A working meeting of the members of the Women Peacekeeping Coalition organized by the Fund "Sukhumi" was held. Once again, the findings of the research of the women, girls, IDPs and victims‘ needs of Zugdidi municipality were discussed. Specific problems were selected that will be advocated durin monthly campaigns.
The advocacy campaign will be carried out by 7 groups: organizations - members of the coalition and Women Initiative Groups.
The list of issues, advocacy of which begins, is the following: creation of youth space in the community on the conflict separation line, social infrastructure in the new place of IDP resettlement, the availability of water supply and high-quality service in the clinics, issues of municipal activities to protect victims of domestic violence.
Advocacy groups have already started preparatory work and the search for the necessary information.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna,
women’s Foundation (Sweden)
On November 3, 2021, the representative of the Tbilisi office of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" - Ekaterine Gamakharia participated in a Gender Theme Group (GTG) - Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Task Force Meeting. The Gender Theme Group unites international organizations and embassies accredited in Georgia, as well as civil society organizations. Its purpose is to promote the "Women, Peace and Security" agenda in Georgia and respond effectively to challenges identified by individual group members, develop and plan appropriate actions and interventions.
At the meeting, the representative of the Fund "Sukhumi" together with her colleagues spoke about Resolution 1325, the results of monitoring the implementation of the three-year National Action Plan, and the main findings, where she stressed the challenges and the need to respond to them, such as - the development and implementation of a gender-sensitive early warning system;
The psychologist and the lawyer of the Fund "Sukhumi" actively worked together with the mobilizers of the Women Support Centers. Two online group meetings were held with women in Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality), individual online consultations were held with the beneficiaries from Kobuleti, Tsalenjikha and Chokhatauri.
29 women attended live meetings, which were held at the Bagdati, Senaki and Samtredia Women Support Centers.
Also: individual consultations of a psychologist and a lawyer with beneficiaries from Kutaisi, psychotherapy of violence victims in a rehabilitation center, work with members of crisis families - such an active October it was.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
On September 27, 2021, the representative of the Tbilisi office of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" - Ekaterine Gamakharia participated in an Information Exchange Meeting organized by the Human Security Group of the EUMM Field Office of Zugdidi.
The topics of the meeting were the ongoing "Russification process" in the Gali district, possible prohibition of learning Georgian language in the 11th graders in the lower zone of Gali district and the effectiveness of Georgian language programs initiated by the Georgian government to promote higher education for young people living in uncontrolled areas.
Ekaterine Gamakharia underlined the need to introduce free courses to help pupils to learn Georgian language and prepare students for national exams in the Gali district and the need finance these programs from the side of the Government. During the meeting, the representative of the Fund "Sukhumi" also highlighted the ineffective practice of enrolling students in the higher education system in the Gali district, which needs to change the approach.
On October 15-25, a series of meetings were held with members of the Women Peace Coalition and other groups, interested in the project of the Fund "Sukhumi" and the Women Peace Coalition.
The next phase of the project envisages advocacy campaigns in Zugdidi Municipality on the issues identified by the Fund "Sukhumi" in terms of the needs of IDPs and conflict affected women and girls.
The participants of the meetings presented ideas, after prioritizing of which the advocacy plans will be developed and advocacy campaigns will be launched.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna,
women’s Foundation (Sweden)
October was active for the forum-theater. There are new actors in the group, new rules were established, new scenes were created, rehearsals were held, new videos were recorded.
The renovated Forum Theater presented four performances under in the open air.
Performances are held without audience, as the situation is tense due to the pandemic.
It is true that playing without audience is unusual, but nevertheless, these performances are important for the actors.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Members of the youth centers of Samtredia, Tsalenjikha, Tkibuli, Vani and Bagdati municipalities actively participated in the discussions and openly spoke about the topics of conflict, violence and bullying, gave concrete examples, and named the reasons.
- Unfortunately, there are frequent cases of conflict and bullying in adults, and talking about such topics helps children not to become a victim, or vice versa - not to be Oppressors;
- Topics are very relevant and it is interesting to discuss them with you;
-I need to know how to manage conflict, protect myself and then I will not become a victim of bullying.
These were the opinions expressed by a group of young people at the end of the training. They are ready to talk about these topics with their peers, to introduce them to the situation management and defense mechanisms.
10 trainings with 223 young people selected from 10 municipalities were conducted in October.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Strengthening the women, expanding civic activism to address local social problems, preventing domestic violence in society - these issues are an integral part of informational meetings in communities.
There are many identified problems, although there is always a way out through cooperation with various structures.
In Women Support Centers of Kobuleti, Chokhatauri, Vani, Tsalenjikha, Tkibuli, the lists of solved problems and women's stories with a positive ending have already appeared, which was achieved through interventional interference.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
“Practice of needs research using the GREWS” - trainings for women's initiative groups in Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khoni and Senaki were held on this topic.
Participants received competent knowledge: how to plan and conduct interviews, focus groups, how to put questions to the respondent and obtain the necessary information. They became familiar with the risks and challenges that may arise during the research. During the training, group exercises and simulated interviews were applied. After the training, the participants will be involved in the process of needs research and will use the obtained information in practice.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID