Nowadays Nino Chanishvili is the Deputy Chairman of Ozurgeti City Council and the Chairman of the Gender Equality Council. However, she has gone through quite a difficult and interesting way so far. She lives in a small village of Ozurgeti, where she used her father's minibus as a daily transportation, surprising those around her. Later, she came up with the idea of founding her own driving school and she was able to do so even though she faced many challenges from the public because of her gender in this field. She was able to overcome all obstacles, stereotype that hindered the achievement of the goal, she became a successful car driving teacher, she is an active female politician who leads gender policy in local government and is also the mother of a small child.

In July, informational meetings with women initiative groups were held in the target municipalities of Tskaltubo, Senaki, Khoni, Kutaisi, Tsalenjikha and Zugdidi.

The main issue that was discussed at the meetings was the promotion of women's economic empowerment.

The women were provided with information about the programs are presented in their municipalities, how to get involved in these programs and what are the opportunities for cooperation.

The project is implemented with the support of the USAID

Lizi Tkabladze - member of Khoni youth initiative group

This is her success story...

"Within the framework of this project, I got acquainted with the issues that are interesting to me and gained new skills that will be used in other events and activities in the future.

Filling out a project proposal and drawing up a budget was a new experience for me.

Among the activities carried out within the project, I would highlight wall painting, which was very interesting and fun for the participants. Children were given the opportunity to express their creativity and we received the desired result...

By participating in this project, I became more independent and self-confident. I think that similar events contribute to the development and growth of young people in many directions".

The project is implemented with the support of the USAID

During the ordinary meeting members of Zugdidi IDP Initiative Group spoke about networking, responsibility of network members, importance of teamwork.

They once again expressed their position that they are ready to actively engage in the process of identifying the challenges of IDPs and solving their problems.

The participants expressed their views about creation of a local network of Zugdidi municipality. According to them extensive networking will contribute to IDP problem solution.

The project is implemented with the support

 of the UN Women organization

During the meetings held in the Women Support Centers, it was revealed that women living in different communities especially need information about the response mechanisms in case of violence, whom to contact to help the victim and protect her.

The meetings focused on these issues. Several conflict families were mentioned, which were readdressed to the psychologist and a lawyer by the mobilizers.

The meetings were held in Vani, Tsalenjikha, Bagdati and Chokhatauri Women Support Centers.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

Three psychologists work with Ukrainian refugees in the Women Fund "Sukhumi" now.

Manana Gotsiridze, who has a lot of work in 10 Women Support Centers and a rehabilitation center, also cares about psycho-emotional condition of Ukrainians.

The second psychologist, Marina Stepanenko, is from Kyiv. And now there is also a third psychologist, Anna Shalimova from Kherson.

From the side of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" it is a good gesture to employ women in a foreign city so that they have an income and help their fellow countrymen.

There is enough work for everyone: there are 197 people in our information base and everyone needs help, competent advice from a psychologist...

Manana Gotsiridze: I met with families who came from Kyiv, Odessa, Kharkov and Kherson. You name these cities and it’s clear what they suffered, what they feel ... We conduct primary psychological consultation, collect anamnesis and plan the next meetings. When we go to them, we also bring the necessary products. I think this is also good support.

During the ordinary meeting of Khoni Women Initiative Group was devoted to the discussion of the principles of creating and operating the network: what strategic directions should the network have in order to actively work in terms of implementing 1325 UN Resolution at the local level. Group members are motivated to be actively involved in both local and regional networks. The meeting identified the most sensitive issues for the local community.

At the end of the meeting, the participants watched a clip in which the women talk about the training cycle. As a result of the trainings, the competence of each of them increased in different directions. They will work actively in their communities to change the lives of IDP women and girls for the better.

The project is implemented with the support

 of the UN Women organization

Meetings with a psychologist in July were organized by the Women Support Centers of Vani, Kobuleti, Koki (Zugdidi municipality), Tsalenjikha, Samtredia. In these municipalities, group and individual meetings were held with the participation of 34 beneficiaries.

Outcomes of the meetings: two victims of domestic violence were identified and work is ongoing.

In addition to field meetings, individual psychotherapeutic sessions were held online for 9 beneficiaries living in the regions.

In Kutaisi, in the office of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, work was carried out with 16 beneficiaries and one with married couple.

The work gradually brings positive results and the beneficiaries express their gratitude for the improved health, solved problems, improved psychological climate in the family.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

Fatima Robakidze is a mobilizer of Tkibuli Women Support Center.

The center was opened in April of last year and is one of ten ones that are actively working in 10 municipalities within the framework of the project “Strengthening of Women's Rights in Western Georgia”.

In this story, we present a monologue of the mobilizer of Tkibuli Women's Support Center.

This is how Fatima Robakidze turned from an ordinary teacher into a civil activist.

“I am a teacher and believed that I should have the only focus - the educational process and the organization of the educational environment in my class together with the parents of my students. I thought I shouldn't waste time on other issues. The first window opened for me when I was asked to teach a lesson in civic education for a certain period of time.

In the same period, I got acquainted with the work of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and began to understand that everything that I consider sacred - creation of a favorable climate for children to study and educate, depends on many factors.

The Forum - Theater has a rather interesting history: many performances, dozens of actors who have changed over the years... and now archiving of this story begun - the scenarios were collected and published in one collection. This is kind of a guide about a  scenario the performances are built on...

In July, rehearsals and performances were actively held. The Forum - Theater held two performances in Kutaisi - in the central park and in a new park on the bank of the Rioni River.

There were not many spectators, but their feedback was interesting. Tourists spoke with particular enthusiasm. They drew attention to the importance of this unusual form of dialogue with the audience.

Проект осуществляется при поддержке организации Brot

für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Германия)