Batumi Club of Women-Voters of Fund "Sukhumi”
continues its activity. This time women gathered within the framework of the
new project "Gender Advisory Council - improved outlook, strengthening women's
rights and good governance in the region” which is aimed at increasing of
women’s participation at the local level.
According to the members of the Club they will be
actively involved in the work and will contribute to social problems advocacy.
After reviewing the new project, club members have
raised pressing problems. Among them were the issues of the IDPs who were
resettled a few years ago from the hotel "Medea".
-Due to the fact that prices were very high then, many
IDPs were not able to purchase the apartment after receiving compensation –
they still pay rent or live with relatives - said Marina Murgulia.
At the meeting there were raised problems of
unemployed women.
On the same day there was held another meeting in
Batumi.
According to the new project, the beneficiaries are
also members of ethnic minorities. That is the "reason" why the staff
representatives of Fund "Sukhumi" visited "House of
Friendship" in the Mayor’s office of Batumi.
An introductory meeting was held by Medea Mikeladze –
a manager of communications with the Diaspora. It was mentioned that the
"House of Friendship", formed in 2007, brings together
representatives of nine nationalities. With the support of local government
interesting events are held in the "House of Friendship".
This unusual house has expressed a desire to cooperate
actively with Fund "Sukhumi".
The
project is implemented with the support
of the U.S. Department of State
-Meetings in Fund "Sukhumi” prolong my life, - Neli
Chanturia.
-Here I’ve made many friends and acquired many skills,
- Dalila Tamaz-Ogli.
-I can boldly say that the new stage of my life has
started in Fund "Sukhumi”. I am happy when I am invited to the meetings of the
Club of Women-Voters, - Fatima Dvalishvili.
So said the members of Kutaisi Club of Women -Voters
when they evaluated the carried out activity.
The club continues to work within the framework of a new project ("Gender
Advisory Councils – increasing women’s role in social changes of
regions"). The first meeting was conducted successfully. The meeting was
attended by women of different ages, different professions and ethnic origin.
Members of the club will continue to work on
advocating for the problems of population. They will attract new members,
support the increase of women's representation in politics.
-Meetings in Fund "Sukhumi” prolong my life, - Neli
Chanturia.
-Here I’ve made many friends and acquired many skills,
- Dalila Tamaz-Ogli.
-I can boldly say that the new stage of my life has
started in Fund "Sukhumi”. I am happy when I am invited to the meetings of the
Club of Women-Voters, - Fatima Dvalishvili.
So said the members of Kutaisi Club of Women -Voters
when they evaluated the carried out activity.
The club continues to work within the framework of a new project ("Gender
Advisory Councils – increasing women’s role in social changes of
regions"). The first meeting was conducted successfully. The meeting was
attended by women of different ages, different professions and ethnic origin.
Members of the club will continue to work on
advocating for the problems of population. They will attract new members,
support the increase of women's representation in politics.
In Batumi there have been launched free of charge
courses for disabled children, in Khoni there have been solved the problem of
gas supply, in Zugdidi a sick person has been provided with expensive
medicines, in Senaki there have been restored bridges.
This is only a part of the problems that have been
solved by the Clubs of Women Voters of Fund "Sukhumi” for the project period.
Moderators of 8 urban and 4 rural clubs made reports
at the round table meeting held in Fund "Sukhumi”. They gave examples of
successful advocacy work. They said that each club had solved 4-5 local
problems throughout a year.
Members of the Club participated in different
activities. The project contributed to women’s mobilization in socio-political
processes.
At the end of the meeting the Club moderators were
given certificates - for the long-term cooperation and support in civic
activism, advocacy, increasing of women's political participation and promotion
of gender equality in Georgia.
The project is
implemented with the support
of the organization NED –
National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
The
last meeting of the project year was held in Kutaisi Club of Women Voters of
Fund "Sukhumi”. Attendees remembered meetings and the topics discussed during
the year.
They
particularly emphasized the work of advocacy groups on the problems of the
city, the introduction of the Labour Code, the interest in IDPs’ issues...
The
work carried out during the year, increased civic activism of the club members,
strengthened the feeling that every citizen should care about the welfare of
his or her city.
