- What is the relationship between gender equality and violence against women. How do local municipal programs respond to gender policy, what powers are provided by law for local governments in terms of domestic violence and against women? On these issues, work was conducted in Borjomi, at a training for representatives of local government.

Representatives from 9 municipalities of Western Georgia (Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khoni, Senaki, Zugdidi, Poti, Ozurgeti, Lanchkhuti, Terzhola) took an active part in the training. At the end of the three-day work, each municipality in the groups developed a victim assistance strategy and will try to introduce it into the local budget.

Participants assessed that the training provided them with an opportunity to learn about the experience of municipalities in terms of introducing gender policy and helping victims. This experience will be reflected in their work.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt – Evangelischer Entwicklunsdienst (Germany)

Within the frames of the project "Contributing to the professional development of young people in Tskhaltubo" there was conducted training on "professional orientation and self-presentation of the youth." The training was attended by high school students, who were informed, how to choose the right profession and what is the importance of career planning.

The young people learned how to write resumes, how to write a cover letter and what skills are needed in order to successfully pass an interview with the employer.

The training was held against a background of intense debate and maximum inclusion of participants. At the end of the meeting it was noted that such training is necessary for teenagers, to look differently on their future career and to determine how to choose a profession.

In the office of Fund "Sukhumi", on April 28, there was held a training organized by the Anti-Violence Network of Georgia for the staff of Imereti region of the MIA of Georgia. The topic of training was "Domestic violence and the mechanisms against it according the Georgian legislation". Fund "Sukhumi", as the representative of Imereti Regional Committee, of the network for the protection from domestic violence, was actively involved in organization of training.

The project is implemented with support of the National Network of Protection from Violence

The fund “Sukhumi” annually conducts hundreds of events: an information meeting, a round table, a discussion, a workshop or training. Effective presentation and facilitation is of great importance for success.

In the organization much is being done for institutional development. It was for this purpose that on February 16-17 in Borjomi international trainers conducted training for the Fund's employees on the topic of presentation and facilitation.

During the training, participants shared many years of experience and further enriched it. Each participant of the training evaluated his skills, saw the weak and strong sides of the work, received the necessary advice and motivation for active communication with the audience and more successful result.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt – Evangelischer Entwicklunsdienst (Germany)

From March 31 to April 3 in Borjomi there was held a training with participation of local self-government of 8 cities – Kutaisi, Khoni, Tskaltubo, Senaki, Poti, Zugdidi, Ozurgeti and Batumi. The topic of training – “Prevention of domestic violence and assistance of the victim, issues of self-government competence”.

The training discussed following issues: gender and gender violence, mechanisms of legal reaction on facts of domestic violence, state structures – participants of the activities, held against domestic violence and their competence, participation of local government in the activities, directed against domestic violence, rights of victims of domestic violence, guarantees of their social and legal protection.

At the end of the training there were elaborated gender action [plans in the regions, relevant activities were planned, tasks, indicators and responsible persons were identified.

In frames of the project "Empowering Women to Develop New Approaches Relating to the Transformation of the Conflict" in Kutaisi, a three-day training was held at the Hotel “Discovery”. The training covered the following issues: transformation of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict, women's peace initiatives, the use of the format of the Geneva talks.

Based on the format of the training, for two days the girls and women worked separately, and on the third day - all together.

Through group and role exercises, simulated presentations, participants tried to think about possible versions of the conflict transformation, about new approaches.

In their opinion, women's peacekeeping resources are inexhaustible, and the information received will increase their motivation, to work more actively to transform the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict.

On September 20 in Zugdidi for the members of Club of Voter Women there was held a training on the following issues: elections – basis of democracy, election code of Georgia, political system, programs of political parties, structure, role and meaning, gender and gender equality, support of women candidates.

Each issue caused great interest of the participants. The club members mentioned that discussion of these issues before the elections is timely and useful.

There was started a new project of the fund “Sukhumi” – “Active involvement of women in political life of Georgia through democratization of election processes”.

On August 24 there was held the first activity – training for the members of Kutaisi Club of Voter-Women. Experienced trainers familiarized them with lots of interesting and important information regarding election code, collaboration with political parties, gender issues, in terms of supporting women candidates. The women received answers on concrete question. In frames of the project they plan active work.