A training on organizational development was held in Batumi. The following topics were discussed during the training: what is the scheme of roles in the organization, powers and responsibilities in the organization, how is the rule of exchanging information between different management levels determined, what is the optimal number of employees, what skills are necessary for them and how the results of the Fund activities be increased.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
The work of the forum-theater continues in the youth group of the village Koki - Zugdidi municipality. The young people wrote a scenario on the topic of bullying. This is their first independent work in forum theater direction. As for the women's initiative group, this time they talked about women's solidarity and its importance, as well as peace and prosperity.
At the meeting, the participants were also informed about the practical guide/toolkit: "Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in war and post-war settings - experiences and recommendations of women's NGOs", which was developed by the WAVE Network in collaboration with its four WAVE members in 2022 by the support of the OSCE. The Toolkit describes best practices and the strategies employed by the women's NGOs to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in different phases of conflict.
Strategies during Wartime and emergency response settings were shared by Ukrainian and Armenian partners Sexual Assault Crisis Center (Yerevan, Armenia), Centre “Women’s Perspectives” (Lviv, Ukraine);
Strategies during Protracted conflict were described by the Women's Foundation "Sukhumi" (Kutaisi, Tbilisi, Georgia);
Strategies during Post-war and long-term perspective were based on the experience of the Bosnia-Herzegovina partner. Foundation United Women Banja Luka (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina)
(A practical guide is available here https://www.osce.org/secretariat/530695)
"Women and youth for the implementation of women, peace and security agenda at the local level" - the Women Fund "Sukhumi" organized a civil forum on this topic in Kutaisi, Hotel Bagrati.
The forum was attended by representatives of the legislative and executive structures of Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khoni, Senaki and Zugdidi municipalities, as well as members of the women working groups.
The participants got acquainted with the results of the research conducted for the assessment of the needs of IDP and conflict-affected communities and the dynamics of the process of localization of the Resolution 1325 action plan on the example of all five municipalities. They were informed about the successful advocacy of the IDP women working groups and about the Resolution 1325 National Action Plan.
In the second part of the forum, during the group work, further prospects for the localization of the Resolution 1325 action plan of all individual municipalities were identified.
At the end of the forum, representatives of all five municipalities were awarded with letters of thanks for their active cooperation.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
In February, group psychological meetings were organized by the Women Support Centers of Kobuleti, Tkibuli, Chokhatauri, Koki (Zugdidi municipality), Senaki, Vani, Terjola, with the inclusion of 53 beneficiaries. Upon request, individual meetings, including online, were also held via messenger and Skype. In Kutaisi, psycho-therapeutic work was carried out in the office of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" with 12 beneficiaries.
With the help of acquired skills, 3 beneficiaries refocused their experiences on a positive position, they were able to cope with personal problems and traumas.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
“I want to tell you about one perfect woman. She showed me the other side of life - who I am and who I want to be! Mrs. Manana, you have become my closest friend. I really miss talking with you, thank you for every day spent with you!" - Eka D.
The addressee of this letter is our psychologist Manana Gotsiridze, who works a lot with women during personal meetings, via the internet, at the Women Support Centers of 10 municipalities, at the head office of the Fund "Sukhumi", at the Rehabilitation Center. And gratitude is often heard in her address.
The changed life of women is a great motivation for the work of a psychologist.
“During a group meeting at the Women Support Center of one of the municipalities, I met a woman who had completed a two-week course at our Rehabilitation Center,” says Manana Gotsiridze. - Now she is much better, both financially and emotionally. When she came to our center, she was sad and ashamed to talk about her problems. She was especially worried about the aggression from the side of one of her children. And at this meeting she looked happy and was glad to talk about her successes.
- An Ukrainian child was taken from Poti to Kutaisi hospital. While the child was in intensive care, the mother lived in our Rehabilitation Center. In those days, we took care of both the mother and the child. We bought everything that the baby needed: diapers, baby food, medicines. Now he already left the clinic and feels better,” says Sophie Tsirghava, an assistant for working with Ukrainians.
The Women Fund “Sukhumi” provided such assistance to several other people: two cancer patients were compensated 375 and 370 GEL from the amount of medical examinations. We helped one woman to get referral funding for chemotherapy.
Assistance continues in matters of renting an apartment (provided to 19 families) and paying utility bills (5 families received this assistance). Particular attention is paid to the distribution of products. This month, 20 families received food and hygiene products.
In February, 15 people were added to our information base and now there are 467 people.
One of the residents of the Rehabilitation Center was a 28-year-old woman. In addition to her, two women and three children were in the Center for two weeks. A psychologist, a social worker, a lawyer and a teacher actively worked with them.
Psycho-rehabilitation gave good results - they cope better with emotional and everyday problems. One of the beneficiaries says that she learned a lot about herself, became more confident and stronger. She has accumulated a lot of positive and all this will help her in the future.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The round table in Chokhatauri City Hall was attended by the officials of the City Hall, law enforcement agencies, representatives of the education sector and various departments that work on issues of violence against women and children and are members of the interdepartmental commission on the prevention of violence against women and / or domestic violence, protection and assistance to victims of violence.
The meeting participants spoke about the facts of femicide, the problem of domestic violence and the importance of cooperation with local structures. Attention was focused on the ways of referencing, the importance of inter-agency cooperation and coordination, which will contribute to the prevention of violence.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
One difficult year has passed since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. The Women Fund “Sukhumi” once again expresses solidarity with Ukrainian women and their families!
During a year, we helped and continue to help Ukraine, refugees from this country:
In first days of war we collected 10000 GEL and sent parcels.
On March 8, we held an action of solidarity in Kutaisi and other municipalities.
We prepared video clips.
We have helped the women from the occupied city of Melitopol. We sent them 55800 UAH (hryvnia) and there, women volunteers bought food and medicines for the citizens.
In April, when the first refugees from Ukraine appeared in Georgia, we have created a support group and started helping them.
We have distributed packages with the necessary products and hygiene items to 465 beneficiaries (226 women, 170 children and 69 men). 23 families received assistance in payment for accommodation, 11 families received payment for utilities. We help in paying for the cost of surgery, medical procedures, in the purchase of medicines.
