Marina is 28. She was depressed after the death of her husband: “Life stopped, I didn’t know how to live. My mother cried with me. In this condition we were caught by my mother's friend, who advised us to address the psychologist of the Fund "Sukhumi". For almost 8 months, I learned to look at myself in a new way. Step by step, I was filled with hope. I don’t know how to express my gratitude not only for the return of a smile on my face, but also for the light in my mother’s eyes”...
Marina is one of the grateful beneficiaries of the psychologist. There are many of them in different municipalities of Western Georgia.
In September, the meetings of psychologist were held in the Women Support Centers of Vani, Chokhatauri, Senaki and Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality), also in Kobuleti - online. 23 beneficiaries took part in the group and individual meetings.
A meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission for the Elimination of Violence Against Women was held in the Bagdati City Hall. The meeting was held in the round table format. Together with the members of the commission, the meeting was attended by representatives of the Women Fund "Sukhumi", police officers, teachers, members of the City Council commission and the Department for the protection of Children.
Concrete cases, work with these cases and subsequent response were discussed during the meeting. The issues of violence prevention, victim protection and prospects for cooperation with local government agencies were also discusse
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
On September 24-28, training for the young project participants on the importance and experience of establishing a youth forum-theatre was held in Istanbul.
Youth clubs from different regions and communities were actively involved in the working process. The participants gained knowledge about the founders of the Forum-theater, their role and importance in understanding current life problems and finding their solutions. The various exercises and tasks offered by the trainers made the training more creative, interesting and fun. The participants were able to independently prepare scenarios and stage small scenes. Young people acquired new knowledge, skills, experience, got acquainted with each other better, drafted future plans to introduce Forum- Theater in their clubs.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
The participants discussed the issues of femicide at the events initiated by the women support centers. Short videos on the topic of violence created a good space for discussion.
- How to break the circle of violence, where the response mechanisms need to be strengthened - discussions on these issues continued.
The participants noted that women are not protected, they are still victims of harmful stereotypes. They spoke about strengthening the role of kindergartens and schools with special emphasis.
If we do not help to break the stereotypes, if the consciousness is not improved, the picture will not change – noted the meeting participants.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
With the initiative of the Fund "Sukhumi", the problem of IDPs was discussed with "one window" principle in Senaki City Hall. The problem concerns the absence of a sewage system in the former military settlement (where mainly IDPs from Abkhazia live).
Before advocacy, the necessary documents, photos and video materials, signatures, and video clips were prepared.
The meeting was attended by IDPs, civil activists, Deputy Mayor Levan Eliava, representatives of various services of the City Hall.
Discussions were held on the ways and means of solving the problem using documentary materials. Individual authorities also spoke about their own responsibility in relation to the problem.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
From September 19 until the end of the month, a comprehensive rehabilitation work was carried out with three women victims of domestic violence. They were placed in the Rehabilitation Center of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" with their children - there were 6 beneficiaries in total. A teacher, a social worker, a lawyer and a psychologist were included in the daily active work.
At the end of the rehabilitation course, one of the beneficiaries (she is 26 years old) said that she felt great support, she already knows that she is not alone. The days spent here gave her and other women more strength and they know how to work on their weaknesses. They received a lot of necessary information, positive, useful advice and decided to open a new page of their life with new power.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
A meeting was held in the village Akhalsofel - Senaki municipality.It was attended by school representatives, teachers and parents. The coordinator of the City Hall Children's Rights and Support Department and the social worker of the same department were invited to the meeting.
The participants of the meeting got acquainted with the structure of the department, received information about existing programs, challenges and needs. In their opinion, more attention should be paid to public awareness, needs of vulnerable groups, support of crisis families.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
"Women's participation in public and political life and economic activity - existing barriers and opportunities" - this is the title of the report of the consolidated data of the research conducted by the Women Fund "Sukhumi" in six target municipalities.
The aim of the research was to study the attitudes of various society groups towards women’s participation in political and public life and economic activities. The attention was focused on views and stereotypes prevailing in society about women’s role, as well as on the barriers and facilitating factors.
The publication was prepared in the framework of the project: “Bridging the Gap: People to People -Initiatives for Conflict Resolution”.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
Women Fund "Sukhumi" held a meeting with "one window" principle in the meeting hall of Zugdidi City Hall.
The following issue was selected for advocacy: construction of a new, typical building with modern standards for the Kindergarten "Tsitelkuda" (“Red Riding Hood”) in Ingiri community.
The meeting was held in a hybrid method and was attended both on site and online by invited guests - Representatives of the Office of the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality, a representative of the Municipal Development Fund of Georgia, the Chairman of Zugdidi Municipality City Council, representatives of Abkhazian territorial unit, a representative of the Mayor in Ingiri community, IDPs from Abkhazia and local women.
The result of the meeting is that the local self-government will be actively involved in the advocacy process and it will continue at the central level.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
Kutaisi IDP Women Initiative Group held a meeting using the proven and successful "one window" method.
According to the agenda, the problems identified as a result of the needs research were discussed. Among them is the rehabilitation of the short road (260m) leading to the IDP settlement "Kotejebi". This section of the road does not belong to Kutaisi municipality and it needs to be handed over to the city. An opportunity to solve the problem was already found and it will be solved in a short period of time.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization