She is one of the students, who is passing a course on working with polymer clay. The course is successfully functioning in the Day Rehabilitation Center of the Women Fund "Sukhumi".

- You can't imagine how my life improved, it turns out that many diseases really start from fears and stress. I am very grateful for my better health, restful sleep- she says.

This is one of the results of the work of a psychologist with the beneficiaries of the Day Center. The psychologist conducts a weekly rehabilitation session with victims of domestic violence from families living below the poverty line. Together with the psychologist, a social worker and a lawyer from the Women Fund “Sukhumi” are actively involved in the work.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

The WAVE Network, which brings together more than 150 NGOs working on issues of violence against women, organized a meeting to support and solidarity with Ukrainian women and children. The purpose of the meeting was to receive information from our Ukrainian colleagues on the urgent needs of women and children as a result of the war in Ukraine and to exchange information on existing support initiatives from partners. Network members discussed future strategies for providing more effective assistance and support.

Eka Gamakharia, a representative of the Women's Fund "Sukhumi", shared with her colleagues the specific initiatives that are being implemented by the organization to support the population of Ukraine and the Ukrainian refugees in Georgia - providing financial resources and humanitarian aid to the population in occupied Melitopol. Assistance in purchasing necessary items and products for Ukrainian refugees in Kutaisi, paying temporary rent, and employment. Also, offer a consultation with a psychologist.

Members of the Youth Empowerment Center of five municipalities (Kobuleti, Chokhatauri, Senaki, Tsalenjikha and Bagdati), their parents and teachers, school directors, representatives of Youth Department and the Gender Equality Council of the municipalities attended online summarizing meetings.

The centers presented a report of six-month active work. Significant results and changes were seen in the presentations and emotional speeches of the youth. They said how important it is for them to participate in the initiated events, to work in a team, to acquire serious training knowledge and a lot of skills.

The Women Fund "Sukhumi" awarded certificates to the participants and young trainers of the training course and certificates of appreciation for the support and cooperation to the schools involved in the process.

Representative of the Mayor in the village - this is quite a serious and important position. People on this position can play a serious role in the prevention of violence. Therefore, the Women Fund "Sukhumi" started a cycle of trainings with them. 77 representatives of Zugdidi, Samtredia and Senaki municipalities attended the first training.

The training discussed the role of local governments in gender equality, prevention and response to domestic violence. The attention was paid to the forms of civil participation, mechanisms for protection from violence, cooperation with the entities of the referral mechanism...

Joint comprehensive daily intensive psycho-rehabilitation work was carried out with two women in the Rehabilitation Center of the Women Fund "Sukhumi". One woman has two children, and the other is the mother of four children.

Young women are victims of domestic violence, traumatized since childhood, socially unprotected. They receive help and support in their municipalities, but such complex work was very important for them. During their two weeks at the Rehabilitation Center, several of their problems were resolved and they received advises for solution of other problems. A social worker, a lawyer and a psychologist were actively involved in working with women and children.

“We have no words to express gratitude for the unusually bright days”, noted the women. Communication with them will continue.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

The Women Fund "Sukhumi" has been actively holding meetings in the municipalities in a round table format for years, with the involvement of referral entities provided by the Law on Violence, in order to facilitate the introduction of a coordination system between agencies at the local level.

The meetings highlighted the need to establish an interagency commission on the local level. Active work has started in the target municipalities to implement this initiative. Three working meetings were held with the representatives of Bagdati, Senaki and Chokhatauri municipalities. The meetings were attended by the Deputy Mayors, the heads of the legal, youth, social and health departments of the City Hall, the coordinators of the children's department, the persons responsible for gender.

Women Support Centers actively respond to all actual events. Women expressed protest against the war in Ukraine. Silent actions were held in all ten municipalities (Terjola, Bagdati, Vani, Tkibuli, Samtredia, Zugdidi, Tsalenjikha, Senaki, Kobuleti, Chokhatauri).

Solidarity for Peace! Solidarity for the better future for our children! Peace to Ukraine! – these were the peaceful messages of the women.

Representatives of the Women Support Centers also took part in the silent action of the Women Fund “Sukhumi”, which was held on March 8 in Kutaisi.

Letter from our Donor Organization -Brot  für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

Berlin,17 March 2022

Dear sisters and brothers,
Dear friends and colleagues,
Dear partners in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries,
We cannot imagine your situationatthe moment.And we lack words to expressour feelings as we witness theimmeasurableamount ofsuffering in these days.War isincredibly horribleandcruel, war leads to destruction and death–warcontains everything which we wantedto overcome together in common serviceand inourpartnershipfor life in dignity.War is aterrible attempt to cutconnections and to divide humans, it is carried out to destroyclose andlongtermrelations.
At the moment our means to change thissituationare limited. But we wouldliketo reassure you that we want to dofor youwhateverispossible.We want tosupport you and stand with you as much as we can. Please tell us what youneed, what is happening, what we can do for you now–because situations andneeds change quickly. We build on information from your side when we takedecisions.We try to react as fast as we can and to be as flexible as possible. Ourhumanitarian branch Diakonie Katastrophenhilfehas installed anemergencyfund, and wereceivedonationsin order to expand this fund. We are alsoclosely connected to political and ecumenical processes of dialogue, we areengaged in building bridges between countries and groups and conflictingparties. We raise our voice together with churches and civil societyorganizations–and we speak out also for those who at the moment have nochanceto raise their voices.We put as much resources as possible into disasterrelief, and by doing sowe want to express active solidarity with our partners inUkraine and with all refugees in the neighbouring countries, as well as with the refugees who come toGermanyin these days.

Ukraine has hard days ...

We know war, we passed through the war, we know the consequences it can bring to women, mothers, the country ... That is why the Women Fund "Sukhumi" expresses solidarity to Ukraine.

The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot

 für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)

Women Fund “Sukhumi” presents a new monitoring report “Importance of Behavior Change Programs of the Perpetrator at an Early Stage and Existing Best Practices.”  The main objective of the document is to study attitudes of the stakeholders towards perpetrators’ behavior change programs and to initiate and develop discussion on the topic, to ensure promotion of the legislative control and implementation of the program in practice.

The research revealed that only measures addressed to victims of domestic violence are not sufficient for the elimination of violence. The practice of working with the perpetrator at an early stage, making more efforts for identification of the perpetrators’, and ensuring the involvement of perpetrators in behavior change programs, are necessary. Besides, it is important to raise public acceptance towards behavior change programs by undertaking public awareness raising campaign.