Brother and sister, doctors from Ukraine. They faced the horrors of war and miraculously survived. In September they arrived from Kharkov to Kutaisi. Their parents worked here as military doctors, they finished from school in Kutaisi, they have friends and acquaintances here.
They told psychologist Manana Gotsiridze that they still wake up from the voice of a siren, a harbinger of death.
“It is hard to imagine whether our city will return its former beauty. Almost all residential buildings were destroyed In Kharkov. There are a lot of stones, glass, iron everywhere... The inhabitants faced the second wave of psychosis when they realized that the war could go on for a long time. War is the fear that the enemy can rape, kill. This is a state of hopelessness. Even after it ends, it will affect the psychics of people for a long time.”
These are the words of our beneficiaries.
All feelings of Ukrainians are similar. Pain, anxiety... There is also some joys for the fact that some towns and villages are returning.
According to the participants, listening to successful women and peace initiatives will contribute to the activation of women and promotion of peace issues. What can young people do to establish a culture of peace in their municipalities - the members of Tskaltubo and Senaki youth groups talked about these issue. The meetings in both places were held on the background of discussion, exchange of interesting ideas and discussions about future plans.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
Our group, which supports Ukrainian refugees, worked actively in November, as in previous months. For the given moment we have 383 people in our database, in November we added 53 new people. This month, 42 families (95 people) were assisted, 3 families were given warm blankets, 4 families - heaters. One man was helped with paying for medical procedures (oncology) and special food was purchased.
Slippers and linen were also distributed. Assistance to pay for housing continues, this month 4 more families were added, one of which lives in Tbilisi. Since the couple is elderly, as an exception, the Fund took the responsibility to pay for their accommodation. Ukrainian refugees continue to receive free psychological assistance and support.
- In the City Hall of Kutaisi, issuing of personal travel cards was finished and now they are working on single assistance for children, from our we help them in communication, - says Sophia Tsirgvava, an assistant for working with Ukrainians. - The program of free education for Ukrainian children STEM, in English, continues to function. We picked up children of the appropriate age and sent them to the Kutaisi project coordinator. Work on other issues are also in progress.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Statistics of meetings in November: Three offline psychological group consultative meetings in the Women Support Centers of Pakhulani (Tsalenjikha municipality), Senaki, Chokhatauri, Vani, online meetings in Tkibuli, Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality) - 47 participants. 23 individual psychotherapy sessions, 12 online out of them .
Psychotherapy session was held with 5 day center beneficiaries who are learning how to work with polymer clay. The group meeting in Senaki was special. There were also women who were in our Rehabilitation Center. They talked about their successes, that they got a job and improved their financial situation. One of them was a victim of violence, she was embarrassed to talk about her problem.
But the fear of death (her husband threatened and chased her with a knife and she miraculously escaped) forced her to speak. Aggression also came from the eldest son, who was on the side of his father. She was humiliated, intimidated in the Rehabilitation Center. In Senaki - we saw her good-looking, self-confident, successful. The eldest son, who accused her of all sins, now hugs her every morning and asks to forgive him. She offered to create a self-assistance group, she will help others and share her successful experience.
Information meetings on the issues of violence were held at the social agency of Senaki municipality and online with a group from Zugdidi municipality. Representatives of various vulnerable groups actively participated.
On the background of frequent cases of femicide in the country, the web page of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" - "Digital Resource Center of Services for Violence Victims" aroused great interest of the audience. The participants believe that information about this page should be delivered to the general public - this will have a positive impact in terms of violence prevention.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
On November 25, a march of the women's movement against sexual violence was held. Together with other solidarity groups, the Tbilisi representative office of the Women's Fund "Sukhumi" joined the march. The organizers and participants of the rally say that sexual acts with a woman without her consent are rape and violence. According to their own statement, this is recognized by international conventions and courts, but Georgian legislation does not recognize it.
Within the 16 days campaign against gender violence on November 25, the Anti-Violence Network of Georgia presented the program fathers violence behavior and correction, aiming to correct the behavior of fathers and support to become as a supportive father. At the meeting, our representative - Linda Chikhladze, based on the findings of the monitoring report of the Women's Fund "Sukhumi" - “Importance of Behavior Change Programs of the Perpetrator at an Early Stage and Existing Best Practices", offered recommendations to the attendees about the importance of implementing the mentioned program at an early stage.
November 25 - Start of the 16-day campaign against gender-based violence.
The Women Fund “Sukhumi” held a traditional silent action in Kutaisi. Thus, it joined the global campaign against gender-based violence with the slogan: Let’s Unite! Activity to End Violence Against Women and Girls”.
The action was attended by the staff of the Fund, representatives of partner organizations, civil activists and youth. Forum theater performances were presented and information booklets were distributed.
Starting today, more than 100 events will be held in the cities and villages of Georgia in the framework of the campaign.
The action was actively covered by central and regional mass media.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
This is a best example of cooperation, the best practice!
The local self-government of Bagdati is a good partner of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”. The Women Support Center is actively working in Bagdati municipality, many interesting initiatives have been implemented.
One more interesting event has started. Women living in the village Dimi are given the opportunity to learn new professions.
Bagdati Gender Equality Council, with the support of the Fund “Sukhumi”, organized free educational courses in the village library. Within 10 weeks, some of the participants will learn how to make products from polymer clay, some will master the profession of a stylist, and some will take an Excel training course. The courses will help women and girls to improve their economic situation.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
