“This phone has a quick SOS button, which will give me the strength to call people for help, and they will definitely help me.”
“I was told that our phone has a special function. Thank you for that."
“If I need legal advice, is it on the phone you gave me, if I need psychological advice? It is here too. Thanks for this. Maybe we should learn more and be better prepared against violence.”
Such emotions came from the beneficiaries during the next action.
Representatives of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" together with representatives of the local government distributed phones with SOS buttons to women from vulnerable groups in Kobuleti, Senaki, Samtredia, Bagdati, Terjola and Vani.
It has become a tradition to involve representatives of the City Hall, advisors, members of the gender equality council and specialists dealing with children's issues in our activities. The aim is for local authorities to care more about women victims and help them to solve problems.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
The monitoring and advocacy group has completed the field work in the target municipalities. The group studied the effectiveness of preventive measures implemented by local governments to identify the victims of violence against women and / or domestic violence, their protection, assistance and rehabilitation.
The shortcomings that need to be corrected have been identified. With this aim, recommendations will be developed that will help local governments to determine a strategy designed for beneficiaries.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
New forum theater scenes were created in the youth groups of Tskaltubo public schools No 1 and No 4. The scenes deal with domestic violence, bullying, the feelings and emotions of the victim. Both groups will hold discussions in different schools of Tskaltubo with the help of these scenes, and the members of the women initiative group heard the results of the research and got acquainted with the recommendations. The research revealed the threats that women are particularly worried about in terms of security. The members of the group will try to take into account the highlighted recommendations through advocacy.
Violence against women continues to be the main topic of information meetings of the Women Support Centres. Problems regarding the identification of cases of violence and the lack of information about victim support services still remain.
In order to overcome these problems, Women Support Centers are actively working in villages, in different communities. They help to identify active, leader women in the field. The necessary information is disseminated.
Women Support Centers of Samtredia, Chokhatauri, Terjola and Khurcha (Zugdidi Municipality) already have results in identifying new cases and providing assistance to victims.
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)
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Another training course of gaining a new profession is being held at the Women Fund “Sukhumi”.
During two months (February-March) the beneficiaries of the Day Center will be trained in nail art, gel polish and nail extension.
The women chose this training module according to their will. This is a desirable profession that helps for starting an independent life, for self-realization, for achieving success.
The program is implemented within the framework of the project “Strengthening the Women's Rights in Western Georgia”.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
At the beginning of the meeting, the members of the women initiative group got acquainted with the presentation of the research, and then they actively participated in the training on the topic - "Women and youth in the peace movement; promotion of the implementation of 1325 and 2250 UN resolutions ". At the end of the training, the participants were awarded with certificates. The members of Kutaisi Youth Club continue to work on the scenes of the Forum Theater and also discuss the ideas of the mini project. The project should be presented to the competition commission for consideration.
The members of Senaki women initiative group got acquainted with the results of the research conducted within the project. Faulty infrastructure, unemployment, frequent domestic violence, low quality of education - the research identified the main threats that violate the basic standards of human security. From next month, members of the group will try to advocate the identified problems. The members of the youth group created a new performance in the format of a forum-theatre, which presents the main reasons of domestic violence. Young actors will perform these scenes in front of different audiences and hold discussions.
With the cooperation of Khoni women initiative groups, the Gender Equality Council and the Community Education Center, a variety of activities were held under the slogan "No to violence". Within the framework of the event, the Mayor of the municipality Lado Jurkhadze, members of the Gender Equality Council of Khoni City Council, representatives of the Fund “Sukhumi” and the attendees took part in the creation of the composition of "Street Art" and said "no" to violence with their handprints. Within the framework of the festival, the representative of the Fund “Sukhumi” presented the results of the research "Assessment of the quality of human security and gender needs of the population" at the House of Culture on Abkhazeti Street. A discussion was also held. The members of the youth club of the public school No 3 of Khoni municipality worked on the scenes of the forum theater. The school director also attended the process. The young people made parformance at the gender festival and were well received. At the same time, they work on ideas for a mini project to be presented to the competition commission.
The small grants competition identified 10 winners. They have already started working in their spheres.
At the first stage, the women took courses in working with polymer clay, stylist and accountant in the Day Rehabilitation Centers of Kutaisi and Bagdati.
At the second stage, trainings were held for them, where they studied the formulation of their own goals, the features of writing a grant application and business projects.
Then the competition period began. 20 people participated in the competition - 12 from Kutaisi and 8 from Bagdati. Business projects were written.
10 were projects were selected and financed. With the financial support of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, 8 women from Kutaisi and 2 women from Bagdati were able to start a small business. This is how our beneficiaries' lives change and their success stories are created.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
