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)
On May 25-27, leaders of women initiative groups gathered in Istanbul. Training on "Evidence-based Advocacy" was held for them. Women from different regions and communities were involved in the work process. They practically participate in the advocacy of various problems, that's why the training was especially interesting for them. The participants reviewed the tree of problems, improved their knowledge about goals, tasks, formulation of expected results, types of advocacy and related issues. They selected priority issues from the problems in their community and worked in groups. They independently drew up a sample advocacy plan and showed presentations. During the training, the leaders of the initiative groups acquired new knowledge, skills, experience, got to know each other better and drafted plans for future.
Mobilizers of the Women Support Center actively work with the activists of women communities to identify priority issues. Infrastructural problems are mostly identified. Women's centers in Senaki and Terjola have chosen the issues of cleaning sewer wells and regulation of street lighting for the advocacy.
In May, monitoring was also carried out at the Women Support Centers of Kobuleti and Bagdati. As a result of the monitoring, it was revealed which direction needs to be improved, what are the most acute necessities. The next meetings will be planned envisaging these needs.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The first meeting was held in Terjola. The first group of self-assistance was formed.
The project, which started with the support of the Equality Fund (Canada), includes lot of interesting things, and one of them is the creation of women's self-assistance groups in 10 municipalities.
In May, groups were formed in Terjola, Senaki, Chokhatauri, Samtredia, Tkibuli, Vani and Kobuleti. The women who gathered in these municipalities already understood the mission of the group, that they should facilitate the exchange of information about the services available for violence victims in the country. They can also advocate their problems. Municipal groups will do a lot of useful things together.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
The training course continues. The next five meetings were held in Chokhatauri, Tkibuli, Kobuleti, Vani and Bagdati municipalities. The meetings were active, interestin, with group work and effective feedback.
Guests from local governments, teachers, parents attend our trainings. According to them, such non-formal education is necessary in schools. They place particular emphasis on conflict management and other important issues that they work on during the training course.
10 meetings have already been held at Youth Empowerment Centers of 10 municipalities. Leaders have been identified in all groups and they will carry out the initiated activities in their schools.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The advocacy group of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" and Vani Gender Equality Council organized meetings in the schools of the villages Isriti and Salkhino. The meetings were attended by upper-graders, teachers and administration.
The meetings were very informative for the participants. They got acquainted with the work of the Fund "Sukhumi" and the services that the organization provides to women.
They also received information about the program of the City Hall Department for Children's Rights, which was presented by the coordinator and the inspector of the department. The Secretary of Gender Equality Council informed the audience about their work and plans. Participants identified a number of critical issues requiring immediate response. Further cooperation was planned during the meetings.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
We have good news - Ukrainian Maria Dobrovolskaya gave birth to a healthy boy in Kutaisi. They are already home, mother and baby feel well.
Another innovation: we were addressed by a volunteer of the program “Sonyashnik”, according to which 5 Ukrainian teenagers from 15 to 18 years old will be able to have an interesting time in a summer camp. The Women Fund "Sukhumi" helped them gather a group for free rest in the camp.
Currently we have 523 people in our database. 43 people were added in May.
This month, our support was shown in many ways:
- Food was provided to 30 families (63 people)
- 6 families received assistance in paying for housing
- We supported 6 families in paying utilities
- One Ukrainian woman was paid part of the cost of the operation, everything went well and she is getting better.
- Free psychological assistance for refugees from Ukraine continues
Maria Dobrovolskaya is 22 years old. She lived in Kyiv, during two months of war she was there and experienced all the horrors of the war. For a concrete period of time, the girl moved to Vinnitsa to her grandmother and then left for Poland. She worked for several months in Katowice and Lodz. In Katowice she met a Georgian man, got married and they came to Georgia together.
At first they were in the husband's family - in Svaneti, where they received the Ukrainian daughter-in-law warmly. Maria was pregnant when they moved to Kutaisi. Like many refugees from Ukraine, Maria's family was also assisted by the Women Fund “Sukhumi”. After the birth of the child, representatives of the Fund visited the mother and child, congratulated them with great joy and brought the necessary gifts for the child: clothes, hygiene products, diapers, food...
The young mother thanked the guests for their assistance and support, which is so important in such a difficult time.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Identification of IDP needs existing in their community and their advocacy in relevant departments is the main activity of Kutaisi Women Initiative Group.
Currently the group is advocating for infrastructure problems identified in three IDP settlements.
Representatives of the local self-government service got studied the problems and promised to help, in frames of their capabilities.
The project is implemented with the support
of the UN Women organization
