Women gathered in Poti, at the meeting of the Club of
Women Voters of Fund "Sukhumi” told about their problems to a special guest
Gocha Dolbaia (Deputy Chairperson of Poti Sakrebulo).
The focus was made on the problems of the new IDP
settlement. They told that the walls in the apartments are cracked and water
drainage system is out of order. The majority of IDPs are not employed.
The emphasis was made on the IDPs who are still
waiting for their own apartments. They have lived with their relatives or
rented apartments for many years.
Gocha Dolbaia promised club members that he would
cooperate with advocacy group, and try to study and solve the raised problems.
The project is implemented with the support
of the organization NED – National
Endowment for Democracy (USA)
At their second meeting, members of the Women's Club
of Fund "Sukhumi" in the village of Bia boldly talk about plans for
the future. It turned out that some of the members have work experience in
advocacy:
"I’ve graduated from the school in Mendzhi. There
was a very active youth group - we responded to numerous problematic issues".
"I cooperated with the Women's Club of Khobi.
Good memories link me with that period. I was on the pages of the journal
"Women's Voice" for several times.
"We went through a difficult time. We would not
be saved by one, if not the unity and support of each other."
"I'm good at communication. It is not difficult
for me to find a common and made anyone interested".
The workshop on Practical advocacy was interesting for
everyone.
There were revealed many urgent problems: environmental
pollution, lack of bins for rubbish, the problem of water in the village,
installation of electricity meters...
There were also identified priority issues: organization
of free computer courses in the village. Members of the Club planned a
strategy of advocacy for that issue.
They stressed that in the first group will study middle-aged women and hope
that young people will carefully treat their decision.
They also shared their desire to go to the sea, in
Anaklia. They are very busy, but it worths to find time...
The project is
implemented with the support
of the organization NED –
National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
At the meeting there was summed up one year activity.
Moderators Nino Nikolaishvili and Ketevan Kadeishvili prepared a digital
presentation for this day. Members of the club visited together the facebook
page of the club on the big screen.
There was mentioned that during the report period more
than 10 local problems were solved and cultural activities were conducted.
A member of the Club, a speech therapist Tamar
Dumbadze said that she decided to come to politics. After cooperation with the
club this desire became even stronger.
- The Club
activates women. I want to try myself in politics. I want to do a lot in my
sphere, help socially vulnerable people, and to achieve victory in the
elections I rely on the support of the club of Women Voters! - said Tamar
Dumbadze.
The project
is implemented with the support
of the
organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
Kutaisi
Club of Women Voters of Fund "Sukhumi" is always crowded and all the
participants are especially active. So it was this time too. But among
attendees there dominated internally displaced persons, since to the meeting
was invited a head of the Regional Office on IDPs - Lika Kiladze.
The
meeting was held in the format of questions and answers. The audience was
interested in many questions: the registration of IDPs, allocation of living
space, rehabilitation of collective centers, and construction of new centers...
All
the participants of the meeting had the opportunity to ask questions, and be
provided with irrefragable answers.
The project is implemented with the support
of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
Advocacy group comprised of 5 persons submitted report
on the carried out activities at the meeting of Senaki Club of Women-Voters of
Fund "Sukhumi”.
The Club managed to solve two problems: there was no
water supply at Vachnadze street, a small bridge in Sakharbedio is damaged. We
addressed local authorities. The results are as follows: water supply schedule
has been resolved and the process of the restoration of a bridge has been
started.
Every success provides an incentive for other
activities – members of Senaki Club know this and plan to advocate for new
problems.
The project is
implemented with the support
of the organization NED –
National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
Advocacy group
invited representatives of city administration and municipal improvements at
the meeting of the Club.
Tskhaltubo
Club of Women-Voters of Fund "Sukhumi” has raised the problem of a new IDP
settlement several times – the water flooding from the stadium during rain
damages the building and threatens population.
Advocacy group
and a group of civic initiative actively involved in this problem solution.
While the old
problems are being solved, the club has already raised the new ones that will
be advocated for in the near future: the improvement of footpaths and windbreak
planting of trees.
The project is implemented with the support
of the organization NED – National
Endowment for Democracy (USA)
In Poti was held a regular meeting of the Club of
Women Voters of Fund "Sukhumi”. Along with the other issues, members were
acquainted with the package of legislative changes. The package developed by
the National Network of Protection from Violence, together with representatives
of government and non-governmental organizations, aims to provide legal and
social protection of single mothers.
