“Sharing Best Practices of Gender-Sensitive Municipal Policies and Programs” was the title of the conference, which was attended by officials from 26 municipalities and regional administrations of Western Georgia.
The participants got acquainted with interesting presentations:
Zugdidi Municipality – practice of the “Women’s Room”;
Chokhatauri Municipality – promoting gender equality and developing gender-sensitive municipal services;
Senaki Municipality - Interdepartmental Commission as a coordinating mechanism in the issues of preventing violence and responding to it;
Kutaisi Municipality – providing psychiatric services to women victims of gender-based violence and domestic violence;
Khoni Municipality – encouraging the inclusion of women in rural support programs;
A group of women from Kutaisi passed training in various directions: working with polymer clay, cutting and sewing, manicure, and making souvenirs from colored epoxy. Then trainings were held for them, during which associate professor of Kutaisi State University Elguja Deisadze taught the participants to form business ideas, rank them and present project proposals.
The third and final stage of the small grants program was the final competition, in which beneficiaries won with their business proposals and received grants for their independent activities.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Psychological meetings were held with 7 families from Ukraine. In March, a psychologist of the Women Fund “Sukhumi” met with 22 people and learned their condition, problems and needs.
Individual work is carried out with 8 people, some of them are teenagers and problems of hyperactivity, loneliness or concentration are obvious. Psychotherapy sessions have a positive effect on people who have experienced stress due to war.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Various professional courses were held at Terjola Women Support Center. Then the beneficiaries underwent special training, where they learned to formulate business ideas and present project proposals.
The next stage was the final competition of business projects. As part of the small grants program, the winner beneficiaries were provided with the necessary equipment for business. They can already start working independently and improve their financial situation.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
A meeting of the interdepartmental commission on the prevention of violence against women and/or domestic violence, protection and assistance to victims of violence was held in Chokhatauri municipality.
During the meeting, the results of initiatives implemented with the support of the Women Fund “Sukhumi” were discussed: training on positive parenting; report on a needs research of the families with children, which was carried out in four administrative units for the given moment.
At the meeting, a dialogue about prospects for cooperation between departments and joint future activities was also held.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
At the initiative of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, together with the head of the Department for the protection of Children’s Rights of Chokhatauri City Hall, a social worker and coordinator of the Mayor representatives, there was held a meeting with community activists and beneficiaries of various programs.
Information was exchanged about the needs of women's groups and challenges in terms of social work. The meeting participants got acquainted with the services of the Fund “Sukhumi”, new municipal programs, and determined cooperation with women on the issues of preventing domestic violence and assisting the victims.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Another informational meeting was held with the members of the women's group in the conference hall of Khoni municipality. During the meeting, they showed a film about a Georgian feminist woman, Kato Mikeladze, a fighter for women's rights. The film was accompanied by a discussion in which all members of the club participated. An information meeting was also held with the members of the second women initiative group. The participants watched the film "Muslim Girls for Equality", after which a discussion was held. At the beginning of both meetings, spring and March holidays were congratulated to women. Both groups also summarized the local research work conducted in February 2024. An information meeting with young people was held in Khoni public school No 3. One of the members of the group prepared a presentation about March 8 and spoke about women's solidarity. Young people saw two films - "Don't speak" and "Always 5-1". A discussion was also held.
The members of the women initiative group of the village Didinedze - Zugdidi municipality discussed the issues of peace and solidarity, as well as women's rights. They talked about successful women, recalled their stories and role in the process of making important changes. They noted that solidarity towards women and people in general is power, support and empathy that promotes success. The members of the youth group spoke about the same topics and focused on women's rights and equality. According to the youth, solidarity is the most important thing in the process of peace building, and women's support in this direction is even more necessary.
“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
