for Children's Rights, which was presented by the coordinator and the inspector of the department. The Secretary of Gender Equality Council informed the audience about their work and plans. Participants identified a number of critical issues requiring immediate response. Further cooperation was planned during the meetings.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
We have good news - Ukrainian Maria Dobrovolskaya gave birth to a healthy boy in Kutaisi. They are already home, mother and baby feel well.
Another innovation: we were addressed by a volunteer of the program “Sonyashnik”, according to which 5 Ukrainian teenagers from 15 to 18 years old will be able to have an interesting time in a summer camp. The Women Fund "Sukhumi" helped them gather a group for free rest in the camp.
Currently we have 523 people in our database. 43 people were added in May.
This month, our support was shown in many ways:
- Food was provided to 30 families (63 people)
- 6 families received assistance in paying for housing
- We supported 6 families in paying utilities
- One Ukrainian woman was paid part of the cost of the operation, everything went well and she is getting better.
- Free psychological assistance for refugees from Ukraine continues