“There were many unpleasant and terrible facts in my life. Six months have passed since the first meeting with a psychologist and many changes happened in my life. Diagnostics gave reason for reflection, recommendations turned into actions, I began to feel better emotionally and even had the strength to achieve new goals. I found many new things in myself… I have acquired strength to achieve new goals. Thanks to Manana Gotsiridze” these are the words of a young woman who is one of the clients of the psychologist of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”.
In January, the psychologist held group and individual psychological meetings in the Women Support Centers of Kobuleti, Terjola, Chokhatauri, Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality) and Pakhulani (Tsalenjikha municipality). 45 beneficiaries were involved. One part of the clients - 16 people – passed therapeutic sessions in Kutaisi, at the head office of the organization. All of them have positive results and these results are improving from month to month.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
A little boy came with his mother. Children are often brought here, so there are a lot of toys in the room of the psychologist Manana Gotsiridze. The bunny also sat calmly on the shelf. Ukrainian boy suddenly shouted: bunny! Then he asked the psychologist: “can I hold him”? “Oh sure”. He hugged and caressed ... Manana Gotsiridze understood why and told him, if you want, I will give it to you. Mother fell into an awkward situation and began to “justify” – “he had such bunny at home, and he loved him very much”...
The boy left happy.
Everyone is satisfied after the meeting with the psychologist of the Women Fund "Sukhumi". Someone has fewer problems and the rehabilitation process is completed faster, someone needs more visits.
Meetings with Ukrainian refugees are one of the important areas in the work of Manana Gotsiridze. In January, she met 6 families - 17 people. An initial consultation was carried out, an anamnesis was collected and everyone was invited to continue free psychotherapy. They were also given the necessary products, household chemicals, warm clothes.
The problem of violence against women and the importance of public participation in its elimination - meetings on this topic were held in Vani and Kobuleti. The meeting in the public school of the village Mtisdziri (Vani municipality) was attended by teachers and upper graders and in the kindergarten No 2 of Kobuleti, the coordinator of the children's rights department of the City Hall and the chairman of the Gender Equality Council, together with the staff.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
One more course of the Day Rehabilitation Center of the Women Fund "Sukhumi". Lots of beautiful things. One more group that learned how to work with polymer clay and create little miracles.
Traditionally, a final event was organized at the end of the two-month course. The participants presented the works created during the training, told about themselves... The presentation was impressive and was highly appreciated by the representatives of the Women Fund "Sukhumi".
Graduates were awarded with certificates. They noted that this period was quite fruitful for them in terms of professional development and personal relationships, and they will successfully apply the acquired knowledge in practice.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Women Support Centers continue to actively inform the public about victim assistance and support services, they help women to advocate various social or infrastructural problems.
In January, as a result of informing process at Women Support Centers of Samtredia, Tkibuli, Zugdidi, Vani and Tsalenjikha, crisis families were identified, work with them continues intensively.
According to the necessity, the psychologist of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" works with each case individually. Child support departments are also actively involved in the assistance process.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The Gender Equality Council of Tsalenjikha Municipality in partnership with the Women Fund "Sukhumi" organized a round table on: "Prevention of violence and protection of violence victims, social cooperation and referral mechanisms", in the conference room of the City Council. The meeting was attended by representatives of governmental structures and social institutions. They analyzed the situation in the municipality in terms of violence and focused on the prospects for social cooperation.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
One part of the psychologist's meetings took place within the framework of the international campaign of "16 active days against gender-based violence". Conversations with the beneficiaries of Kobuleti, Tkibuli and Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality) Women Support Centers were held via messenger. In addition, field meetings were held with women living in Senaki and Pakhulani (Tsalenjikha municipality). More than 50 participants attended the meetings.
By regions, 14 beneficiaries received individual psychotherapeutic sessions online, and psychological work was carried out with 12 beneficiaries in Kutaisi, at the office of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”.
The psychologist also held preliminary meetings to collect anamnesis and diagnostic work with 5 beneficiaries of the day center - with the polymer clay group.
The results of the work in December are as follows: the acquired skills helped the beneficiaries to overcome negative emotions and they know how to behave in future.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Teachers, members of the Gender Equality Council, City Hall staff and representatives of the social agency participated in information meetings at the City Hall of Khobi municipality. An information meeting was also held at the public School No 3 - Samtredia and was attended by teachers and school administration.
During the meetings, it was noted that, envisaging the importance of the problem, it is important for everyone to take part in the campaign of 16 Active Days against Gender-based Violence.
The participants got acquainted with the digital resource center for violence victims https://sosfsokhumi.ge/, which aroused great interest. It was noted that it is important to disseminate information about this page so that both victims and abusers can receive information about mechanisms of protection and response. All this will contribute to the prevention of violence.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
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)
