How do Women Support Centers evaluate the activities of the Fund “Sukhumi”? What results do they provide and how important are monthly information meetings? What kind of support do women need?
Internal monitoring was conducted to answer these questions.
Meeting participants openly express their mood and share new ideas:
- These meetings are a source of new information for us. Violence against women has not ended, and we must strengthen our positions in the fight against this problem.
- Women rarely have the opportunity to get together and express their thoughts, tired of the daily routine, we find a different mood, and we really need it.
- I am glad that you think about women, about our empowerment. Our self-esteem is growing. New ideas appear. It would be good if we were given the opportunity to implement our ideas.
The meetings were held in the Women Support Centers of Zugdidi/Khurcha, Senaki, Khoni and Khobi.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
A civil dialogue with women's groups on the issues of migration was held in Kutaisi. The meeting participants – women representing different social groups – got acquainted with the research of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" "Gender Dimension of the Causes of Women Migration through the Prism of Rights, Social Factors and Intersectional Vulnerability". Then a dialogue regarding the reasons of women migration and its social consequences, measures to prevent migration was held.
The participants gave a number of examples – along with the positive economic effect, the traumatic impact of migration on the women migrants themselves, their family members, especially children. They painfully noted moments of alienation and other psycho-emotional difficulties.
There was a discussion on what efforts, in addition to structural solutions, ordinary members of society can undertake to reduce migration trends and reduce its negative psycho-emotional consequences. Interesting ideas were expressed about community-level activities and the resources needed for them. The next stage is planned to select and implement the most interesting initiatives.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Women Fund “Sukhumi’s” new report “Why Do Women Leave? The Gender Dimension of Women’s Migration Drivers Through the Lens of Rights, Social Factors, and Intersectional Vulnerability” presents the findings of a study conducted in 11 municipalities of Western Georgia, involving 600 women respondents. The report analyses the phenomenon of women’s migration from a gender perspective, viewing migration not merely as an economic process but as one rooted in multifaceted social, rights-related, and structural causes.
The data reveals that for many women migration is not a matter of choice but rather a forced strategy to escape domestic violence, rights-based subordination, and lack of social services. Migration intentions are particularly high among young and economically active women, which has significant implications for the country’s demographic structure and prospects for social development. The report highlights the role of intersectional vulnerability, such as displacement, proximity to conflict-dividing lines, and social insecurity, which further heighten migration risks. The study demonstrates that preventing forced migration requires comprehensive and gender-sensitive policies oriented towards strengthening women’s economic, social, and rights-based empowerment.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The project "Women Act for Peace and Strengthening Local Communities" is implemented by a coalition of NGOs - the Association of IDP Women "Consent", the Women's Information Center and the Charitable Humanitarian Women Fund “Sukhumi”.
The activities are attended by IDPs (living in IDP settlements or collective centers), women and youth living in villages along the dividing line from 15 target municipalities: Kareli, Gori, Kaspi, Khashuri, Tetritskaro, Gardabani, Tskaltubo, Kutaisi, Khoni, Sachkhere, Poti, Zugdidi, Tsalenjikha, Senaki, Mestia.
Our target municipalities are: Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khoni, Senaki and Poti.
The project aims to promote public initiatives through the formation and support of mutual assistance groups in order to improve the social and economic situation of communities affected by the conflict. In addition, it is planned to strengthen the organizational structure of the Network of Women and Youth - Peace Ambassadors.
Discussions on the psychosocial, economic, legal, structural aspects of migration and its prevention were held with women groups of Khoni and Khobi municipalities. They were familiarized with the results of the research of the Charitable Humanitarian Women Fund “Sukhumi”, and discussed ways to prevent migration and reduce its negative consequences.
The women had visions based on their life experience about how important it is and what needs to be done to reduce migration and mitigate its consequences, reintegrate women in emigration and improve the psychosocial climate in their families.
