On January 21, 22, 23 and 24, workshops on conflicts were held in 4 schools of Lanchkhuti, Terjola, Tskaltubo and Khoni municipalities.

Students of the 10th and 11th grades played the roles and scenes of correct and incorrect communication, problems solved through negotiations. They analyzed the conflicts and worked on initiatives for the future.

According to the young people, similar meetings contribute to their awareness raising and gaining the skills for local conflict resolution.

Regular meetings with the boys were held in following municipalities: Zugdidi (December 6), Terjola (December 7), Kutaisi (December 10), Senaki (December 12), Poti (December 13), Tskaltubo (December 14), Khoni (December 17), Ozurgeti (December 18) and Lanchkhuti (December 20). The issues of gender equality and gender roles were discussed this time. There were open discussion and group exercises. According to one exercise, the children had to describe the roles of women and men in their families. They noted that women are more busy. The exercise showed them the problems, the reasons of inequality, and also understood their role.

Participants of the workshop in Senaki, Poti and Tskaltubo listened to information about the importance of communication during conflict management.

During the exercises, the importance of non-verbal communication was revealed. The teenagers used role games to describe family conflicts due to incorrect communication.

- Listening does not mean that you understand everything. Often very close people, for example, children and parents, teachers and students, do not understand each other. The advices received here will help us in the future – mentioned the participants.

Informational meetings of the youth clubs were held in Teklati (Senaki municipality), Poti and Tskaltubo. The topic of the meetings is a tolerant society and connction with violence.

Young people talked about traditions, intolerant society, about parents, who are often against the new things and do not ask them if they want to follow some ugly traditions.

In role-playing games, young people independently chose relevant topics. Then there were presentations, discussions, analysis. Young people were actively involved in all activities. This is the main result of these meetings.

What is effective communication, and how to use it during conflict management - this topic was particularly interesting for young people, and this interest was actively expressed during discussions in Zugdidi, Terjola and Kutaisi.

Simulated performances, presented by the participants, it was clear that conflicts in the family, school, street or at work were often caused by improper communication.

“If we learn effective communication, we will be able to manage conflicts much more easily,” – noted the participants of the workshops. 

Youth clubs of the Fund “Sukhumi”, traditionally joined the international campaign of “16 active days against gender-based violence”. Informational meetings were held in the village Didi Nedzi (Zugdidi Municipality), Terjola and Kutaisi. An interesting and relevant topic - “Tolerant Society and Connection with Violence” caused an active discussion among the participants. They talked about many things: about the intolerance of society, the problems of minorities, relations between generations. The young people independently chose topics, presented them in an original way, analyzed and made conclusions.

- Protest to violence against women, we want to live in a non-violent environment, this was the attitude of the Fund “Sukhumi” young activists, who joined the campaign “16 active days against gender-based violence”.

Informational meetings, workshops, actions, film screenings and discussions-in such format the meetings were held in 9 municipalities of Western Georgia on the initiative of young leaders. The activities included public schools: No. 31 - Kutaisi, No. 3 - Senaki, No. 2 - Khoni, village Nigvziani (Lanchkhuti municipality), Dvabzu (Ozurgeti municipality), Didi Nedzi (Zugdidi municipality), Gumbrini (Tskaltubo municipality), Metlakhi (Terjola municipality).

Young people are ready to continue discussions on the topic of violence in different formats in future.

Regular meetings were held with the boys in the municipalities of Terjola, Zugdidi, Poti. Majority of the meetings were devoted to gender issues. The boys paid attention to their role in achieving equality. During the analysis of problematic issues, they recognized that it was necessary to change the attitude of men towards women's rights. The exercises were interesting for boys, and contributed to increasing their motivation.

Workshops on the topic: negotiations, facilitation - as a tool for conflict solution were held with youth groups in Khoni, Tskaltubo and Senaki.

The information received at the workshops turned out to be important for young people. During the discussion, they stated that they effectively use facilitation skills in practice. Informing on these issues will reduce the number of conflicts, because as a result of negotiations conflict can be resolved at an early stage.

- Negotiation is a daily process, without which it is impossible to conduct a relationship.

- When it comes to conflict management, negotiation is an important element.

- Facilitation, negotiation is the best way to resolve conflicts.

This is the evaluation of the workshop participants.

According to young people, information meetings, discussions, practical exercises should introduce non-violent culture into the consciousness of society.

Discussions will be continued in future, as participants have an initiative to discuss these topics in different classes.

Meetings were held in Ozurgeti, Lanchkhuti, Kutaisi.