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In July, worry and anxiety was the main topic of conversation at all group psychological meetings, as it became a part of women's lives. How to avoid anxiety, how to calm yourself and your loved ones - this issue was discussed at group meetings organized at the Women Support Centers of Senaki, Kobuleti, Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality), Lanchkhuti, Pakhulani (Tsalenjikha municipality). Number of participants was - 42 beneficiaries from 16 to 67 years old.

During the month, the psychologist also worked online - she received calls from different regions of Western Georgia. The women received individual consultation and support.

The lawyer’s meetings in June were of a combined format – both: remote and online consultations were held, as well as direct meetings in the regions with different groups. Meetings on the needs of the beneficiaries were organized by the mobilizers of the Women Support Centers of Khoni, Senaki, Pakhulani (Tsalenjikha Municipality), Tskaltubo, Khurcha / Koki (Zugdidi Municipality).

For the first time, a meeting of a lawyer was held in Kobuleti, since the Women's Support Center was already established there, and the first activities began.

The lawyer answered questions, and also gave individual advice.

In June, meetings were held for four couples on conflict management issues: Kobuleti, Kutaisi, Terjola and in one of the villages of Zugdidi municipality. Both remote and direct formats of meetings were used.

Topics for discussion were: what are the strategies to resolve relations; cooperation - as a mechanism for effective conflict management.

The meeting was mainly preventive, although there was a family among them, which, after assessing the situation, was redirected to a lawyer. Work with this family will be continued in the coming months.

The COVID 19 pandemic created a lot of difficulties for people. The Fund “Sukhumi” tried to partly solve their problems - in 10 municipalities, the Women Support Centers prepared packages of products for 400 families (socially unprotected, mothers with many children, women victims of violence, persons with disabilities) and handed them over.

These days, the second stage of the charity event took place and additionally 30 families received assistance in Kutaisi, Khoni, Tskaltubo, Terjola, Senaki, Poti, Zugdidi, Tsalenjikha, Ozurgeti and Lanchkhuti municipalities (3 families per each).

Women Support Centers completed a cycle of small projects. Now they are preparing for the start of a new job. Therefore, traditional training on “Project Writing and Design” eas held for the mobilizers of the Women Support Centers. Due to the distance work, the internet platform Zoom was used for the training.

Participants discussed the provision of sub-grants, according to which they should develop their projects. During the training, mobilizers of the municipalities selected problems, and prepared working versions of projects.

Live meetings began after a long online work. The first meeting was held in Kobuleti - on the beach. Here,  the first meeting of a psychologist with women took place, as the new Women Support Center began to operate. The same unusual meetings were held at the Women Support Centers of Khoni, Tskaltubo, Senaki, Khurcha (Zugdidi Municipality), taking into account the necessary regulations. Another meeting - but again online - was held with the beneficiaries of Pakhulani Women Support Center. According to tradition, there were also individual consultations.

During the meetings, the most actual issues were discussed: how to deal with stress and adapt to changes, how to establish family relationships so that quarrels and conflicts do not turn into violence. They worked on the Holmes scale for stressful situations. Women expressed gratitude for the care and support.

- Parents are very worried about children who cannot join the online educational process, since there is a low access to the internet in this zone; will the state anti-crisis program affect people living here who, due to isolation, remain unemployed; when will be the movement opened to provide families with products; In what condition are the people, who remained closed in the territory of Abkhazia –– these and other issues were discussed at an online meeting with the women from the village Pakhulani (Tsalenjikha municipality).

The work on advocacy of identified issues has already begun.

How to use communication methods to normalize relations, how to increase their effectiveness, how to identify the conflict risks and what to do for its resolution - these issues were discussed at online meetings with married couples from Kutaisi, Khoni and Pakhulani (Tsalenjikha municipality). Children actively involved in the discussion. They talked about communication with parents.

In the framework of the small project of Kutaisi Women Support Center “Non-violent Future Generation”, an online training was held in Kutaisi. The training was attended by the pupils of school No. 5 of the Abkhazian Autonomous Republic on the topic: “Gender, gender-based violence, bullying, mechanisms for prevention.”

All participants were actively involved in the process. They learned bout the types of violence and types of bullying. At the end of the training, pupils noted that through informal civic education they are well aware of the issues of gender equality, violence, and protection of their rights. And most importantly, they can share their knowledge and skills with peers, as well as help others.

Despite the current situation, the Women Support Centers of the Fund “Sukhumi” continue to work actively. The resource of the organization’s specialists is involved In online meetings: psychologist, lawyer, conflict expert.

The beneficiaries highlight  the importance of such meetings. For people who are isolated, online consultations are very important, which, if necessary, they receive permanently.