Unusual meeting was held in the building of the Tskaltubo gamgeoba (administration of the municipality). Participant of one of the projects of the Fund "Sukhumi", facilitator Mari Balanchivadze gathered 16 young people and together with them held a workshop on the transformation of the conflict

During active discussions, group work and presentations, the young people were particularly interested in the topic. Peace initiatives were developed.

Workshop is one of the activities within the project "Empowering women to develop new approaches related to conflict transformation."

The project  is implemented with the support of  Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA

In the first half of July, there were three information meetings of the Youth Clubs in Tskalutbo, Poti and Koki (Zugdidi municipality).

During the consideration of the causes of gender violence and protection mechanisms, young people spoke about violations of women's rights, about the facts of violence, gave examples.

The discussion showed that young people, who actively cooperate with non-governmental organizations, can make a great contribution to the creation of a gender-balanced society.

Maria Cherkezia – young facilitator. She passed the three-day training organized by the fund “Sukhumi” on the transformation of the conflict and received the task - to conduct a workshop independently. The workshop was held in the office of the Fund "Sukhumi". The participants spoke about the transformation of the conflict, ways of solution, about peaceful initiatives. The TV story about the workshop was prepared by journalists of the TV company "Rioni". The work was carried out in frames of the project "Empowering Women to Develop New Approaches Relating to the Transformation of the Conflict".

The project is implemented with the support of Federal Department

of Foreign Affairs FDFA

Volunteers of the Youth Clubs of the Fund "Sukhumi" actively joined the organization of summer camps. 11 activists worked and now work as facilitators in the camps, hold information meetings on various topics.

In Tskaltubo, members of the Club joined in the preparation of intellectual quizzes and sports competitions. Young people from Poti contributed to the holding of different exhibitions.

The Koki Youth Club holds information meetings in the village of Orsantia (Zugdidi Municipality) and actively disseminates information on topics relevant to youth.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt – Evangelischer Entwicklunsdienst (Germany)

The norms of ethics and aesthetics, sex education and the formation of an internal culture for the prevention of violence were addressed to the information meetings of the Youth Clubs in the Women's Support Centers of Kutaisi, Khoni, Senaki, Poti and Tshaltubo, as well as in the school of the village Koki - Zugdidi Municipality (WSC of Khurcha/Koki).

Interest to the topic was great. Participants actively joined the discussion, gave life examples, talked about traditions. Many of them noted that they like to talk on taboo topics, get the right information and then distribute them among peers.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt – Evangelischer Entwicklunsdienst (Germany)

Transformation of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict, the involvement of women in the negotiation process - these topics were held in the school of the village Koki (Zugdidi Municipality) Tata Narmania and Nino Morgosia, who themselves asked for training in the Fund "Sukhumi" on these issues.

16 young people (including IDPs from Abkhazia) received interesting information about the causes of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict. There was a historical overview, in group work and presentations. Participants recorded peacekeeping initiatives. Their positiveness and activeness gave the workshop a result.

The project  is implemented with the support of  Federal Department

of Foreign Affairs FDFA

In September there were 6 information meetings of the Youth Clubs. On September 3 in Tskaltubo, in the collective center "Medea" at the meeting there were girls who live there. On September 5, the youth gathered at the Women's Support Center of Kutaisi. The third meeting took place on September 11 at school No. 7 in Poti. On September 13, the meeting was organized at the school of the village Koki (Zugdidi municipality), and on the 14th - at the Senaki Women's Support Center.

The topic was very actual: "Gambling games, causes, results and ways for violence prevention". The topic was relevant for today and especially among young people.

There were frank, cordial conversations, different opinions and arguments. Participants noted that this is a very serious problem that often causes violence. In their opinion, the state should assume a greater share of responsibility -developing protective mechanisms, employment programs, promoting healthy lifestyles, promoting youth employment.

 The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt – Evangelischer Entwicklunsdienst (Germany)

September 21, the fund "Sukhumi" and youth groups joined the international campaign on the rights of women survivors of violence and their children to access support and protection - WAVE #StepUp

On September 21-24, the Fund "Sukhumi" organized a four-day training on "The course of the basics of conflictology." Young people from 8 municipalities of Western Georgia (Kutaisi, Khoni, Tskaltubo, Senaki, Poti, Zugdidi, Ozurgeti, Batumi) participated in the work.

The following issues were discussed at the training: forms, types and analysis of conflict, methods of conflict resolution, the role of information in conflict resolution, the role of women and gender aspects of conflict resolution, masculinity and nationalism in fueling conflicts.

After one of the training blocks, the forum-theater of the fund “Sukhumi” and the discussion was held - the participants practically saw how the conflict is developing, what is the role of information and whether conflict prevention is possible.

In October, the second training will be held for this group, and then they will start conducting workshops with their peers themselves.

 The project is implemented with the support of Canada Fund for local Initiatives (CFLI) – Canada Embassy in Turkey

Perception of tolerance among young people - information meetings of the Youth Clubs of the Fund "Sukhumi" took place in school # 1 in the village Geguti (Tskaltubo municipality), in the Kutaisi youth center, in the school of the village Mendji (Senaki municipality), at school # 21 Poti, in Khoni library and in the school of the village Koki (Zugdidi municipality).

Participants assessed the problem of tolerance in society, talked about relations to traditions, to representatives of religious minorities, to foreign students, etc.

Their considerations are as follows:

"Among the youth there is aggression, and against it you need to use the method of more information."

"Discussion of similar topics in the free space is more effective than on civil lessons in the school."

"Talking about such topics is important for the formation of a person. The free environment, the identification of their own capabilities and work on themselves - all this is the merit of the Club."

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt – Evangelischer Entwicklunsdienst (Germany)