Women initiative group of the village Didinedzi - Zugdidi municipality worked on advocacy of the problems identified within the framework of theresearch "Assessment of the quality of human security and gender needs of the population". Didinedzi Youth Forum Theater participants held performances in public schools of Orulu and Koki. The presentations were well received by the audience. Young actors sent the society short and concrete messages against violence. It was shown how a pupils with special needs can be included in various activities together with all other pupils. After the performances, a discussion was held on the issues raised. The youth club held another performance of the Forum Theater in the community of Didinedzi, in front of the village community. The actors presented two scenes on the topic of the conflict.

Empowering and supporting women, identifying cases of violence, advocating for various problems of communities - these are the main directions that determine the activities of the Women Support Centers.

An action was held at  Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality) Women Support Center  - a group of women were made a free blood test; a socially disadvantaged woman in Samtredia was assisted in preparation of necessary documents; in Kobuleti, with the help of a mobilizer, a woman victim of violence was included in the municipal program and her situation improved. In Baghdati and Tsalenjikha, women had the prospect of economic empowerment, as after being informed they were included in economic programs.

Such results were recorded in the June report of Khurcha/Zugdidi, Samtredia, Tsalenjikha, Kobuleti and Baghdati Women Support Centers.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

Brot für die Welt is an authoritative organization that, as a reliable partner and donor, has identified and successfully improved many areas in the activities of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”. The areas are following: violence prevention, monitoring and advocacy, youth empowerment centers, forum theater / shadow theater / puppet theater, rehabilitation centers, support for Ukrainian refugees.

Representatives of Brot für die Welt Kim Kvibuka and Lilian Kurtz listened to the current report, which was presented by the team of Kutaisi head office and Tbilisi representative office of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”  in the form of interesting presentations.

“Thank you for showing us the diversity of your work. It is very impressive what you do and what you strive for. I'm sure you'll have great results!" - said Kim Kwibuka  at the end of the meeting.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

International IDP / Refugee Day was celebrated by the Women Fund "Sukhumi" with the aroma of Sukhumian coffee in Kutaisi Boulevard - for the third time.

Along with coffee brewed on the sand, the guests tasted cookies with painted icing on the theme of Abkhazia.

The chairman of the organization Alla Gamakharia presented certificates of appreciation for friendship and partnership to: Kakha Enukidze (Mayor of Bagdati), Nodar Giorgidze (chairman of Bagdati City Council), Shalva Kirtadze (rector of Kutaisi State University), Ketevan Tskhakaya (head of Imereti Scientists’ Union "Spectrum"), Lado Jurkhadze (Mayor of Khoni), Alu Gamakharia (founder of the Association “Business and Peaceful Caucasus”), Pakizo Panchulidze (Director of Tskaltubo, public school No. 1), Maya Nutsubidze-Kobulia (Director of Tskaltubo, public school No. 4), Eliso Pantskhava (associate professor, translator).

The cycle of information meetings in Bagdati municipality continues. The ordinary meeting was organized by the advocacy group of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and the Interdepartmental Commission of Bagdati City hall for the prevention of violence against women and / or domestic violence, protection of victims of violence and their assistance. The meeting was held in the village Persati. The meeting was attended by heads and teachers of kindergartens of the villages Zegani, Sakraula and Persati, the head of the association of kindergartens and representatives of the administration.

The coordinator of the children's rights department presented information about the services they provide to vulnerable families. The participants were also provided with detailed information about the work and services of the Fund "Sukhumi". As a problem, the participants named the fact that the victim does not have a guarantee of security, and the work in terms of prevention is weak.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

An active training course continues at the Youth Empowerment Centers.  5 more trainings were held in June,- this time in the municipalities of Senaki, Samtredia, Vani, Kobuleti and Chokhatauri. These were days full of interesting and creative activities.

Young people with leadership qualities were identified in all groups. They began to duplicate what they learned. Summer holidays have begun in schools, but despite this, young people do not slow down the pace of work, they try to hold many initiated events in their schools, towns or villages.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

An information exchange meeting was held Kobuleti City Hall. The meeting was initiated by the Municipal Gender Equality Council and the Women Fund "Sukhumi", in cooperation with the Educational Resource Center and the Department for Children's Rights of the City Hall. The topic of the meeting was “Local cooperation for creation of a child/family-oriented psycho-social environment”.

During the meeting, representatives of the education sector were acquainted with the main activities of  Kobuleti department for the protection of children's rights and their support. There was a dialogue regarding the services focused on children/families, challenges and prospects for cooperation with the educational sector in the field of protecting children's rights. Specific cases requiring urgent management were discussed. An agreement was reached to exchange  such information systematically.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

The memorandum of mutual cooperation was signed by the chairman of Khobi City Council Levan Kavtaradze and the chairman of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" Alla Gamakharia.

The memorandum, in partnership with the non-governmental sector and local authorities, is another guarantor of democratic principles and gender justice in civil society. The parties agreed to strengthen the Gender Equality Council, improve the psycho-social and economic situation of women, jointly implement effective initiatives, youth projects, etc.

Fund “Sukhumi”  has been cooperating with the municipalities of Western Georgia for many years, and we have managed to implement many successful projects. We hope to create many “success stories” in Khobi municipality also, with the correct cooperation strategy”, said Alla Gamakharia.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

An information meeting organized by the advocacy group of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and the Children's Department of the municipality was held in the kindergarten No. 2 in Samtredia.

The participants - the administration and teachers of the kindergarten - got acquainted with the work of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and the services that the organization provides to women. They also received information about the program of the City Hall Department for the protection of children's rights.

During the meeting, a number of acute problems were identified that require immediate response. The participants also planned cooperation with the children's department.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

A round table with the participation of members of the Interdepartmental Council of the municipality was held in Senaki. The local referral entities: members of the Gender Equality Council of the City Council, representatives of local government, healthcare, educational resource center and police participated at the meeting.

There was a conversation about the situation in terms of violence and assistance to victims. Important time was devoted to the lawyer, who familiarized the participants with the referencing document, as well as the duties and functions of concrete authorized persons.

At the meeting, the participants were also informed about the practical guide/toolkit: "Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in war and post-war settings - experiences and recommendations of women's NGOs", which was developed by the WAVE Network in collaboration with its four WAVE members in 2022 by the support of the OSCE. The Toolkit describes best practices and the strategies employed by the women's NGOs to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in different phases of conflict.

• Strategies during Wartime and emergency response settings were shared by Ukrainian and Armenian partners Sexual Assault Crisis Center (Yerevan, Armenia), Centre “Women’s Perspectives” (Lviv, Ukraine);
• Strategies during Protracted conflict were described by the Women's Foundation "Sukhumi" (Kutaisi, Tbilisi, Georgia);
• Strategies during Post-war and long-term perspective were based on the experience of the Bosnia-Herzegovina partner. Foundation United Women Banja Luka (Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina)

(A practical guide is available here https://www.osce.org/secretariat/530695)

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)