It was noted that according to the statistics of the
past 13 years, 30,000 children in Georgia do not have data about their fathers
in their birth certificates. This means that there are thousands of women among
us who have taken the burden of single mothers, but they do not have any
support from the state.
Members of the club believe that the law should be
reviewed and it would be good if the Parliament decides to change the law.
"The adoption of the law will help to improve the
social situation of single mothers, - said participants of the meeting. They
expressed their support by signing a letter-appeal to the deputies of the
Parliament.
The
project is implemented with the support
of
the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
The fourth rural club of Fund "Sukhumi" was
established in the village Mendji of Senaki Municipality. At the first meeting
members of the Club - local women and women IDPs expressed a desire to actively
engage in the work of the club and take part in solution of the problems of
local population.
- We have heard
a lot about Fund "Sukhumi". We are very glad that this organization
came to us. I think that together we can do a lot of good things, - said one of
the participants of the meeting, a member of the Club of Women-Voters of the
village Mendji Maia Sichinava.
At the meeting were reported problems of gas and water
supply...
Members of the club believe that these and other
problems can be solved if they show more organization and activity.
The project is
implemented with the support
of the organization NED –
National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
Ozugeti Club of Women Voters of Fund
"Sukhumi" has a long-term experience of cooperation with local
authorities. By tradition, women invited a deputy of Ozurgeti Municipality
Council Lela Natsvaladze to the regular club meeting. The conversation touched
on urgent problems: in some parts of the city there are no fountains for
drinking water, no public toilets, the fountain in the centre of the city does
not operate...
According to Lela Natsvaladze the problem number one
is the absence of the programme of municipal improvements. She also talked
about illegal constructions.
The deputy mentioned that she would provide her
colleagues in the Municipality Council with information on the problems raised
at the club meeting. She also expressed hope that the Municipality Council will
continue many years’ tradition, and will actively cooperate with the Women’s
Club, that will contribute to advocacy and solution of many problems.
The project is
implemented with the support
of the organization NED –
National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
A new place-name has appeared on a map of the Clubs of
Women-Voters of Fund "Sukhumi”– the village Ekadia of Ozurgeti Municipality.
The Club was officially formed on June 19 and there were expressed expectations
of attendees. The Club brings together women of different ages and social
status, but they almost equally see problems.
The workshop carried out at the first meeting of the
Club revealed priority issues: "the main problem of the village is road”;
"public transport does not work well”; "the system of water supply has been
rehabilitated but there is no water”; "we don’t have good communication with
local government”; "we don’t have enough workplaces”; "many residents have
health problems”.
Members of the Club listened with interest to the
information about Fund "Sukhumi". They were interested in the
experience of Ozugeti Club of Women-Voters shared by the invited guests.
The club has selected several issues that need urgent
solutions. And evaluating the meeting, they said: the motivation for the formation
of the club - as an organized group of women, is quite high. As for experience,
according to the women, it will come with time!
The project is
implemented with the support
of the organization NED –
National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
Participants of a regular meeting of Zugdidi Club of
Women-Voters of Fund "Sukhumi”spoke about the work
of advocacy group – already achieved results, and future plans.
According to the moderator of the club Inga Archaia,
this time the group decided to help kids – they have studied the problem of a
kindergarten in the village Zeda Etseri that needs redecoration.
The advocacy group appealed to the City Council
municipality. The first stage of advocacy is completed – there were made
estimates for 1741 GEL.
An acting head of Zugdidi Municipality George Todua
mentioned: "I am well aware of the club’s activity. We will actively cooperate
with them to solve together urgent problems".
Members of the Club hope for starting of repair works
in the next few days. But in order to speed up the process they decided to
apply to Zugdidi Municipality administration.
The project is implemented
with the support
of the organization NED –
National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
The annals of Batumi Club of Women-Voters of Fund "Sukhumi” include many problems
that have been solved. But in this resort town still much has to be done.
The club started to advocate for the new problem.
- There are
unsanitary conditions on Grishashvili street. Spoiled pipes need to be
restored, and a contaminated area needs to be cleaned. The problem is urgent
and needs a quick decision. Advocacy group has decided to apply to the head of
the JSC "Batumi water" Jano Varshalomidze - said the club moderator
Natia Kikvadze.
For effective advocacy, club members use media tools and
social networks. They post photos of the contaminated street on their facebook
accounts (Fund Sokhumi Batumi Batumi).
