During April there were carried out 12 group and 17 individual meetings with psychologist in different cities of Imereti region and Samegrelo. In total 107 women participated in the meetings.
Most of IDPs are concerned of the problems of unemployment and lack of money.
"I was brought up in the family where we always lacked money. My parents had principally opposite opinions. I felt magical power of money since childhood. I have my own family now and again lack money. It’s awful when you don’t have income in family”.
From psychologist’s comments:
Attitude of a person to money is formed under the influence of large number of factors. Much is dependent on first impressions in childhood.
In "democratic” family, where financial issues are solved jointly, child copies family style. But if family politics is roughly dictated, this may cause sharp protest against family traditions.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization EED Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst.
Daredjan Tskhvitaria, Natia Tsetskhladze, Nato Katamadze, Manana Shulaia…
All of them are members of the League of Women-Voters of Western Georgia of Fund "Sukhumi”. Their names are well known to fellow citizens in Poti, Kutaisi and Khobi. Their professional and public-political activity is also known.
A group of journalists of Fund "Sukhumi” made a TV plot which shows multi-party spectrum of women-candidates for the local self-government election.
What are they going to do if they come in local government? How are they going to define priorities in their activity?
Candidates answer these questions!
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
Meetings on the issues of reproductive health were carried out in Women’s Support Centres of Kutaisi, Tskhaltubo and Khoni.
Women and girls of different age participated in the meetings.
Topic discussed at the meetings: climacteric period, care of pregnant women, virus and infectious diseases, personal hygiene and others.
"Such meetings are not held so often in regions. We are waiting forward to every meeting. We are happy of having possibility to talk to specialist, tell about our problems connected with health and be provided with certain consultations”, - this was evaluation of a participant of one of the meetings.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization EED Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst.
On April 29th, young women gathered for the second meeting of the "English Conversation Club” in Kutaisi. Leading the club is Anja Westberg from Sweden, who is doing an internship at Fund Sukhumi from March to June.
The "English Conversation Club” is a place for language learners to practice various English skills in a casual and friendly setting. It is not a teaching class, but a place for informal discussions in a relaxed atmosphere. At the first two meetings, participants expressed a desire to be able to speak English more freely. The club provides an opportunity to use English around people that you can trust and have fun with, and aims to increase confidence in speaking English in real-life situations. The topics discussed depend on the interest of participants, but will include international issues, gender equality, culture as well as personal interests and experiences.
Club meetings are held every Thursday at 15.00 at Fund Sukhumi in Kutaisi, until June 17th. Girls and women at all ages are welcome to join the meetings on a drop-in basis.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna, women’s Swedish Foundation.
A conference on the topic of elections "Local self-government elections of 2010: increase of women’s political participation in Georgia” organized by National Democratic Institute (NDI) in the hotel "Courtyard Marriott” in Tbilisi.
Participants of the Conference were: local and international organizations, representatives of local and central authorities, political parties, Mass Media.
Participation of Fund "Sukhumi” in the Conference was important from the standpoint of obtaining useful information and exchange of experience.
In the first part of the Conference reporters made interesting presentations about women’s political participation at different levels of power, about factors preventing women’s political participation in local elections and about challenges to women holding positions.
Rusudan Kervalishvili, vice-speakers of the Georgian parliament and chairperson of the Gender Equality Council, made brief review of the Law on gender equality and Action Plan on gender equality.
At the Conference there were also presented ten political parties running for the local self-government election. They acquainted audience with their plans and strategies directed at increasing of women’s participation in local elections.
In the final part of the Conference political parties signed the Global Action Plan elaborated by NDI – "Win with women – strengthen political parties”. Thus, political parties took responsibility to provide increase of women’s representation in Georgian politics and contribute to the development of democratic principles in the country.
New number of "Women’s Voice” reflects the work carried out with the purpose of women’s strengthening in Western Georgia.
There are interesting articles in the journal: forum on the topic of women’s solidarity; training for employees of Fund "Sukhumi” on the topic of domestic violence; work with youth; one of the methods used by psychologist – art-therapy; public debates, radio monologue…
As always, readers will acquaint with periodical edition of Fund "Sukhumi” with great interest.
Group meetings of psychologist with 83 women were held in Women’s Support Centres of Kutaisi, Khoni, Tskhaltubo, Senaki, Poti and Khurcha.
Village Khurcha is an administrative, frontier zone with Abkhazia. One of the residents mentioned: "I can sleep calm when I hear shootings. I feel myself safe. Silence frightens me much”. War has not been ended yet for those women.
They also have many problems in their everyday life.
"Everyone can live their life, but I am afraid of what people may say, and this fetters me much and does not give me freedom”.
"To look well visually does not mean to have peace of mind”.
Psychologist’s advices:
Cherish and keep your family but don’t forget about yourself.
Helping your family members, don’t load yourself with all problems. Let them through but don’t let them lay a heavy load on your shoulders.
Listen to others but believe yourself.
If something depresses you, tell about it.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization EED Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst.
As usually, meeting of the Club of Women-Voters held in Tskhaltubo cit, was fruitful. Participants listened to information about Election Law and changes made in this Law.
The conversation touched upon necessity of participation of society in the local self-government election.
At the meeting it became known that two members of the Club of Women-Voters, Maia Shalanberidze and Nana Ioseliani (New Rights) run for the local self-government election.
Deputy candidates declared that their work in Club made great influence on such a decision.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
"Women’s Voice” will be published once in two months under the common rubric "Woman and peace”.
The journal on peacemaking direction is the oldest informational edition of Fund "Sukhumi”.
The first issue of the journal was released in April. It reflects the work carried out for the last four months.
This time an emphasis is made on youth’s role in peacemaking process and this is showed well at the pages of the journal.
