She passed through all stages that accompany domestic violence. She went through all the feelings that at first evoke a sense of protest, then guilt and finally become a part of everyday life.

She does not tell the details. She says that even telling her story also aggravates and makes the pain worse. She just emphasizes that there was a great deal of hopelessness and despair in her life at that time, knowing that with two children it would be even more difficult, she would be an extra burden for everyone. This burden was particularly heavy. She could not rely on anyone ...

This is Salome (name is conditional) from Kobuleti. Her story is very familiar. As if we have read it somewhere, or heard it from someone. This story is a message, another message from people who ask for support from people at the right time and often can not get it...

Salome was able to make a change – she finally folded the painful pages of her life and started a new life:

Salome was able to make a change - the pages of life's hardest story were finally folded and a new life began:

Women initiative groups have an active working period in Koki and Didi Nedzi (Zugdidi Municipality). The members of the group are involved in the research: focus groups and in-depth interviews. The aim of the research is to identify the barriers that hinder the involvement of women in socio-political and economic activities.

Koki Youth Initiative Group has a different agenda. At the ordinary meeting, the lawyer of the Fund "Sukhumi" discussed the topic of "early marriage". Underage marriage is still a problem in Georgia. Besides the fact that early marriage is a human rights violation, it is accompanied by negative consequences for physical and mental health.

The feedback from the group members at the end of the meeting was following:

- The meeting was informative, interesting and important.

- I learned about the risks and methods of punishment after the early marriage.

- It is necessary to hold similar meetings with adults.

The project is implemented with the support of the USAID

The format of the meetings is to provide information to the participants about the website "Digital Resource Center for Victims of Violence": what was the purpose of creating it, what materials are available, how to help vulnerable groups. Participants are also informed about the use of the Internet.

Such meetings are held regularly with groups of women. The next online information meetings were held with women living in Kobuleti, Bagdati, Zugdidi and Tkibuli municipalities.

The meetings were actively attended by the beneficiaries who used various services within the project. There was a great response to the campaign to help the beneficiaries with technical means. It was mentioned that they have hope that they are not alone and that they will be cared. The conversation also touched upon the rehabilitation center of the organization - the victims of violence pass psychological rehabilitation in the center, which is a serious assistance for them.

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

On January 10, work with youth was restarted. A cycle of meetings began and 5 trainings were held.

First five activities of the month: youth empowerment centers operating in the municipalities of Vani, Bagdati, Samtredia, Kobuleti and Tkibuli.

Training topics: gender equality, traditions and stereotypes for the prevention of violence. Ways for conflict resolution.

Students - participants of the meetings - were actively involved in the work process, despite the online format. Teachers also took an active part in Samtredia and Tkibuli. As noted, this work improves the leadership skills of young people, gives them the motivation to do more. The members of the centers have already formed a schedule for the initiated events - how they will apply the acquired knowledge. For independent work, they choose different forms (meeting with peers, preparing a video clip, writing an essay, etc.).

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

“Information is the most powerful tool for solution of any problem, especially when the problem concerns domestic violence”; “The information we received, is important for everyone. We will disseminate it everywhere so that every woman knows what mechanisms exist in terms of women support”, these were the opinions of the participants of the information meetings held on the initiative of the Women Support Centers of Zugdidi, Vani and Bagdati.

According to the participants, informing process contributes to early identification of cases of violence and timely response to them. As a result of the meetings, specific cases were identified and women who are at risk of violence were redirected to a psychologist.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

The meeting of round table format was held with participation of local referral entities of Vani Municipality: representatives of local self-government, police, educational resource center and civil sector, members of the City Council Gender Equality Council, school teachers,

A presentation of the research held by the Fund in terms of monitoring of victim assistance services was held, which was followed by a discussion across the municipality in terms of violence identifying and victim assistance. The participants also received information about the work, carried out with the support of the Canada Equality Fund: a unique website "Digital Resource Center for Violence Victims’ Services" was created, information meetings and social events were held. Local government officials thanked the Fund “Sukhumi” for its assistance to women victims of violence in Vani Municipality and expressed their willingness to cooperate in implementing more sustainable and long-term programs / services for victims.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

Women Fund "Sukhumi" - such a new organization appeared in the Non-Governmental sector at the end of 2021. The old name - Cultural-Humanitarian Fund “Sukhumi” – was left in the past.

The word "success" was mentioned many times at the last meeting of the year.

The overall results and achievements of the organization in 2021 were summarized by the Chairman of the organization - Alla Gamakharia and the Head of Tbilisi Representative Office - Ekaterine Gamakharia, project coordinators, assistants, mobilizers of 10 Women Support Centers.

The past year was difficult, full of challenges, but it was also distinguished by many things:

Successfully completed project in 8 municipalities of Imereti, Guria and Racha-Lechkhumi.

Numerous activities and successful advocacy campaigns at the municipal and national levels

Publications published in frames of various projects

There are two Women Initiative Groups in Khoni municipality. Online meetings were held with them, where technical side of the survey, deadlines and identification of beneficiaries was held. Group members have similar experiences that will contribute to a successful survey.

An information meeting with the members of the youth group was also held online. They talked about the 16-day international campaign, the activities carried out within the campaign and the practices adopted.

In the beginning of December, members of the group were also trained in the topics of peace and confidence building. Despite the online format, the training was interactive - participants shared their experiences and learned a lot of news.

The project is implemented with the support of the USAID

Sofia cannot hide her pride with the result she received. The result of the advocacy campaign on the issue: equipping the bus stop construction with “ramps” (she emphasizes this every time she starts talking about civic initiative).

The representatives of Zugdidi City Hall came, studied the area, recorded the data. According to them, the construction will be installed in the first quarter of 2022. It turns out that very quickly, since this is rarely done at the end of the year. And this women initiative group managed this!

Sofia Tolordava does not want to credit herself with all the success. She claims that the whole community was involved - the women started, and when seeing that the process started the men and youth also joined...

Sofia shared her experience with community members, and they were actively involved in collecting signatures, communicating with the local government. She even conducted workshops on practical skills of advocacy.

The psychologist and the lawyer do not talk about the details of the meetings with their beneficiaries. This is as it should be - the information is confidential.
But they prefer to give figures.
According to the figures, in December:
6 group meetings of a psychologist and a lawyer were held with the beneficiaries of Terjola, Senaki, Samtredia, Kobuleti, Chokhatauri and Tsalenjikha Women Support Centers.
The meetings were attended by 88 people from 27 to 68 years old.
5 beneficiaries received psychological therapy.
Psychological work was carried out with 6 beneficiaries of a rehabilitation center.
Work was carried out with 3 crisis families.
25 beneficiaries continue to receive individual psychotherapy online.
The lawyer held 7 online individual consultations and 2 meetings in the office.
The figures tell much ... This is the support to women...

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)