-My dream is to be an archaeologist, said one of the club members and showed everyone her favorite book about Georgian history.
On May 6, the "English Conversation Club” gathered at the Fund Sukhumi office to talk about hobbies and interests. For homework, members had been asked to bring something that symbolizes them. The purpose of the meeting was to get to know each other better, and to create a friendly atmosphere in the group. Through various exercises and games, the group practiced skills such as conducting interviews and giving presentations about themselves and their friends. Leading the club is the Swedish intern Anja Westberg, and she encouraged everyone to have fun and not be afraid to speak.
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.
Members of the Club try to be actively involved in the processes connected with mobilization of women.
This time Club of Women-Voters was held in St. George’s gymnasium.
Participants of the meeting were provided with the information about Conference on the topic of increase of women’s political participation, organized in Tbilisi on April 28. They discussed the Action Plan adopted at the Conference.
Members of the Club were also provided with the information about a training on gender issues held in Akhaltsikhe with the support of Swedish organization Kvinna till Kvinna.
At the meeting there were discussed many examples about foreign countries’ experiences. Among them Sweden, where they gained gender equality after one hundred years, and Ruanda where women’s representation increased up to 56% after three elections.
-Taking into consideration other countries’ experiences, Georgia should select its way, - mentioned members of the Club.
The meeting was attended by the member of the Club and majority candidate (Alliance of Georgia), Nona Toloraia. She acquainted members of the Club with her election programme.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
Meeting of Club of Women-Voters started with interesting information.
"Local self-government elections of 2010: increase of women’s political participation in Georgia”- representative of Fund "Sukhumi” acqauinted members of the Club with information about Conference held in Tbilisi on April 28th.
Participants of the meeting were also acquainted with the Action Plan adopted at the Conference and signed by representatives of different political parties. The Action Plan indicates which concrete steps should be made to achieve gender equality in Georgian politics.
Members of the Club think that Action Plan somehow obliges political parties. This will guarantee that in this way women will hold deserved places in politics.
Participants were also provided with the information about the training, carried out in Akhaltsikhe regarding increase of women’s political activeness.
They were acqauinted with experiences of other countries, where gender problems were successfully solved.
The aforementioned nformation will stimulate members of the Club of Women-Voters for active involvment in election process, support of women-candidates and mobilization of women’s electorate.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
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.
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.
Pre-election mood is observed in Khoni as well as in other cities and that has its reflection on activity of Club of Women-Voters. Social problems of IDPs, prolonged repair works carried out within the framework of the program on housing are on agenda again and need to be solved.
In the words of the members of the Club pre-election meetings between voters IDPs and representatives of political parties have not been started yet. Accordingly voters are not acquainted with election programmes of parties.
Participants think that it is important to arrange meetings with representatives of different political parties since they have many questions to candidates. They are interested which sphere is priority for this or that party, how far IDPs problems are taken into consideration, how lists of candidates are made up and which places women hold in those lists.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
The Club of Women-Voters held in Zugdidi was attended by majority candidates for the local self-government, representatives of Republican party, Nona Toloraia and Nana Khupenia.
Candidates acquainted attendees with their programmes. They mentioned that there are many problems which need to be solved.
-I’ll try to raise in the local self-government all problems of the population in Kakhati village - roads need to be repaired, there is not a kindergarten in the village. The former building of a kindergarten is inhabited by IDPs, - mentioned Nona Toloraia.
-In her words problems of that village can be solved only at local level.
-I’ll try to justify my voters’ hopes!” – mentioned the candidate.
Pre-election mood of the women-candidates is optimistic. Members of Zugdidi club are planning to carry out actions in their support before elections.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
We should go ahead – to modernization, European Union! This is our main message to society – Armaz Kaxidze, New rights.
The Club, held in Batumi, was attended also by men – representatives of political parties: Christian-democratic movement – Avtandil Chikhvadze, New rights – Armaz Kakhidze and Shalva Gogitidze.
Representatives of parties talked about problems existing in regions and focused their attention on priority topics: health protection, education, employment, roads, transport.
There was made an emphasized on the forth coming local self government election. Participants stressed that there are no woman in the local self government of Batumi. A representative of New rights Armaz Kakhidze says that the reason is women’s passiveness.
At the end of the meeting representatives of opposition party addressed women who wish to come to politics – "We’ll accept women with pleasure”.
Women-members of Batumi club hope that women will joint political parties functioning in Adjaria.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
What political parties promise us, what are their pre-election programs, how far gender balance is kept in election lists – these topics were discussed by representatives of different political parties (New Rights, Republicans, Christian-democrats) gathered at the meeting of Club of Women-Voters in Kutaisi.
