March 8 is the birthday of the Women Fund “Sukhumi” and a celebration of our positive, necessary and courageous activities. Our organization is 27 years old, and over the years it has changed the lives of many women.
The Women Fund Sukhumi celebrated its birthday at Boutique Hotel Argo.
The audience watched the film “Ana’s Trial” by Tamar Mshvenieradze and Mariam Jachvadze. Then there was a discussion and dialogue with the creative team.
Then everything went as ordinary birthday:
There were memories - success stories of the Fund “Sukhumi”, a personnel gallery of the 27-year-old team.
There were congratulations...
And finally, the chairperson of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, Alla Gamakharia, cut a birthday cake with the inscription: 27 years - together.
An organization with many years of history and experience continues to actively work in its chosen areas.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The founder of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, Alla Gamakharia, started the reporting meeting with memories of those years and the past that led us to successful work for 26 years.
Today, the Women Fund “Sukhumi” is one of the most authoritative organizations in the non-governmental sector, operating in 10 municipalities and having a representative office in Tbilisi.
At the final meeting, the speakers: Ekaterine Gamakharia, Lela Jalagonia, Nino Chabukiani, Khatuna Gogua, Tea Torinava, Emma Kamkia, Tea Goletiani, Mery Gelashvili, Guranda Gvantseladze, Lali Gakharia and Tamar Kukhalashvili presented a report on work in different directions during the year.
These speeches once again convinced us how fruitful and effective is our active work with women, youth and various departments...
Within the framework of the 16-day global campaign youth activities started and will continue until the end of December.
For the given moment, in 10 municipalities, about 1,000 young people took part in thematic discussions, trainings, exhibitions, street actions and performances related to the elimination and prevention of violence.
“The main thing that was emphasized this year is the special partnership of local authorities, educational resource centers, youth departments, school directorates, teachers and parents in our campaign. Our constructive and effective steps have led to the main thing - trust: everything we do is for the proper education of young people,” noted the assistant of working with the youth Nino Chabukiani.
Trainers who conduct training at Youth Empowerment Centers in 10 municipalities talk about the significant contribution of youth to the campaign:
The Women Fund “Sukhumi” opened the international information campaign “16 active days against gender-based violence” a day earlier.
November 24. 19.00.
Kutaisi. Stadium named after Ramaz Shengelia – “Shengelia Arena”.
Match between “Torpedo” Kutaisi and “Dinamo” Tbilisi.
And... the most unusual and special:
The entire “Torpedo” team came out wearing white T-shirts with the slogan of our campaign: “Break the silence! Stop the violence”!
The footballers carried this slogan in the form of a large banner.
“Torpedo” Kutaisi has been the face of the 16-day campaign before - in 2003 and 2013.
In 2003, the action also took place at the stadium before the match with “Dinamo” Tbilisi. Then the players carried a long white ribbon into the stadium with the slogan: “Violence is evil! Let's unite against violence against women”!
This was quite a serious demonstration and an unusual action for that time!
As a result of the efforts of our and other organizations, society has realized that violence goes beyond the problem of one family and has more harmful consequences than we think. Three years later, in 2006, the Georgian parliament adopted a law against domestic violence...
“I am always happy to attend the courses. I work with epoxy and knit. It was the first time I touched clay, and I succeeded in it too,” says Rusudan Gvetadze.
Irma Kldiashvili saw the art of teacher Maka Jishkariani on Facebook and got interested. She applied for the course and, according to her, the lessons met her expectations.
Tamuna Nanava is a girl who “sculpted” a woman from the snow during a “competition” and a boom of yard snowmen on Facebook. Her mother is an artist. She is also talented.
- I appreciate all areas of art. I knit toys, I know how to repair things, I want to try to work in direction of wood carving. I studied to work with polymer clay, I like the whole process, especially making flowers and making dolls.
course participants told to us all this recently...
Mari left the Rehabilitation Center of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" full of happiness. She will never forget the lessons of a psychologist, the entertainment of children together with a teacher, the advice of a social worker and a lawyer. And, of course, relationships with other women ... I take with me lot of love and warmth”, she said before leaving.
Lika is also satisfied with the employees of the Fund "Sukhumi". Everyone who gets here becomes stronger, more cheerful, full of hope. They make new friends, supporters...
Ia Iashvili, the assistant of the Rehabilitation Center, the main mistress of this cozy house, spends whole days with women. Her observation are of particular interest:
“Children suffer from disharmonious family relationships the most. Some do not have a father at all, others have them, but it is difficult to communicate, they speak different languages, they do not understand each other. Sometimes I notice that the child is not eating. Not because he is not hungry, but because he does not want anything, he has no desires, no joy, he does not dream.
“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.
We leave taking warm memories with us, - both adults and children said... All residents of the Rehabilitation Center of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" in January - two women and 6 children - left with hope.
Complex work was carried out with them: the social worker did her job, the psychologist did hers. The work with children was separate.
Psychologist Manana Gotsiridze: “They have lived a difficult life, and it is our duty to help them find a better path. These days we have been working on how to build harmonious relationships, how to adapt in society, overcome emotional and everyday problems.”
Anna Lomidze, assistant for working with children: “Children are careful on the first day. From the second day, their consciousness is freed from unnecessary everyday thoughts. Through exercises and tasks, they become aware of their rights and obligations, begin to talk about the family, about problems. One of them said: "When I leave this place, I will stand in front of the mirror in front of my grandfather and father and tell them that they are behaving badly, and I will not let my mother and grandmother cry." Children, together with women, also become stronger in the Rehabilitation Center. They take care of mothers, we jointly prepare symbolic gifts for mothers.”
"I did not expect that my family would receive so many products from the Fund. It was very touching. This is the first time I have received such big assistance here in Georgia. And most importantly, it is not formal, dry, or for showing off. I felt warmth from everyone I talked to. It gave me hope that, despite all odds, everything would turn out well.
"Many thanks to your fund for helping my family. May God protect all of you and bless you with a hundredfold return for your kindness."
"From the bottom of my heart, I thank everyone who takes part in it. May God bless you with good health and well-being."
These are reviews of Ukrainian women who have received support from our organization.
It all started in February.
On the first day of the war, February 24, we made an appeal of solidarity to the women of Ukraine.
We collected 10000 GEL and sent parcels on February 28.