Members
of the club said goodbye to each other with the hope of future cooperation.
The project is implemented with the support
of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
10,000 GEL have been allocated for repair works in the
kindergarten of the village Etseri. Members of Zugdidi Club of Women Voters are
happy with this precedent. They hope that repair works will begin soon, and children
will be learning in the best conditions. Advocacy group of 5 people said that
this is their merit, since they raised the problem in local government.
Members of the club also raised another issue -
rehabilitation of drainage system of the city. For this purpose there were
collected 250 signatures. The club members hope that the problem will be solved
soon.
The club of Women Voters already hasitsfacebook page,
and internet friends can learn about activities of Zugdidi women.
The project
is implemented with the support
of the
organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
Members of advocacy group of Koki Club of Women Voters
told about the carried out activity. At the workshop, held last month, was
planned the work on a supplementary group in the kindergarten.
The group studied the situation, defined the number of
pre-school children and families who want to take their children to
kindergarten. There was written a letter to the head of the village
administration, signatures were collected. Unfortunately, there is no positive
response – according to local authorities no changes will be made until November. But the group will
continue to advocate for this issue.
At the meeting there was raised the issue of opening a
pharmacy in the village – members of the Club appealed for assistance to the
local authorities.
The project
is implemented with the support
of the
organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
The last
panel dialogue was held in Batumi Club. The group of civic initiative met with
women - City Council deputies, who got acquainted with interest with the
information on the project, about actions held by women's groups within the
framework of civic initiative, learned of the results of monitoring and
evaluation of the project participants.
At the
dialogue they discussed prospects for future cooperation. According to them in
Adjara region, compared to previous years, there is felt great interest in
gender issues, and this is the merit of Fund "Sukhumi":
"We
welcome your initiatives and are willing to cooperate in any format. We assure
you that not only we are interested in promotion of gender issues, we have a
lot of supporters among our colleagues - men".
"There
were issues with regard to which women – representatives of Sakrebulo had
different position. Unfortunately, time has showed that we had pragmatic look
at the events. In this case, it is very important for us to have gender
expertise support. Therefore collaboration with you is very valuable for
us".
The project is implemented with the financial support
Attendeesof Tskhaltubo Club of Women Voters of Fund "Sukhumi"
talked about the results of the past year’s activity.
- We felt the urgency of everyday
problems and saw our role in the solution of these problems. We have learned
effective advocacy and we managed to solve 10 problems through the cooperation
with local authorities for the report period, – was said at the meeting.
Members of the club were constantly acquainted with the legislative
changes, they were aware of political events. Participation in meetings of the
club, trainings and workshops has strengthened their civic engagement.
The project is implemented with the support
of the organization NED – National
Endowment for Democracy (USA)
In the village club of Ekadea was held the workshop on
practical advocacy with participation of 21 women. There were evaluatedresults
of advocacy. The participants of the meeting emphasized:
"I could
not imagine that our efforts would be so fruitful and that we would be able to
solve the accumulated problems".
"All
instances,that had not helped to solve problems before, are now looking for
every opportunity to improve the state of the water supply".
"A
chairman of Municipality Council often calls us and provides us with the
information on the course of things".
The club
members expressed pleasure that, despite the lack of experience, they had
formed an organized group, identified the most pressing problems and they were
able to successfully advocate for them.
"Professionalism, adherence to principle
and organizational skills of our club’s leader appeared so obvious that we have
a desire, to see her in the Municipality Council after the forthcoming
elections to the local government " - the woman
endorsed the initiative of the most elderly member of the club.
The workshop, conducted for the members of the club,
has defined an advocacystrategy of new problems.
The project
is implemented with the support
of the
organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
At the meeting there were raised youth problems that
are always vital for Ozurgeti Club of Women Voters of Fund "Sukhumi”.
Girls have mentioned with regret that there was not a
normal place for entertainment in the city, a cinema needs redecoration.
- Our majoritarian deputy Zviad Kvachantiradze is
interested in the solution of this problem. We hope that the cinema will be
restored in the near future, - said moderator of the Club Nino Nikolaishvili.
Members of the Club of Women-Voters told about their
plans for the future. When the project ends they plan to carry out a meeting at
the sea resort Ureki.