Readers will be provided again with interesting information, acquaint with new editions of Fund "Sukhumi” – "Dialogue of women-peacemakers” and "Teacher’s trip to Caucasus”.
We hope that readers of any generation will find much interesting in "Women’s Voice”.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna, women’s Swedish Foundation.
Four workshops on the topic of elections were held in Batumi. One of the meetings was held with women IDPs and ecomigrants living in the former building of Narcological Clinics of Khevlachauri. In total 60 participants attended those workshops: students, teachers, journalists, housewives.
The work with groups showed that they were not well informed about election legislation and competences of the local self-government. They expressed wish for better learning of their rights and perceiving of their responsibility during voting. They are ready to share the information obtained at the workshops with others contributing in this way to increase of the level of public awareness about election issues.
During practical exercises used at the workshops participants were given possibility to define competences of central and local authorities and carry out discussions on the changes made in election legislation.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
As always students were going to go home when suddenly their appeared a group of young people in the yard of the University and …everyone stopped.
Some minutes later it became known that Forum-theatre of Fund "Sukhumi” was showing a performance for the students of AkakiTsereteliStateUniversity.
The performance started. Number of spectators was gradually increasing. Participants realized the specific of the forum-theatre from the very beginning and actively involved in discussion of each script.
-The third party should not interfere in relations of husband and wife. In the showed script a mother-in-law and a sister-in-law play negative role and become initiators of family conflicts.
"Bolder” participants played roles and gave positive continuation to each script.
The same performance was held by the forum-theatre of Fund "Sukhumi” in the office of World Vision for children lacking care and socially unprotected families.
Participants actively involved in discussion of the shown scripts.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization EED Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst.
What is the essence of the Agreement about non-resumption of war hostilities and security guarantees in the context of Georgian-Abkhaz conflict, what are the purposes of sides, what are the risks of existing or non-existing of the agreement for Georgia, which methods should be used for its protection? – these questions were discussed in the radiobroadcast of Fund "Sukhumi” on the air of "Dzveli kalaki”.
The broadcast covers informational meetings carried out within the framework of the project in different cities (Kutaisi, Tskhaltubo, Batumi, Ozurgeti, Poti, Senaki, and village Khurcha) of Western Georgia with different groups of society and also fixed participants’ positions.
Respondents mention that opinions of participants about the Agreement were various but despite this they positively evaluate the fact that the Agreement tells about non-resumption of war and conflict resolution in the agreement.
The project is implemented with the support of International Alert, Great Britain.
On April 27th, the second workshop on gender equality and feminism was held in the women’s support centre in Senaki.During the workshop, participants enthusiastically engaged in interactive exercises and discussions. The girls were familiar with the idea of gender equality, but expressed a strong interest in learning more about feminism. The Swedish workshop leader, Anja Westberg, shared some knowledge about the meaning and goals of feminism. She also acquainted the participants with some historical and famous feminist figures. The participants were encouraged to think independently and speak their minds about gender issues. At the end, all girls agreed that the workshop was fun and helpful, giving them an opportunity to learn more and express their own opinions.
The next workshop will be held in Poti on May 4th.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization EED Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst.
This time radiobroadcast pays attentions to factors promoting to creation of violent environment in families. Not so long ago this topic was discussed at the Round table meeting organized by Fund "Sukhumi”.
What influence does dependence on drugs, alcohol, and gambling has on family climate, what is the existing statistic and where should efforts of different branches of power, specialists, media, non-governmental sector and society be aimed at?
"Unfortunately the age of persons dependent on drugs and alcohol is becoming younger. That indicates necessity of serious changes in social politics and in public life”. "Human rights defenders often face with cases when parents of a person with such dependence address them with the request to arrest their sons since they can not bear violence they are subjected to by them”.
-Experts, participants of Round table, psychologists also express their positions on that issue.
The broadcast also covers information about Women’s Support Centre created by Fund "Sukhumi” in Poti, where they have already carried out educational trainings and periodically carry out legal and psychological consultations.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization EED Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst.
Workshops on the topic of elections carried out in Ozurgeti were particularly interesting for women-voters. Four workshops were attended by 59 participants.
Most of them are actively involved in election campaign. That’s why it was important for them to acquaint with changes made in election legislation and realize authorities of the local self-government. There was mentioned that citizens often address local self government for solution of the issues which are outside of their competence.
That’s why it is important to inform civil society about authorities of that organ.
For young voters voting for the first time the information on voting procedures and their rights was especially interesting.
First of all, listeners link future elections with solution of social and other problems existing in the city. To achieve this they consider it necessary to increase women’s representation in the local self-government.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
-Perhaps it will not be loudly told that youth thinks independently and have many new ideas. Their activation and involvement in peace processes will give positive results. Three day training made me think on many issues, reminded me about my obligations. We should find new ways and possibilities to establish contacts with Abkhazians to rebuild confidence – with this opinion one of the participants, Tamar Subeliani, fixed common mood of the participants.
This was the last screening training within the framework of the project. Training was held in Kutaisi for students IDPs. Young girls understood well why they came to the training. Most of them have great wish to come in Leaders’ school since they will be given possibility to become leaders to be actively involved in public-social life of the country.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna, women’s Swedish Foundation.
"I will always remember these days. I felt myself free for the first time. I had a wish for talking about such issues as family conflicts, psychology of victim and violator”.
"It would be good if such trainings are carried out oftener. As much people as possible should discuss the issues, considered at the training”.
This was evaluation of the participants of the three day training conducted in Women’s Support Centre in Senaki.
During the work there were used different methods: situational tasks, group and role exercises.
Participants of the training – teachers, lawyers, parents and schoolchildren made it very interesting and discussed the problem of domestic violence from different positions.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization EED Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst.
