Document

The beginning of a new life

She passed through all stages that accompany domestic violence. She went through all the feelings that at first evoke a sense of protest, then guilt and finally become a part of everyday life.

She does not tell the details. She says that even telling her story also aggravates and makes the pain worse. She just emphasizes that there was a great deal of hopelessness and despair in her life at that time, knowing that with two children it would be even more difficult, she would be an extra burden for everyone. This burden was particularly heavy. She could not rely on anyone ...

This is Salome (name is conditional) from Kobuleti. Her story is very familiar. As if we have read it somewhere, or heard it from someone. This story is a message, another message from people who ask for support from people at the right time and often can not get it...

Salome was able to make a change – she finally folded the painful pages of her life and started a new life:

Salome was able to make a change - the pages of life's hardest story were finally folded and a new life began:

"When I left the darkest days behind and decided to start a new life, it was very difficult for me. I could not strongly stand on my feet... A young woman, Natia Kikvadze, soon appeared in my life, as I later learned – she represented the Fund "Sukhumi." When we talked, I had a feeling of trust. I noticed a helping hand from her. I followed this hand. I knew it would help me. "The most important and most difficult thing in a critical situation is to trust the person, to feel that he is yours and that he is your supporter."

Salome was not mistaken, she followed this hand and marked the pages of hope in her life story.

Natia Kikvadze is the mobilizer of the Fund "Sukhumi" Women Support Center in Kobuleti. She is well acquainted with the specifics of the region, she knows the mental barriers that particularly limit women. When she met Salome, she immediately felt that there was not a strong woman in front of her. The reaction started immediately. To remove the internal psychological barriers, Salome with her children passed psychological sessions, removed the fear, panic. The next step was to take care of the shelter - after leaving the family, Salome lived with her mother.

The mobilizer of the Fund "Sukhumi" involved the Gender Equality Council of the municipality in the process. The council started lobbying. Meetings with the social service of the City Hall, with the City Officials started. A commission was set up to analyze the case.

The result is as follows: it was the first case when the City Hall provided assistance to a woman victim of violence through local programs. Salome can rent an apartment with her children and the rent will be financed by the City Hall.

Salome found a new way of life, different, hopeful. She says that the main thing is to get stronger. Women can not do it alone, someone should help. The Fund "Sukhumi" turned out to be such a supporter for her...

Photo: Natia Kikvadze at one of the meetings

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)