Women Fund "Sukhumi" organized a training with young people on the topic: "Mediation as a Ritual of Reconciliation" in school of the village Didinedzi of Zugdidi Municipality. The importance of mediation, conflict management and development of necessary skills - this was the aim of the training. In the first part, the participants talked about the historical role of mediation, drawing a parallel with today. The second part, the thematic block was devoted to the essence of mediation and a detailed discussion of the skills that a mediator should possess. In the third, practical part, the participants improved the theoretical material with role-playing games. Young people rated the training as timely and effective. The members of Didinedzi women initiative group spoke about the issues that have been resolved and those that need to be resolved in the community. The problem of drainage canals was revealed, as crops and plants are damaged during heavy rains. The women initiative group discussed the elaboration of an advocacy plan.
Women Fund Sukhumi's Tbilisi office representative, Ekaterine Gamakharia, was selected to participate in the Regional Training of Trainers on the Women, Peace, and Security and Humanitarian Action (WPS-HA) Compact in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 5-6. This event, organized by the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) and the OSCE WIN Project, brought together women peacebuilders and mediators from Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the South Caucasus.
On June 5, Ekaterine took part in a subregional meeting for South Caucasus women peacebuilders, where she engaged with OSCE and GNWP representatives to discuss the current situation in Georgia. She focused on the challenges posed by the "Foreign Agent Law" and its impact on women's participation, particularly for women peacebuilders. On June 6, during the hybrid event "Advancing Women’s Leadership in Women, Peace, and Security and Humanitarian Action: Assessing Progress and Charting the Way Forward," Ekaterine addressed regional progress and future strategies to ensure effective women's participation and leadership. The forum was attended by officials from the OSCE, UN Women, and the European Union.
The members of the youth group of the village Koki - Zugdidi municipality completed their work on the mini-project: "Hello, Abkhazia!", within the framework of this project various activities were carried out - a discussion on the topic of peace, meeting with peers, showing and analyzing a film. The aim of the project was to popularize the topic of peace. The members of the women initiative group worked on the topic of advocacy. The participants discussed the named problems. An advocacy plan was developed, according to which the group members will try to implement the process effectively.
Women Fund “Sukhumi” hosted a meeting, which was attended by members of the initiative group involved in the project. These are women and girls from different IDP communities (former clinical hospital, former technical college and residential houses located on Shervashidze street No. 58).
The meeting participants are ready to share the knowledge and experience, gained at the trainings and meetings, with people living in their communities and start to solve existing problems.
The project is implemented with the support of USAID local governance program
A working meeting was held at the office of the Women Fund "Sukhumi", which was attended by the members of the initiative group - IDPs from various collective centers of Kutaisi.
Group members try to use the skills acquired during the training and are motivated to solve their problems. According to them, the project empowered each participant and convinced them of their own abilities. All this is a necessary condition for the successful implementation of the advocacy process.
The project is implemented with the support of USAID local governance program
IDP Women and girls, members of the initiative group, attended a working meeting at Kutaisi IDP community center. They are informed about advocacy issues and will try to use their competence in practice to solve the problems of settlement.
The women noted: “The experience gained will help us to conduct successful advocacy with the relevant departments.”
“When I see a problem, I immediately begin to respond, prepare a letter, collect signatures and photographs, because I know that evidence will lead to success.”
“We have a letter with evidence, we will begin the advocacy process in a structured manner. Your support gives us more motivation. We hope you will help us when we face difficulties!”
The project is implemented with the support of USAID local governance program
Members of the youth group of the village Koki - Zugdidi municipality work on a new project - "We will find a way to each other's hearts!"
The goal of the project is to support peace through art and youth activities, to raise civic awareness among young people and to actively involve them in the establishment of Georgian-Abkhazian relations. The members of the group spoke to the schoolchildren about the project activities, announced an essay and drawing competition.
Another meeting was held with the members of the women initiative group of the village Pakhulani - Tsalenjikha municipality. The participants talked about the problems identified as a result of the conducted research. According to them, unemployment, low wages, and unstable environment remain the challenges.
The members of the group noted that increasing awareness about state programs, revealing the needs of citizens, availability of consulting services is an important factor in the process of problem solution.
They discussed the high rate of migration and the accompanying social results. They talked about the deteriorating psycho-emotional background of adolescents. At the end of the meeting, a list of issues was made, which will be advocated in the near future.
Tskaltubo youth group actively works in the area of peace. Mini-projects implemented by young people are quite diverse. Information meetings, quizzes, exhibition of paintings, conferences, meetings are part of project activities. The whole group is involved in the implementation of the project, the projects will be implemented until June 15, and their goal is to introduce a culture of peace in the society.
The women's group of Tskaltubo works on the recommendations identified as a result of the research. Members discussed several issues. They will work on the advocacy plan from the next month.
