“Today I understood what rights we have and who we should contact if necessary. Proper communication and action are very important.”

“The training showed me the importance of women leadership. I also envisaged my own resources in the process of advocating for issues.”

“Sometimes we don’t even know about municipal programs, sometimes our needs are greater than it is included in the local government budget. Such trainings create our correct civic position.”

These were the feedbacks from the participants at the end of the training. Women and IDP girls living in Kutaisi, attended a training on a actual topic: “Women’s leadership, forms of communication, mechanisms of civic engagement.”

The participation of IDP women in the local policy-making process will significantly increase as a result of the activities planned in frames of the project.

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

“Women's leadership, forms of communication, mechanisms of civic engagement” – IDP women and girls attended the training on these topics. It was attended by 20 people from different IDP communities.

The training was aimed at empowering women by awareness raising. Participants discussed the characteristics of leadership from a personal view. They gave arguments for necessary qualities that woman needs for successful leadership. In the process of group work, they recorded factors that hinder women’s activity.

Participants also heard information about forms of civic participation: they recalled practical examples, about forms and methods of communication with local government, how involved they are in the process of forming local policy and what is the degree of their involvement.

According to the participants, the information received at the training and the support of the Fund “Sukhumi” will help them to be more motivated and actively use forms of civic engagement to solve their problems.

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

The initiative aimed at activation of the work was carried out by members of the “Interdepartmental Commission for the Prevention of Violence against Women and/or Domestic Violence, Protection and Assistance to Victims of Violence” of Vani Municipality.

The civil initiative included an information campaign. Members of the Interdepartmental Commission actively participated in organizing and conducting meetings. They met with representatives of the Mayor, employees of rural outpatient clinics and women activists.

The meeting participants received information not only about the functions of the Interdepartmental Commission, but also about their departments in terms of responding to domestic violence. Particular emphasis was placed on the role of representatives of the Mayor and rural doctors in identifying specific cases.

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

In March, members of the “Interdepartmental Commission for the Prevention of Violence against Women and/or Domestic Violence, Protection and Assistance to Victims of Violence” of Bagdati Municipality conducted an information campaign to promote the effective functioning of the commission. They held meetings with representatives of the City Hall, managers of preschool institutions and members of the youth council. Participants were informed about the function of the Interdepartmental Commission and the importance of citizen participation in the prevention of domestic violence.

These activities will help to activate the work of the Interdepartmental Commission to identify facts of violence and consider specific cases.

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

The round table in the conference room of Samtredia City Council was attended by local referral entities: members of the Gender Equality Council, representatives of local government, police, social, educational and medical spheres.

During the meeting, the main emphasis was placed on the importance of assisting the victims of domestic violence and cooperation with local structures.

The invited lawyer spoke about national procedures for identifying victims of violence against women and/or domestic violence, their protection, assistance and rehabilitation. She paid special attention to interdepartmental cooperation to promote the prevention of violence.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

“Person faces various biological, psychological and social demands throughout life. They require adequate response. The ability to effectively respond to such demands is known as adaptation. Envisaging psychological processes and social conditions makes it easier to predict human behavior,” - noted the psychologist. The main topic of her meetings was “Human Behavior in a Social Environment.”

The meetings were mainly held in a group format. There were also several individual meetings.

Psychologist Ekaterine Kvachakidze met with school teachers, kindergarten teachers, students, women under the risk group and socially vulnerable women at Women Support Centers of Samtredia, Zugdidi (village Didinedzi), Senaki, Tsalenjikha and Kobuleti.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

The last, sixth month has begun at the Youth Empowerment Centers. For the given moment, great preparations for the final meetings are underway. Members of the centers, especially young leaders, prepare presentations demonstrating the knowledge and skills gained as a result of five months of work.

Since the beginning of March, five meetings have been held with the youth of Samtredia, Senaki, Chokhatauri, Zugdidi and Terjola. The performances of the youth and their feedback showed serious results and positive changes to the participants - teachers and parents.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

The ordinary meeting of the monitoring and advocacy group was held in Kobuleti. The initiators of the meeting, together with the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, were the Gender Equality Council of the Municipality and the City Hall Department for the Protection of Children's Rights. The meeting was also attended by heads of administrative units. The conversation concerned the availability of services for victims/potential victims of violence against women and/or domestic violence, the importance of local cooperation and coordination in violence prevention.

Dialogue regarding community needs, periodic exchange of information, pooling of resources to help vulnerable families and issues of cooperation was held among members of the referral entities.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

Representatives of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, together with the Department for the Protection of Children’s Rights of the municipality, held an information meeting in the village Akhalsopeli (Senaki municipality).

The meeting was attended by representatives of the City Hall Department for the Protection of Children's Rights, mothers of many children and single mothers, kindergarten teachers and women from vulnerable groups.

The aim of the meeting was to promote a system of coordination and exchange of information between local referral entities on issues of violence against women and domestic violence. A conversation touched the prevention of domestic violence, the needs of vulnerable women and families with children, as well as municipal services and services offered by the Women Fund “Sukhumi”.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

The heads of kindergartens gathered at Samtredia City Council. The Women Fund “Sukhumi” together with the Gender Equality Council held an information meeting for them.

The following issues were discussed at the meeting: prevention of violence against women and domestic violence, coordination of the actions of local referral entities, identifying the needs of vulnerable families and the need for a local social partnership system.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Department for the Protection of Children’s Rights.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)