The project is
implemented with the support
of the organization NED –
National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
At a crowded
meeting, which was attended by 50 people (population, representatives of
Ozurgeti City Council, City Hall, the service center of the united water
company) was raised one of the most acute problems of Ekadia.
Local people express dissatisfaction with the poor
quality of drinking water and uncertain rates.
Therefore there were set many questions: does the project
of supplying Ekadia with drinking water exist? Is there a conclusion that the
water is suitable for drinking?
The questions were answered by representatives of local
authorities. According to them the issue will be studied within 10 days and
they will try to solve it.
The meeting was organized by the Rural Club of Fund
"Sukhumi" in Ekadia. The newly established club is actively
operating, and this noisy meeting was in the focus of mass media’s attention.
The project is
implemented with the support
of the organization
NED – National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
The
topic of conversation at the meeting of Tskhaltubo Club of Women Voters of Fund
"Sukhumi" was the same as at the meeting in Kutaisi.
The
project assistant Miranda Gvantselade introduced participants with the
information about amendments. Afterwards there was held a discussion.
At
the meeting there was mentioned that Fund "Sukhumi" will try to
submit amendments elaborated at the Club meeting to the relevant agencies that
they were reflected in the Labour Code and protected the rights of employed
women.
The
next meeting, at the request of the members of the club, will be dedicated to
the issues of insurance.
The project is implemented with the support
of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
There are lots of problems in the town, but this time
members of advocacy group of Zugdidi Club of Women Voters of Fund "Sukhumi”
draw attention to critically ill persons. At their request, a woman who had a
tumor was given medication assistance. She urgently needed an expensive drug
Zometa, but she had no money to purchase it.
Advocacy group applied to local government agencies
for assistance. Zugdidi Municipality could provide her only with one package,
and the rest four were allocated by the Ministry of Healthcare.
According to the Club’s moderator Inga Archaia, the
woman feels better now and the club members are happy to hear that.
The project is
implemented with the support
of the organization NED –
National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
Members
of Khoni Club of Women-Voters of Fund "Sukhumi”, some of whom are IDPs from
Abkhazia and reside in Khoni military town, raise problems of healthcare along
with the other issues.
Most
of the IDPs are socially vulnerable and are provided with free medical service.
In the town there operates free ambulance service, but according to them there
should be restored a clinic in the collective centre of IDPs. They have many
times raised this issue at the local level - with guests invited to the Club of
Women Voters...
This
time, members of the club decided to collect signatures. They will address
local structures that they apply with the issue to the Ministry of Health.
The
club members have pointed out that the issue of a clinic is vital for them, and
they hope that the problem will be solved in the near future.
The project is implemented with the support
of the organization NED – National Endowment for
Democracy (USA)
The
great interest of the attendees gathered at the meeting of the Club of Women
Voters of the Fund "Sukhumi" was caused by the information about
amendments to be included in the Labour Code. A chairperson of Kutaisi branch
of the Association of Young Lawyers of Georgia Tamar Pachulia was invited to
the meeting to clarify the issues in this regard.
There
was noted that, despite the fact that proposals of non-governmental
organizations (about maternity and other leaves) were not stipulated in the
Labour Code, the Association of Young Lawyers will again submit them to the
legislature.
The project is implemented with the support
of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
Members of the
Club of Women Voters of Fund "Sukhumi" were delivered a workshop on
the theme "Practical advocacy". Representatives of the fund
acquainted women with the stages of local population’s problem solution – how
to identify priority issues, how to develop a strategy that will reveal the
best ways and methods of its implementation.
The club members
were actively involved in the process of the workshop. They talked sincerely
about topical issues. According to them, corn fields are damaged by insects, so
actions should be taken as soon as possible to start treatment. There were also
fixed practical steps of problem solution and identified a group that will work
in this direction.
The second
problem was the unavailability of Internet: - Against the background of modern
achievements, it is pity that in our village there is not even the internet ...
They said that this problem should be solved -
women will apply to the relevant agencies with that purpose. According to them,
with the help of the knowledge and skills received at the workshop they will be
able to resolve their problems.
The project is
implemented with the support
of the organization NED –
National Endowment for Democracy (USA)