At the Gelati Residence, over thirty students from Akaki Tsereteli State University and high school students came together to discuss:
- How can we talk about difficult topics without losing the ability to listen and understand?
- How can we prevent conflict and avoid unnecessary tension?
This workshop wasn’t just about theory - far from it!
Participants shared real-life stories and personal experiences, engaging in open, and at times, intense and emotional conversations.
One student shared their reflection:
“In today’s reality, where widespread gender stereotypes and misinformation hinder the advancement of equality in society, it’s crucial to develop effective ways of dealing with them. For many people, these stereotypes are a part of daily life, and without proper communication, they’re nearly impossible to change. Navigating tough conversations in a constructive way is essential. I believe workshops like this really help strengthen these skills and empower us to challenge gender stereotypes more effectively.”
On April 3, via Zoom, 67 students from 10 municipalities in western Georgia (Chokhatauri, Kobuleti, Tskaltubo, Kutaisi, Khoni, Terjola, Samtredia, Senaki, Zugdidi, Tsalenjikha) participated in the workshop “How to Navigate Difficult Dialogues.” The session aimed to build skills for engaging in constructive conversations and avoiding conflict when speaking with people who hold different perspectives.
The main topics of the workshop included:
• Distinguishing between stereotypes, disinformation, and accurate information
• Five practical strategies for navigating difficult dialogues
• An interactive game: “How to Survive the Family Dinner” - https://survivefamilydinner.ge/how-to-play/
Even in an online format, the workshop was lively and interactive — students actively shared their personal experiences, asked questions, and reflected throughout the session.
“This was a powerful experience. I realized I can become the best version of myself and express my thoughts clearly. Now I feel confident to stand up for myself and for others who are being bullied. Thank you for creating such an interesting, impactful, and meaningful project!” — Student from Samtredia Municipality
Is a risky conversation unfolding around the dinner table? Handle suspicious opinions and conspiracy theories with ease — and try to make it to dessert without anyone flipping the table.
Play now – survive the family dinner: გადაურჩი ოჯახურ ვახშამს
Ekaterine Gamakharia, Head of the Women's Fund "Sokhumi" Tbilisi Office, along with activist Vero Melua, discusses the challenges faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs) today on TV Formula's program "With the People."
"Many of the challenges that IDPs face remain unnoticed by society and have practically never been, or only rarely, part of the political and social agenda," said Ekaterine Gamakharia.
How does domestic violence affect women's lives? What barriers do they face, and what are the possible solutions?
This video is based on real stories and reflects women's experiences, challenges, and paths to empowerment. It is grounded in the research and support services of the Women's Fund "Sokhumi."
The Women’s Fund “Sokhumi” continues raising awareness on digital security by organizing workshops across different municipalities in Georgia.
From February 4 to 7, digital security trainer Linda Chikhladze held sessions in Tskaltubo, Samtredia, and Chokhatauri, engaging local women's support groups in discussions on online risks and protective mechanisms.
During the workshops, participants:
- Learned about technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) and its impact;
- Studied personal data protection techniques – strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and privacy tools;
- Became familiar with legal protections against online violence;
- Discussed the importance of mutual support and women’s empowerment.
We present our new video, highlighting the Women’s Fund "Sokhumi" work to strengthen women's roles and engagement and address domestic violence issues. For over 20 years, we have been actively working in ten municipalities of western Georgia: Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khoni, Terjola, Samtredia, Chokhatauri, Zugdidi, Senaki, Tsalenjikha, and Khobi.
Introducing the latest brief report by the Women Fund "Sukhumi", which assesses the effectiveness of shelters and crisis centers while identifying critical gaps and challenges. The report highlights issues such as limited geographical accessibility, insufficient psychological and multilingual support services, and the absence of childcare options for young children—factors that hinder women survivors of domestic violence from fully utilizing these facilities. It also notes that the 2023 legislative amendments, which removed the "victim status" requirement for accessing services, have yet to be implemented in municipal programs, further limiting access to local support services.
The report emphasizes the need for effective monitoring and follow-up support mechanisms to facilitate the reintegration and independent living of women survivors after leaving shelters. It advocates for strengthening shelters systemically and developing sustainable, effective rehabilitation models to provide comprehensive assistance and safeguard the rights of women affected by violence.
The video highlights the efforts of the Women's Fund "Sokhumi" in promoting women's empowerment, using the Zugdidi municipality as an example.
We present our new video about four policy briefs highlighting the risk factors of violence against women. The study involved 1,027 women from 10 municipalities, with the reports focusing on key issues important to vulnerable women.
The risk indicator map is available here - https://sosfsokhumi.ge/fsdata2024