On June 18-19, Ekaterine Gamakharia, head of the Tbilisi office of Women Fund "Sukhumi", participated in Feminist Fest 2025 in Stockholm, Sweden. The event, hosted by the Swedish Defence University, brought together feminist activists, peacebuilders, researchers, and academics from around the world.
One of the highlights of the festival was the launch of the book “Brave Women: Fighting for Justice in the 21st Century”, featuring a co-authored chapter by Ekaterine Gamakharia and feminist researcher Magda Cardenas. Their chapter -"Transitional Activism: Women Peace Efforts within Conflict-Affected Populations in Georgia" explores the transformation of displaced women in Georgia from victims to leaders and advocates, drawing on personal narratives and the long-standing work of Women Fund "Sukhumi".
“This experience was unique. I was not just a research subject I was an author with the freedom to share my perspective and truth,” said Gamakharia.
She emphasized that in today’s shrinking civic space in Georgia, where the term “gender” is increasingly politicized, displaced and conflict-affected women continue their fight - “Nothing about us, without us!”
On June 12–13, an international conference dedicated to Women, Peace, and Security was held in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Organized with the support of UN Women, the event marked the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and brought together more than 160 women peacebuilders, leaders, and activists from 25 countries.
Among the four women delegates from Georgia was Ekaterine Gamakharia, Head of the Tbilisi Representative Office of Women Fund "Sukhumi." The conference focused on strengthening women’s leadership and gender-responsive justice as central elements of sustainable peacebuilding and post-conflict recovery.
At the end of the event, participants developed a unified vision for advancing the implementation of Resolution 1325. Their collective statement emphasized: “We will not wait another 25 years. We will act now to place women’s leadership, gender-responsive justice, peacebuilding, and restorative processes at the center of all peace efforts – in every country, for every generation.”
Reflecting on her participation, Ekaterine Gamakharia noted that being in Sarajevo was a powerful reminder of what true recovery means:
During the ordinary meetings of women's mutual assistance groups, various cases were discussed, problems and improvement of economic conditions were discussed. In Tskaltubo, women are looking for seasonal work (picking blueberries, nuts or work at seaside resorts). Some of them have such experience and recommend it to others, because additional income will solve many needs.
One of the group members in Khobi was given a smart phone, which will simplify the necessary communication for her.
The members of Kobuleti group are especially grateful to our organization, because no one has shown them so much attention.
The meeting with Chokhatauri group was held online. Psychologist of our organization participated in it. According to the participants of the mutual assistance group, the psychologist's useful advice is a serious support for them.
A great incentive for the participants of the meetings is that such groups operate in 10 municipalities and with the help of project assistant Nino Chabukiani they have the opportunity to share their experiences with each other.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
The cutting and sewing courses organized by the Khobi Women Support Center have ended. Our organization established a day rehabilitation center in the village Shuakhorga.
The two months of the basic course and each lesson were interesting.
The women celebrated the last day of training with an exhibition of their works. They say that they had a good teacher who taught them all the detailes. It was also nice to be together, to communicate...
The graduates will try to apply the knowledge they gained in practice.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Such stories are often written thanks to our work, diligence and effort.
The changes are especially noticeable when it concerns our Rehabilitation Center.
One of the latest stories is following: two mothers and 7 children appeared in the center. Two women with difficult fates and difficult children. This is not surprising: they are traumatized, have experienced violence and live with big problems.
A teacher working with minors notes that at first they hit each other, showed violence and aggression.
Gradually it became clear that in addition to domestic violence, they were victims of bullying at school - by students and teachers. Older children beat younger ones because they do not talk about their problems, and younger children want others to understand their hard situation. A grandmother beat one with a belt, a teacher pulled one's hair so hard that she almost pulled it out...
At the Rehabilitation Center, children learned to cope with bullying and build relationships with others. Mothers also figured out their situation - what is best for their future. The work of a lawyer, social worker and psychologist was aimed precisely at this.
One of the mothers is already divorced and is raising her children on her own, the other still lives in a violent environment, but the determination and current life of the woman with whom she lived in the center for two weeks are an example for her. Both women left Kutaisi full of hope, the children are happy. Work with them, their support will continue, we try to never leave our beneficiaries alone.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The Forum Theatre performances were too impressive for the students. In Kutaisi, at the Niko Nikoladze School-Lyceum, the audience enjoyed the acting talent of their peers, the scenes based on reality. After each performance, there were discussions. Together with director Magda Chikhladze, the audience spoke frankly about bullying, psychological violence and actual problems.
The second performance also took place in Kutaisi, in the central location. The actors of the Forum Theatre played their roles so naturally that several passers-by even tried to help the victim of violence. Then they found out that it was a performance...
The audience says that it is good to talk and discuss violence in this form, because the problem is obvious. The main thing is that we all work together to correct the situation.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
- I am a woman who did everything to keep her family. At the same time, I am a mother who changed the future of her children. I was afraid of how to live, what to do alone. I did not dare to get a divorce. I should have left earlier. I regret that I endured for so long...
This young mother of many children was in our Rehabilitation Center.
There was another young woman with her children - she still lives in an environment of violence.
The advice of a social worker and a lawyer, a course of psychotherapy, days spent in the center gave good results. A special example for her was a woman who escaped violence and lives peacefully with her children. With the help of the City Hall, our support and the support of other organizations, everything was solved gradually and she is grateful...
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Mobilizers covered various topics at information meetings. The problems of domestic violence and ways of prevention are actively discussed everywhere. At the meetings of the Women Support Centers of Khoni, Chokhatauri, Tskaltubo, it became clear that a lot of work on identification is ahead.
Successful practices and results encouraged women from other centers. During the exchange of information, new cases were identified in the Women Support Centers of Khobi, Vani and Senaki.
The Para-specialists of the Fund are actively working with mobilizers. They study the needs of women, inform them about services and programs.
"There are many services that women do not know about, so we must continue to provide information about them, we must talk about this to everyone who cannot come to meetings," noted the beneficiaries. In June, internal monitoring was conducted in the Women Support Centers of Senaki, Tskaltubo, Terjola and Vani. The monitoring showed that process of informing should be continued. The need for professional courses for women was also noted. The problems identified during the monitoring will be implemented from next month and will make the work in direction of supporting women more effective
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
A new course on working with polymer clay has started at Kutaisi day center. The number of people willing to attend has increased significantly, and interest in learning is also high. With the help of teacher Maka Jishkariani, women are mastering a new profession with pleaseure.
At the very first lessons, the group members were met by psychologist Eka Kvachakidze. They already know what our organization offers them, and that we are interested in their success and development.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Kutaisi has actively joined the project "Women Act for Peace and Strengthening of Local Communities". A mutual assistance group was created and the first information meeting was held.
The meeting participants were introduced to the goals, objectives and planned activities of the project. They also learned about the duties and responsibilities of the group members. It is important for them that the project work will contribute to solving problems and improving the socio-economic situation in the IDP communities.