The New Year is coming, and the owners and guests of the Rehabilitation Center of the Women Fund "Sukhumi", have created a beautiful New Year's atmosphere.
In December, another group of victims of violence was here - two women with children, 6 people in total. During their stay, they passed comprehensive work with a psychologist, lawyer, and social worker. The teacher worked with the children, they spent interesting and creative time together...
During 2023, more than 30 women with their children received our support.
Psychologist Manana Gotsiridze shared with us the story of one of the women. Nani (conventional name) is 45 years old. She was brought from one of our target municipalities with two adult children.
Nani left home several times and returned after negotiations and persuasion. Three years ago she even called the police, but then withdrew the statement.
“People still talk about me, this is the woman who wanted to put her husband in prison. Mother did everything to convince me to stay with my husband - it’s not good to be called divorced, be patient, we will help you, where to return, your daughter-in-law is at home and your place is not here, you are already a guest. After I got married, I got lost and still can’t find myself. Only children give motivation, but I no longer want children to be in this environment. Before this, I was never able to close the doors behind me. I hope this time it will work.”
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Women mutual assistance groups have joined the international campaign "16 active days against gender-based violence ". This campaign empowers women and helps them find more supporters at the local level.
All groups, together with local governments, try to solve their problems. A psychologist from the Women Fund “Sukhumi” presented at several meetings and began working on difficult cases.
Group members talk openly about problems. The meetings were attended by representatives of the City Hall, social services and the gender council, who are ready to get involved in the advocacy process and help women achieve their goals.
The December meetings were distinguished by the fact that group members were awarded with certificates of gratitude for their trust and cooperation. This is a good motivation for them.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
“Leadership, presentation, public speech” - this topic became the topic of the training held at Tskaltubo Innovation Center.
Leaders of homeowners’ association living in the IDP community took part in the training. Practical trainings, thematic videos, and exercises improved the theoretical material.
Participants noted that such trainings are important for them because they develop their skills and competencies.
Participants of the training had the opportunity to listen to representatives of the center “Abkhazeti” and receive the necessary information about the services they offer to IDPs.
The work is carried out in partnership with the Center “Abkhazeti” within the framework of the project “Support of the conflict transformation in the South Caucasus and Moldova”.
Fill out the questionnaire! - Such request appeared on our web page.
The introduction says:
Our website “Digital Resource Center for Violence Victims” - https://sosfsokhumi.ge/ has been operating for the second year.
The number of users is increasing every day.
This means taking into account visitors’ requests for the most interesting, important information.
You can help us improve the site!
Dozens of people have already filled out a questionnaire, which contains following questions: how important such an information platform is, how actively people use the site, and whether the information posted is useful for women victims/potential victims of domestic violence.
What questions are of great interest? This question is followed by 8 possible answers representing the categories of the website: services of central/local authorities and NGOs, legal mechanisms/laws, links to hotlines and applications, success stories, statistics, map of risk indicators.
In addition, we are interested in what other information readers want to receive and how easy it is to find the necessary information on the site.
Analysis of the received responses will help to improve the site.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
Peace, peace building, peace negotiations - training on these issues was held with the youth group of the village Didinedzi - Zugdidi municipality. With an interactive mode, on the background of the discussion, the participants analyzed what is needed to achieve peace and what is the role of young people in these processes. They understood what negotiation is, what segments are necessary and important to envisage for the proper conduct of the negotiation process.The whole group was actively involved in the training with the help of role-playing games. A meeting of the women initiative group was held within the framework of the 16-day campaign against gender-based violence. Didinedzi women and youth groups held many events and actions within the campaign. Wall newspapers, slogans, video clips were prepared, films were shown on the topic of violence, a survey was conducted on the role of women in social and political activities. Men also joined the action. School pupils, members of the Forum Theater, presented mini-plays against violence. The main goal is to raise awareness and reduce violence against women.
The Women Fund “Sukhumi”, in partnership with the Gender Equality Council of Tsalenjikha Municipality, held a series of information meetings with women. The meetings were held in the town Jvari and the villages: Nakifu, Lia, Pakhulani, Sachino, Jgali.
Participants were informed about the global campaign of “16 active days against gender-based violence”, specially prepared information booklets were distributed, and meeting participants with orange ribbons expressed support for the campaign.
Who is the leader, what are his characteristics, what is a presentation, public speech, how to introduce yourself - these and other interesting questions were discussed at the training - “Leadership, presentation and public speech”, which was held for active women IDPs living in collective centers of Zugdidi.
Participants spoke about their leadership experience, opportunities and gave concrete examples of successful leadership.
At the end, they noted that the training was necessary and interesting, and they would definitely use the knowledge gained in their work.
The work is carried out in partnership with the Center “Abkhazeti” within the framework of the project “Support of the conflict transformation in the South Caucasus and Moldova”.
Sasha is seven years old, Kirill is eight, Artyom is 15, and Levan, whose mother is Ukrainian and father is Georgian, is ten.
These children often come to psychologist Manana Gotsiridze together with their mothers. Because they need help - the war has changed their way of life, their character...
Fear of loneliness, difficulties of adaptation, hyperactivity, isolation – the psychologist works on these problems with children from Ukraine.
In parallel with children, consultations are held with adults to “ventilate” negative emotions.
In December, the psychologist met with 14 Ukrainian refugees. These meetings, free psychological consultations, useful advice and assistance are especially valuable and necessary for them.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The Women's Fund 'Sukhumi' organized practical training for representatives of women's civil society organizations in Western Georgia. The training, led by Ekaterine Gamakharia, Head of the Tbilisi office of the Women's Fund 'Sukhumi,' focused on the theme 'Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence in War and Post-War Settings.
During the training, participants acquired knowledge about common forms of gender-based violence in times of war and conflict. The session also involved discussions on the direct and indirect impacts of armed or violent conflicts on women, girls, and other vulnerable groups. Throughout the training, participants actively shared their personal experiences during the post-war period and engaged in discussions about strategies crucial for the effective protection of women from violence.
The training was organized by the WAVE network, including the 'Crisis Center for Victims of Sexual Violence' in Yerevan, Armenia; the Women's Fund “Sukhumi” in Kutaisi and Tbilisi, Georgia; and the 'United Women's Foundation Banja Luka' in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. They utilized a training module based on the 2022 toolkit “Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in war and post-war settings: experiences and recommendations of women's NGOs.”
The guide is available at the following link: https://wave-network.org/toolkit-prevention-response-gbv-war/?fbclid=IwAR03LQ8QeKi3hM6de-O3nugIL8RdShWbYQ76tAA48o2YRefI4PY65ZVwwxg
