Advocacy for community problems, advocacy strategy and drawing up an action plan - training on these issues for women leaders from different IDP communities was held at the office of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”.

The participants identified the factors that determine the relevance of the problem and the path of the problem from identification to solution, which ensures the success of advocacy.

After defining the essence of advocacy, the participants discussed the results and reasons of the problem using the “tree method”. And with the help of the SWOT form, they were able to analyze strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and resources, and identify expected risks.

In the second part of the training, participants were divided into three groups and worked in groups on an action plan for advocacy on a specific issue.

The feedback shows that they are ready to use the acquired knowledge into practice:

“We learned about the advocacy process. All the information is necessary for us".

“We worked on drawing up an advocacy plan, prescribed all the activities, envisaged the risks. We will use all the materials in practice”.

The project is implemented with the support of  USAID local governance program

“We gained very important information about the advocacy process.”

“We did it like this, but through training we learned how necessary it is to take correct steps”.

“We have been working on drafting an advocacy plan together. The knowledge gained will help us conduct advocacy correctly.”

This is what the participants – leader women and girls, representatives of different IDP communities of Kutaisi – said at the end of the training. The training was held at the office of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" on the topic: "Advocacy for community problems, advocacy strategy and drawing up an action plan".

The participants worked on the reasons and consequences using the “problem tree” method, and also did a SWOT analysis - strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and risks.

After the theoretical part, the participants worked in groups on an action plan for advocacy regarding a specific issue.

The project is implemented with the support of  USAID local governance program

A meeting of the interdepartmental commission on the prevention of violence against women and/or domestic violence, protection and assistance to victims of violence was held in Chokhatauri municipality.

During the meeting, the results of initiatives implemented with the support of the Women Fund “Sukhumi” were discussed: training on positive parenting; report on a needs research of the families with children, which was carried out in four administrative units for the given moment.

At the meeting, a dialogue about prospects for cooperation between departments and joint future activities was also held.

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

During a meeting of Senaki Interdepartmental Commission, the results of the work carried out within the framework of the mini-project of civil initiatives “Break the silence - stop the violence” were discussed. According to the position of the commission members, such work must be continued with the support of the municipality in order to envisage the needs in terms of information and educational activities and the provision of services.

The commission discussed cases of domestic violence and agreed on issues of joint response. Once again, the importance of cross-sector coordination and collaboration has become clear.

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

Women and girls, active leaders of IDP communities in Zugdidi and Senaki municipalities, took part in an online meeting, the topic of which was “Creating a network, defining the principles of the network and prospects for the future.”

Project assistants spoke about the activities and challenges, as well as the need to support women and strengthen partnerships.

The women - participants of the meeting shared the audience the information they received during the training. According to them, participation in the project is a new opportunity for them to advocate for problems identified in their communities.

The work is carried out in partnership with the Center “Abkhazeti” within the framework of the project “Support of the conflict transformation in the South Caucasus and Moldova.

Friendly environment for children is a new project in frames of which the courses for a mixed group of children are held (there are children from Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, as well as children living in Kutaisi).

They come to the office of the Women Fund “Sukhumi” almost every day and attend two or three courses. They study Georgian and English with interest. In addition, they attend the courses of polymer clay, acting art, sewing, photography and videography. There is also a psychological support group.

Children spend their free time from school with interest together with their teachers. They managed to make friends with each other and the first results of their training have already appeared.

The project is implemented with the support of the Czech organization PIN

March was full of special activity at the Women Support Centers. The topic of discussion was “Women and solidarity, reality and prospects.” At the initiative of the mobilizers, events of various formats were held: information meetings, debates, film screenings and discussions.

Meeting participants recalled stories of successful women and reviewed tools important for achieving success. They also talked about the needs of women and emphasized the need for women's solidarity, especially in the field of protecting women's rights.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

A group of women from Kutaisi passed training in various directions: working with polymer clay, cutting and sewing, manicure, and making souvenirs from colored epoxy. Then trainings were held for them, during which associate professor of Kutaisi State University Elguja Deisadze taught the participants to form business ideas, rank them and present project proposals.

The third and final stage of the small grants program was the final competition, in which beneficiaries won with their business proposals and received grants for their independent activities.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

Psychologist of the Fund “Sukhumi” Ekaterine Kvachakidze held meetings at Samtredia and Tskaltubo Women Support Centers, as well as at the rehabilitation center of the Fund “Sukhumi”.

The main topic of the meetings was “Domestic violence and forms of violence”. Unfortunately, it is difficult for women to talk about their problems loudly, and anonymously they openly express their opinions on paper. According to the psychologist, they have a lack of self-confidence, which prevents them from taking their first steps. The right advice positively changes the life of a victim of violence. This is why women say that meetings with a psychologist are important and it empowers them.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

 March turned out to be a busy month for psychologist Manana Gotsiridze. The work was carried out in different formats. About 20 people in the regions received individual online consultations. In Kutaisi, direct work was carried out with 12 beneficiaries. Each of them has their own problems, and the psychologist tries to solve these problems.

Traditionally, comprehensive work was held in the rehabilitation center of the Fund, where women victims of violence were located. The psychologist has done her part of work with these women. She also worked with beneficiaries of the day rehabilitation center, holding group meetings on Fridays.

A group meeting in Khobi with kindergarten staff was important. The topic of the conversation was relevant and useful: how to help children who came to kindergarten to adapt, how to prepare a teacher so that the child is not exposed to stress and trauma. They got acquainted with the peculiarities of the child’s psycho-physiological development with interest.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)