On June 8 and 9, 2024, the Women's Fund 'Sukhumi' organized training for regional journalists and students from the Faculty of Journalism at Akaki Tsereteli State University on gender disinformation and gender-responsive reporting. The training aimed to increase the participants' awareness and skills in identifying gender disinformation and practicing gender-sensitive reporting.
On the first day of the training, June 8, 18 journalists from media outlets operating in Imereti, including TV, radio, online media agencies, and independent bloggers attended. On June 9, 23 first- to fourth-year students from the Faculty of Journalism at Akaki Tsereteli State University attended.
The participants evaluated the training as useful and informative. They emphasized the importance of the knowledge and skills they acquired, which they plan to use in their daily activities. Discussing real examples and practical recommendations contributed to a better understanding of the problems and helped identify effective ways to combat gender misinformation.
Training for teachers was held at the Hotel “West Tower Kutaisi”. Gender, gender-based violence, violence identification, communication with a child and referral stages, legal mechanisms and the role of teachers in violence prevention, international documents - these issues were discussed at the training. Participants represented 9 municipalities (Senaki, Terjola, Samtredia, Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khoni, Zugdidi, Khobi, Vani).
Participants were actively involved in training process, in discussions, and shared their experiences with each other. They were given a practical manual developed for teachers - available on the website of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”:
According to the participants, the training will help destroy gender stereotypes and prevent violence through early identification and intervention mechanisms. They will introduce gender approaches in schools and will actively participate in the process of identifying cases of violence.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
Women Fund "Sukhumi" organized a training with young people on the topic: "Mediation as a Ritual of Reconciliation" in school of the village Didinedzi of Zugdidi Municipality. The importance of mediation, conflict management and development of necessary skills - this was the aim of the training. In the first part, the participants talked about the historical role of mediation, drawing a parallel with today. The second part, the thematic block was devoted to the essence of mediation and a detailed discussion of the skills that a mediator should possess. In the third, practical part, the participants improved the theoretical material with role-playing games. Young people rated the training as timely and effective. The members of Didinedzi women initiative group spoke about the issues that have been resolved and those that need to be resolved in the community. The problem of drainage canals was revealed, as crops and plants are damaged during heavy rains. The women initiative group discussed the elaboration of an advocacy plan.
Women Fund Sukhumi's Tbilisi office representative, Ekaterine Gamakharia, was selected to participate in the Regional Training of Trainers on the Women, Peace, and Security and Humanitarian Action (WPS-HA) Compact in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 5-6. This event, organized by the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) and the OSCE WIN Project, brought together women peacebuilders and mediators from Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the South Caucasus.
On June 5, Ekaterine took part in a subregional meeting for South Caucasus women peacebuilders, where she engaged with OSCE and GNWP representatives to discuss the current situation in Georgia. She focused on the challenges posed by the "Foreign Agent Law" and its impact on women's participation, particularly for women peacebuilders. On June 6, during the hybrid event "Advancing Women’s Leadership in Women, Peace, and Security and Humanitarian Action: Assessing Progress and Charting the Way Forward," Ekaterine addressed regional progress and future strategies to ensure effective women's participation and leadership. The forum was attended by officials from the OSCE, UN Women, and the European Union.
The members of the youth group of the village Koki - Zugdidi municipality completed their work on the mini-project: "Hello, Abkhazia!", within the framework of this project various activities were carried out - a discussion on the topic of peace, meeting with peers, showing and analyzing a film. The aim of the project was to popularize the topic of peace. The members of the women initiative group worked on the topic of advocacy. The participants discussed the named problems. An advocacy plan was developed, according to which the group members will try to implement the process effectively.
The Women's Fund "Sukhumi" launched a new campaign about gender disinformation with the slogan "Embrace the truth, reject gender disinformation."
As part of the campaign, we run an Instagram page called womenfundsukhumi. You can follow us and read our informative posts, particularly about what gender disinformation is and the myths and stereotypes that exist.
Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/womenfundsukhumi/
And on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@womenfundsukhumi?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
In May, interesting work was going on in all six courses (Georgian language, English, acting, photography and videography, polymer clay modeling, embroidery).
A new group of photo and video shoots was completed at the end of May. In May, a new modeling group started training. Children are very talented and have unusual vision, imagination, and skills. Maxim Belov, for example, creates incredible characters that he invents himself.
Participants in Georgian and English language courses are gradually improving their results. They read well, pronounce specific sounds, make sentences, and conduct dialogues.
In May, the psychologist also worked actively, according to plan. Conversations were held with children on the following topics: predicting feelings, managing emotions, empathy, etc. 9 group and 10 individual meetings were held.
The main thing that the project serves is a friendly atmosphere that can be felt in all courses. Children help each other, worry when someone is sick....
On May 26, all children participated in an event dedicated to the Day of Independence of Georgia. They presented their works made during the modeling and embroidery courses, as well as their drawings. And participants in acting art courses read poetry in Georgian.
The project is implemented with the support of the Czech organization PIN
May 26 – Independence Day of Georgia. The Women Fund “Sukhumi” organized a celebration of this day at the Hotel “Argo”. Everything was impressive: a greeting from the leaders of the organization, a documentary film about Georgia, a performance by the puppet theater “turtledove”, the dance studio “Oasis”, which was founded in Kutaisi by a Ukrainian woman, songs and dances performed by Ukrainian and Georgian children, a singer and composer from Kyiv, a poetess from Berdyansk , beautiful cakes for birthday girls.
All participants were awarded with certificates of gratitude.
Group of children (from Ukraine, Belarus, Russia) take various courses at the fund “Sukhumi”. Photos were displayed in the foyer showing the work of all the courses, handmade things from polymer clay, the participants of the acting courses performed at the concert.
The event began with the Georgian national anthem and ended with the song “Mravaljamier”.
The project is implemented with the support of the Czech organization PIN
A working meeting was held at the office of the Women Fund "Sukhumi", which was attended by the members of the initiative group - IDPs from various collective centers of Kutaisi.
Group members try to use the skills acquired during the training and are motivated to solve their problems. According to them, the project empowered each participant and convinced them of their own abilities. All this is a necessary condition for the successful implementation of the advocacy process.
The project is implemented with the support of USAID local governance program
