The cycle “5 ART” was finished - 5 meetings were held with refugees from different cities of Ukraine. The purpose of therapeutic meetings is to develop their ability to connect emotions and situations in which they are forced to find themselves. Meetings help children to eliminate emotional stress and associated symptoms, interact correctly with themselves and with others, and transform negative impulses and reactions into positive ones.

The results are already visible: stress relief, weakening of excessive conscious control, mutual trust, physical freedom. 10 children from 7 to 12 years old made friends and spent 5 interesting days at Women Fund the “Sukhumi”.

The work was carried out with the support of Mtskheta-Mtianeti Regional Hub.

In January, 9 new people were added to the number of Ukrainians and now there are already 387 of them. As in previous months, they were assisted in different ways. The most important thing is the distribution of food vouchers. In January, the organization purchased 52 vouchers for 100 GEL and distributed them to 39 families. In addition, we paid utility bills for 4 families, and 6 families received finances to pay apartment rent.

Depending on the needs, there are other types of support: payment for telephone calls, reimbursement of the cost of consultations, blood transfusions or medicines for cancer patients.

All this may be small compared to the problems they have, but they all thank us for this stable support, which has been continuing for almost two years now.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

In January, the psychologist of the Women's Fund “Sukhumi” actively worked with families who came from Ukraine. She met with 16 refugees - psycho-rehabilitation work was carried out: collection of anamnesis, liberation from negative emotions. Along with adults, the psychologist actively worked with three teenagers. They suffer from hyperactivity, loneliness and problems of adapting to a new environment. The results of psychotherapy sessions are gradually becoming obvious, and the spiritual state of Ukrainians is improving.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

An information exchange meeting was held at school of the village Teklati (Senaki municipality) - with the participation of the school administration, teachers and parents.

Representatives of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, together with employees of educational institutions, the department for the protection and support of children's rights, and members of the Gender Equality Council, discussed a number of topical issues related to violence against women/domestic violence family, the prevention of violence, and the psychosocial condition of families of adolescents.

There was also a presentation of a Women Fund "Sukhumi" research - "Assessing the effectiveness of implementation of preventive measures on issues of domestic violence against women by municipalities." An important place in the recommendations of the research is occupied by the coordination of authoritative local structures and the exchange of information, cooperation with schools.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

The monitoring group continued a series of information meetings with vulnerable groups. Another meeting was held in Vani municipality. Participants were informed about the mechanisms existing in the country to assist and empower victims of violence. Particular attention was paid to local government programs.

The program of the department of protection and support of children's rights was of particular importance for them. According to them, it is a great support for families who cannot create an appropriate environment for the development of their children.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

Psychologist of the Women Fund “Sukhumi” Ekaterine Kvachakidze met with women under the risk and socially vulnerable women, school teachers and students in the Women Support Centers of Tskaltubo, Vani, Zugdidi and Tsalenjikha, Meetings were held in group and individual formats. The main topic of the meeting, “Conflict Resolution,” turned out to be very interesting. The meeting was held in question and answer mode, the participants discussed cases related to the conflict. Conflict is a natural phenomenon and occurs in almost any relationship. Since conflict is inevitable, we must learn to manage it. A conflict can be resolved only with the agreement of all parties involved in it. The psychologist shared advices on conflict resolution with the meeting participants.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

January was a short working month. A second obstacle has also emerged – the seasonal flu virus. Despite this, all planned meetings were held with representatives of the Youth Empowerment Centers. Ordinary work was continued - 5 trainings were held in the filed, 5 in an online format.

These were interesting, active and memorable trainings for the participants: discussions of current topics, frank conversations about their own problems. At the same time, leaders started to prepare for the final meetings. This will be a particularly interesting stage in their lives.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

Despite the short working month, Manana Gotsiridze, a psychologist of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, had an active January. She held a group meeting with women from the village Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality). In addition, 12 individual online consultations were conducted in the regions and 13 individual psychotherapeutic sessions in Kutaisi. The psychologist answered 8 phone calls and helped the beneficiaries to combate emotional stress.

A psychologist worked every day in our rehabilitation center, where women victims and their children stayed for two weeks. There was also a lawyer, a social worker and a teacher who spent interesting and educational hours with the children.

One of the beneficiaries noted: “I feel so good here that I don’t want to leave. I’m glad that now I know more, I’m more informed and I have more motivation to solve my problems... Thank you very much - for 34 years these have been the brightest, warmest and most pleasant days for me.”

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

Training on the topic “Evidence-based Advocacy” was held at Khoni Community Education Center.

The training was attended by women leaders representing homeowners associations in the IDP settlement. They discussed barriers existing in the process of advocacy at the local level, identified target groups and stakeholders, and developed a plan for the advocacy of community needs.

The training participants noted:

“Today we gained very valuable experience in how to find the shortest way to solve the pressing problems of our community.”

“We have chosen prior issues and set a strategy for changes, emphasized the ways to solve these issues and better saw our capabilities”.

The work is carried out in partnership with the Center “Abkhazeti” within the framework of the project “Support of the conflict transformation in the South Caucasus and Moldova”.

Representatives of the Women Fund “Sukhumi” together with the Gender Equality Council held an information meeting in the conference hall of Khobi City Hall.

The aim of the meeting was to promote a system of coordination and exchange of information between local referral entities on the issues of violence against women and domestic violence.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the department for the protection and support of children's rights, and representatives of non-profit legal entities operating in the municipality. They talked about the prevention of domestic violence, groups under the risk of violence, identifying the needs of the most vulnerable families and the need for a local system of social partnership, as well as issues of combining inter-sector resources.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)