They believe that they have the resources to implement small civil initiatives and can initiate meetings on migration risks, for example, with discussions based on real stories. Particular interest was expressed in raising awareness of possible negative changes in the emotional and behavioral state of children, as they see many negative examples that worsen the climate of families and, in general, society. Specific ideas will be discussed at future meetings.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Trainings on: "Conflict escalation and examples" and "Tolerance among young people" were held with members of youth groups of 10 municipalities.
8 live and 2 online meetings were held.
Despite the summer holidays, young people attended the trainings with interest, actively participated in the exercises and understood the seriousness of the problems through role playing games.
From the feedback of the participants:
"This is the first time I've heard the term “escalation” and I think I'll remember it."
"With your explanation and posters, we easily saw the stages of the conflict and how it escalates."
"The role playing was very interesting. We stopped at the stages of escalation before the problem escalated."
"Georgia is a tolerant country. We must respect all people, regardless of their culture, faith or views."
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
On June 18-19, Ekaterine Gamakharia, head of the Tbilisi office of Women Fund "Sukhumi", participated in Feminist Fest 2025 in Stockholm, Sweden. The event, hosted by the Swedish Defence University, brought together feminist activists, peacebuilders, researchers, and academics from around the world.
One of the highlights of the festival was the launch of the book “Brave Women: Fighting for Justice in the 21st Century”, featuring a co-authored chapter by Ekaterine Gamakharia and feminist researcher Magda Cardenas. Their chapter -"Transitional Activism: Women Peace Efforts within Conflict-Affected Populations in Georgia" explores the transformation of displaced women in Georgia from victims to leaders and advocates, drawing on personal narratives and the long-standing work of Women Fund "Sukhumi".
“This experience was unique. I was not just a research subject I was an author with the freedom to share my perspective and truth,” said Gamakharia.
She emphasized that in today’s shrinking civic space in Georgia, where the term “gender” is increasingly politicized, displaced and conflict-affected women continue their fight - “Nothing about us, without us!”
On June 12–13, an international conference dedicated to Women, Peace, and Security was held in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Organized with the support of UN Women, the event marked the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and brought together more than 160 women peacebuilders, leaders, and activists from 25 countries.
Among the four women delegates from Georgia was Ekaterine Gamakharia, Head of the Tbilisi Representative Office of Women Fund "Sukhumi." The conference focused on strengthening women’s leadership and gender-responsive justice as central elements of sustainable peacebuilding and post-conflict recovery.
At the end of the event, participants developed a unified vision for advancing the implementation of Resolution 1325. Their collective statement emphasized: “We will not wait another 25 years. We will act now to place women’s leadership, gender-responsive justice, peacebuilding, and restorative processes at the center of all peace efforts – in every country, for every generation.”
Reflecting on her participation, Ekaterine Gamakharia noted that being in Sarajevo was a powerful reminder of what true recovery means:
During the ordinary meetings of women's mutual assistance groups, various cases were discussed, problems and improvement of economic conditions were discussed. In Tskaltubo, women are looking for seasonal work (picking blueberries, nuts or work at seaside resorts). Some of them have such experience and recommend it to others, because additional income will solve many needs.
One of the group members in Khobi was given a smart phone, which will simplify the necessary communication for her.
The members of Kobuleti group are especially grateful to our organization, because no one has shown them so much attention.
The meeting with Chokhatauri group was held online. Psychologist of our organization participated in it. According to the participants of the mutual assistance group, the psychologist's useful advice is a serious support for them.
A great incentive for the participants of the meetings is that such groups operate in 10 municipalities and with the help of project assistant Nino Chabukiani they have the opportunity to share their experiences with each other.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
The cutting and sewing courses organized by the Khobi Women Support Center have ended. Our organization established a day rehabilitation center in the village Shuakhorga.
The two months of the basic course and each lesson were interesting.
The women celebrated the last day of training with an exhibition of their works. They say that they had a good teacher who taught them all the detailes. It was also nice to be together, to communicate...
The graduates will try to apply the knowledge they gained in practice.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)