In parallel with discussion of election programs there was made accent on gender disbalance existing in election lists. In opinion of the representatives of parties the main reason of this disbalance is lack of women’s activeness. They think that women should have more initiatives.
It was also mentioned that social issues are always priority for women, so problems will be better solved if number of women in the local self-government increases.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
Several women-candidates are presented in the future local self-government election in Poti. As it was found out, National party presented four women in its party lists. A member of the Club of Women-Voters Darejan Tskhvitaria is number four in the list.
She is a candidate for the local self-government for the second time and she thinks that if there are more women in politics, social problems will be solved better.
This time Club was held in one of the municipalities of the city. Candidate Darejan Tskhvitaria met with her voters. She told them about her activity in the local self government and her future plans.
Participants were particularly active. Based on their questions, it became clear that population considers priority social sphere and sphere of health protection.
Candidate mentioned that she was involved in these issues for several years and if she wins election, she will continue active work.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
At the regular meeting of the Club of Women-Voters held in Ozurgeti special attention was paid to information publicity. There was emphasized importance of raising awareness during election process since candidates and voters should have more contacts.
Participants of the meeting were acquainted with the information about election procedures.
The next meeting of the club is planned to be held with women-candidates. Members of the club hope to get detailed information about election programmes as well as answers to the questions they are concerned about, which are basically connected with the spheres of culture, health protection, and education.
They think that many women are involved in pre-election processes that will contribute to objective and fair carry out of elections.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
Lawyer of Fund "Sukhumi” acquainted members of the Club of Women-Voters with changed made in election code of Georgia. Special attention was paid to the issue of election administration, rights and obligations of voters.
Participants of the meeting were very interested in the information about changes made in the Law about local self-government. There were raised questions regarding extraordinary local self-government election, assignation of dates.
Among members of the Club there are women who are actively involved in pre-election processes as members of commissions and observers. They are waiting for forthcoming elections and think that population will take active participation in elections and women’s representation will be increased in local self-government bodies.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
Members of the Club of Women-Voters gathered in the building of the local self-government in Poti.
What changes have been made in the Law about local self-government? What are pre-election procedures? What do voters’ rights mean? What are the terms for appeal? – participants of the meeting obtained information on those issues.
Members of the Club think that it is necessary to conduct such meetings with society in order to raise their awareness.
A member of the local self-government Darejan Tskhvitaria is planning to meet with her voters. Members of the Club will assist her actively in conduction of the pre-election campaign.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA
Lawyer of Fund "Sukhumi” acquainted members of Zugdidi Club of Women-Voters with changes made in Election Law.
Participants of the meeting mentioned that information provided by the lawyer was timely and useful, since acquaintance with changes made in Law was very important before forthcoming elections.
Members of the Club are optimistically disposed before elections. They hope that there will be more women in local self-government.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
A regular meeting of the Club of Women-Voters was held in Khobi.
A lawyer of Fund "Sukhumi” Inga Maglaperidze conducted a workshop for the participants on the topic "Changes in the Law on local self-government”.
Members of the club think that changes made in the Law would contribute to democratic conduction of elections. As to increase of women’s number in the local self government Manana Shulaia (member of local self government) considers that compared with other cities, the situation in Khobi is better (6 women in local self-government). They hope that during future local self-government elections work of the club would make positive influence on this indicator and number of women in local self government would be increased.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
Club of women "Abkhazia-want to know everything” conducted two meetings in Kutaisi (Fund "Sukhumi”, 5.03.10) and in Senaki (school # 7 of AbkhazAutonomousRepublic, 15.03.10).
Participants acquainted with toponimy, legends connected with Tskhumi and Dioskuria.
The meeting of the Club held in Kutaisi was attended by the members of the club in Khoni. The process of exchanging information was very interesting. They told each other what they know about Abkhazia.The meeting was attended by coordinator of Kvinna till Kvinna in Georgia, Annika Karlsson.
Members of Kutaisi club went to Senaki and showed their peers a presentation, made by them. Slide show reflected reality of the present Abkhazia what was of special interest among participants.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna, women’s Swedish Foundation.
Which changes should be made in the Law on local self-government; how election lists should be made up; what rights voters have; what pre-election agitation means; how they assign mayors of Tbilisi and other cities of Georgia – head of Kutaisi branch of Young Lawyers Association Nino Tvaltvadze told about these issues at the meeting of Club of Women-Voters in Khoni.
-Elections – are quite a long-term process in which our society should take active participation, - mentioned Mrs. Nino.
After discussion of election law participants got legal consultations on the issues of housing.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
