Two more information meetings were held in December with the support of the Equality Fund (Canada).

The first meeting was held in the conference hall of Chokhatauri City Council (participants: kindergarten teachers and directors), the second meeting was held in the school of the village Etseri - Terjola municipality (participants: high school students and teachers).

During the meeting they talked about the 16-day campaign against gender-based violence and the importance of community involvement in the process of eliminating violence. Everyone noted that active participation is needed in order to reveal the facts in time and then react to them.

The participants got interested in the web page of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" - https://sosfsokhumi.ge/, which contains comprehensive information about the mechanisms of response and victims’ support.

The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)

Within the framework of the project "Localization of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda", the Women Fund "Sukhumi", with the involvement of volunteers from the "National League of Women", organized a training on the topic "Preparation of families for war and emergency situations." The training was held on December 18-19, in Kutaisi, hotel "Bagrati".

The training was attended by members of the Women Initiative Groups affected by the conflict and women living in IDP settlements.

The training included both theoretical and practical parts. The first day was devoted to the basics of the first aid and the issue of evacuation, and the second day - to a discussion of the importance and principles of civil readiness and security.

The participants of the training shared their stories from the period of war, told about the difficulties and challenges.

The training was attended by representatives of the US Army Civil Support Military Group.

The project is implemented with the support

 of the UN Women organization

During the scheduled online meeting, members of Senaki Women Initiative Group assessed the dynamics of the advocacy process. They heard new information accumulated during the advocacy process.

In the next part, the members of the group got acquainted with the strategy developed by local government agencies for the implementation of Resolution 1325 in the municipality.

The women's group will continue to actively cooperate with local structures to implement the main tasks outlined in the strategy.

The project is implemented with the support

 of the UN Women organization

Members of Kutaisi Women Initiative Group were provided with information about the activities carried out within the framework of the project, the advocacy results and plans for the future.

The leader of the group informed the participants about the strategy that was developed by local structures for the implementation of the Resolution 1325.

The women's group is working on the implementation of the main tasks that are included in the strategy.

The project is implemented with the support

 of the UN Women organization

The gender equality policy in Georgia and conflict escalation – trainings on this topic are actively conducted in the Youth Empowerment Centers.

Five meetings with young people living in Senaki, Zugdidi, Samtredia, Tkibuli and Tsalenjikha municipalities were held in the first half of the month. The number of participants exceeded 100 people.

All trainings were held offline, therefore, they were distinguished by the involvement of adolescents and their abilities were better revealed during role-playing games, discussions and feedback.

The participants of the training also participated in the campaign of “16 Active Days against Gender-based Violence” and carried out interesting initiated events in their municipalities.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

We have added 32 new people to our database in December,.

Last month of the year:

- We helped 45 families with food and hygiene products (that is 98 people)

- 14 families were paid for accommodation

- 5 families were paid utility bills

- The half of amount of operations for two oncology patients was paid. Payment for medical examination was also paid for one of them.

- One man was paid an amount for phone calls

- Psychological consultations were held for up to 30 people.

On December 15, a training on: “The best practice for helping and supporting people affected by the war” was held. Everyone who works in the support group took part in it. Trainer Keti Vasadze shared with us the experience developed by the European Union. We jointly discussed the areas of our work, structured them and developed new ideas.

On December 19, our Fund organized a celebration dedicated to St. Nicholas Day in the conference hall of Kutaisi state university. There were greetings, songs, dances, performance, buffet table. The event was attended by Ukrainian children and their mothers, as well as local authorities and representatives of partner NGOs. According to tradition, the children received gifts from the kind grandfather Nicholas.

Ukrainians especially note our support and are very grateful for it.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

- Actions, workshops, informational meetings, discussion of films on the topic of violence, exhibition of children's paintings - this is the list of events initiated by the Women Support Centers within the framework of the 16-day campaign against gender-based violence.

- What was identified, what was shown, what needs to be done? - the results of the activities answer these questions.

According to the mobilizers of the Centers, the society is informed about the 16-day campaign, which is a step forward. All age segments expressed desire of their personal participation.

During the meetings, it was mentioned that the facts of femicide are alarming and more effective changes are needed in terms of responding to the problems of domestic violence and improving services. Their proposals stated the need to increase the responsibility of the state and society in terms of violence prevention.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

The meetings initiated by the Women Support Centers were devoted to various topics.

During the meetings held at Tkibuli, Terjola and Bagdati Women Support Centers, the importance of involving the educational sector in the process of breaking down gender stereotypes was emphasized.

A meeting with kindergarten teachers in Kobuleti focused on the importance of early identification of facts of violence.

In other municipalities, the main issue highlighted by the participants was the improvement of victim support services.

Representatives of local structures were also involved in the information meetings.

- It is necessary to systematically inform the society, coordinate, implement effective services - these were the messages from the participants of the meetings.

In parallel, the meetings identified eight new crisis families in the Women Support Centers. The work will continue according to their needs.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

- Thank you so much for your attention, warmth, comfort and home environment. During these two weeks we have fallen in love with you. The psychologist could completely relieve my stressful tension, every time she appeared my fears were washed away like a wave. I felt relief and peace for the first time.

These are the words of a young woman who passed a comprehensive daily rehabilitation at the Rehabilitation Center of the Women Fund "Sukhumi".

In early December, there were two women and three children in the center. The teacher worked with the children - they played together, drew, studied, had fun...

A psychologist, a social worker and a lawyer worked with women on attitudes and beliefs that prevent them from building harmonious relationships. They helped them overcome emotional and behavioral problems in order to better adapt to society.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

The Women Fund "Sukhumi" held a meeting in the format of a round table in Samtredia municipality, which was attended by members of the Gender Equality Council of the City Hall of the municipality and representatives of local referral entities. They heard information about the statistics of domestic violence, violence prevention and services that are available for the victims.

The meeting was aimed at the active involvement of local referral entities in the process of domestic violence prevention.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)