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED –
National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
Another rural Club of Fund "Sukhumi” has been created
in the village Bia of Khobi Municipality. There are 20 women of different
professions (most of them are unemployed and that was called the main problem)
in the Club of Women-Voters.
Women approved an idea of the Club creation and
decided to actively cooperate with other Clubs.
At the first meeting participants discussed living
problems. They said that the most relevant was the problem of water supply:
water supply system is out of order, drinking water is of poor quality. One part
of the village (Sashonio) is not supplied with water and villagers use wells.
According to the attendees local government is aware
of that problem since it was raised many times at the rural meetings, but
nothing has been changed yet. At the Club meeting the issue was considered more
categorically: full rehabilitation of water supply system and installation of
meters.
The problem will be advocated by the Club of
Women-Voters of the village Bia. A moderator of the Club is Manana Shulaia – a
member of Khobi Sakrebulo. Members of the newly established club believe that
they will be able to solve this problem through the cooperation of local
government.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization NED –
National Endowment for Democracy, USA.
Four rural Clubs have been added to the Clubs of
Women-Voters operating in eight cities of Western Georgia. One of the Clubs is
located in the village Koki, Zugdidi District.
The first meeting was held at the conference hall of
Koki public school. Women of different professions (including IDPs) got
acquainted with the work of women's clubs in Western Georgia, and expressed a
desire to contribute to the solution of local problems and take care of social
and political mobilization of women.
A moderator of the club - DalilaChikava is a member of
ZugdidiCity Council, which is the largest one among local governmentalorgans of
Georgia and there is only one woman among 41 members. Therefore it is very
important forDalilaChikavato change the situation in the future.
- In order to
ensure that more women candidates win future elections, we have to work harder
with voters and political parties, - said Mrs. Dalila.
Women from Koki gathered at the Club meeting think
that the creation of the club is relevant and timely to fulfill the
aforementioned mission.
The project is
implemented with the support of the organization NED – National Endowment for
Democracy (USA)
At the Club of Women-Voters there were stressed the
problems of socially vulnerable categories of the population. There was
discussed a specific fact: a house an active member of the club - Mzisadar
Mardzhanishvili burned down few years ago. She still lives in someone else's
house, because government agencies did not provide her with housing.
Mzisadar Mardzhanishvili asked the club to help her in
the preparation of letters and lobby the issues in the relevant agencies. By
joint efforts there was prepared a statement on the name of the Chairperson of
Committee of the Georgian Parliament on Health and Social Affairs. The letter
has already been registered in the Department of office management of the
Parliament (statement 20019).
According to
the moderator of Khoni Club of Women-Voters Eliso Jikia, the survivor has not
yet received a response, but advocacy group hopes that her request will not be
left without response.
The project is implemented with the support
of the organization NED – National Endowment for Democracy (USA)
24 participants of democracy course of the School of Young Women Leaders
gathered at the regular training in Fund "Sukhumi" in Kutaisi. The
training program included a visit to the City Council and familiarization with
the structure of local government and the functions of separate committees, so
that the participants had a view of the practical activities of the Sakrebulo
machinery and separate committees. This block of the training was fruitful and
productive, that is reflected in the evaluation made by the participants:
"We have been accepted, not only as students, but as
colleagues."
"We differently imagined the work in the City Council. We saw how the
work is actually carried out that was a novelty for us."
The other parts of the training were also very important. Participants
were informed about the role of media in the democratization process, the role
of political parties in the formation of civil society. They were acquainted
with the organic law on local government, the role of civil activism.
The educational program included informal meetings. Young participants
gladly listened to the poems of local poets - Lia Gvenetadze and Gizo Tavadze.
A cognitive evening was arranged with the director of the TV company
"Rioni" Tamila Gvinianidze, who told participants about her career of
a woman-leader.
At the end of training participants made the following assessment:
"Well planned high-level training."
"We have been developed. Our ambition and desire to go the way of
other successful women - leaders and be like them have increased."
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna,
women’s Swedish Foundation.
From today, Fund "Sukhumi" will have 6 Youth Centres - in
Kutaisi, Tskhaltubo, Khoni, Senaki, Poti and Khurcha. The Centers are led by
the alumnies of the School of Young Leaders and were united in the Youth
Network, which aims to mobilize and activate youth in regions, develop their
leadership skills and motivate them for the involvement in the political life
of the country.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna
till Kvinna,
