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.

The work of the lawyer was remotely continued in April. Online meetings were held with the beneficiaries of Khoni, Senaki, Ozurgeti and Lia (Tsalenjikha municipality).

Representatives of various professions as well as housewives participated in the meetings. Questions to the lawyer were also different (pandemic situation, government regulations, problems of domestic violence during quarantine, etc.), and everyone received competent advice. Participants of the meetings noted that legal advice is a very important support during this difficult time.

Psychologist of the Fund "Sukhumi" Manana Gotsiridze with the help of a messenger talked with beneficiaries in Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality), Senaki and Tskaltubo. In addition, there were individual dialogues. There were also calls from the former clients, who are now abroad.

Despite the distance, all meetings were emotional - women shared their problems, feelings and received advice on how to establish interpersonal relationships during quarantine, how to avoid conflicts, and keep calm.

The psychologist’s advice on these topics was published on the Facebook page of the Fund “Sukhumi". Women expressed gratitude for the attention. This helps them in this difficult time.

During the period of self-isolation, domestic conflicts are very frequent - this is evidenced by statistics published by the country's Ministry of Internal Affairs. Against this background, the Fund "Sukhumi" actively continues online meetings with couples on the topic of conflict management. A video appeal of conflict expert on “Self-isolation and conflict management” was prepared. Based on feedback, such meetings will continue in this mode and in the coming months.

In March, group and individual meetings of the lawyer were held. On March 4, there was a meeting with a violence victim in the office of the Fund “Sukhumi”. On March 9, a group legal consultation was held in the village Tskaltubo (Tskaltubo municipality). The lawyer also met with the beneficiaries of the Fund “Sukhumi” Day Center - a cutting and sewing course. Then on-line meetings began - the lawyer gave online consultations and advice to the beneficiaries in Senaki, Khoni and Ozurgeti.

The questions were different, including the current situation, but the conversation mainly concerned the law on domestic violence, mechanisms for awarding victim status and protecting the victim from violence.