-I haven’t seriously thought about gender equality
before, but now I can say, that I realize the depth of this issue.
- I didn’t think of gender imbalance as a problem.
Today you presented the issue in such a way, that we saw the real solutions to
the problem.
- We have actually planned specific goals and
elaborated a strategic plan for providing the Gender Policy in our regions.
- The ideas raised during the training will not stay
on the paper - we will try to effectively realize them in a three-year period.
Such opinions were expressed during the training held
in Borjomi for the representatives of Sakrebulos of three cities (Kutaisi,
Senaki, Ozurgeti), who are the members of the Gender Advisory Councils. The
theme of the training was: Self-governing regional structures and gender equality.
Active involvement of the training participants
indicate ones again their motivation for changing gender policy at the local
level.
The Advisory Council
members and activists had the training in Batumi on the topics: Self-Government
and Gender, Gender Budgeting, the Theory of women's needs assessment.
During the active
work there were identified directions and social groups on which the Council
will aim its efforts at the first stage.
The Mayor of Batumi Jemal Ananidze welcomed the
training participants and gave memorable presents to Fund "Sukhumi”. As he
mentioned, Batumi City Hall as the executive agency, together with the City
Council, is ready for close cooperation with the Council: "I see here the
most respected people in the city who were brought together by Fund
"Sukhumi" and I am sure that this unity is the precondition for the
solution of the important issues of the city."
The project is implemented with the support of the U.S. Department of State
Khoni Municipality Council actively cooperates with
Fund "Sukhumi”. By the initiative of the Council within the framework of the 16
Days Campaign there was held a training for young people on issues of
cooperation with local self-government.
Young participants of the training raised relevant
problems. A representative of Sakrebulo Bachana Basilaia explained what
capacities the Municipality Council has to solve these problems. He told the participants
how they can work on projects and how they can cooperate with local
Municipality Council.
A training on
awareness raising of IDPs in laws and resettlement criteria was held in the
training room of Fund "Sukhumi” within the framework of the joint project
"Informed IDPs advocate for their rights on resettlement”. In the training
participated representatives of 6 collective centres that have not yet been
rehabilitated. The participants got information about resettlement criteria,
how they can be involved in this process and advocate for their problems.
At the conclusion of
the training participants said:
-We did not know
anything about criteria, now we know how and on what basis scores are assigned
to IDP families.
-The training was
very informative. The obtained knowledge will be useful for the protection of
our rights during the process of distribution of living areas.
A training was held
in Batumi with participation of young actors of the forum-theatres created in
schools.
The themes discussed
at the training were relevant for the participants: violence, communication,
conflict, history and the objective of the forum-theatre.
The part of the
training was dedicated to the practical work.
A variety of methods,
interactive style made the two-day training special and interesting for every
participant.
The project is implemented with the financial support of the Ministry of
Education, Culture and Sports
Participants of the School of Young Women Leaders gathered at the
regular training in the office of Fund "Sukhumi” in Kutaisi. The first day was
devoted to the presentation of homework. According to the task, each
participant held a workshop in Kutaisi, Tskhaltubo, Khoni, Senaki, Poti and
Khurcha.
- Problems, achievements, results, impact – girls answered these
questions with pictures. Presentation was commented by the psychologist of Fund
"Sukhumi".
According to the girls the main achievement is the raised awareness of
young people and their motivation to become more active.
The rest days of the training were also productive. Participants got
acquainted with the problem of gender-based violence and the information about
planning of public campaigns. The theoretical part was followed by the
practical one. Participants in the Leaders’ School elaborated the strategy for
effective campaign and activities within the framework of the 16 days of
Activism Against Gender Based Violence Campaign.
The training has brought together all the participants. Fund
"Sukhumi" arranged a tour for them in Gelati, where some were for the
first time.
After the training, participants said that they had received a lot of
important and useful information, and they would take active part in the 16-day
campaign that was held by Fund "Sukhumi" traditionally for more than
10 years.
The project is implemented with the
support of Kvinna till Kvinna,
20 women
(representatives of State sector, civil society and political parties) gathered
at the second course of an educational training "School of women’s political
leadership”.
The training was held
in the resort Sairme. The themes of the training were very interesting for the
participants: Women’s leadership and political participation; Communication and
cooperation with mass media; The UN Security Council Resolution 1325; Woman,
peace and security.
The training was held
within the framework of the project "Strengthening women’s voices in decision-making” by the trainers of an international level. The three-day activity was
completed with recommendations and an action plan on active involvement in
local self-government elections.
The
project is implemented with the support of the Swiss
Natalia Nelidova and
Inna Airapetyan (psychologists who worked in Russia and Ukraine) carried out a
training for psychologists-practitioners and psychotherapists. The training was
about application of the methods of art-therapy and metaphorical-associative
cards in the work.
Impressions of participants:
"Application of
metaphorical in psychological practice (vivid) cards – this is an innovation
for me, as a psychologist-practitioner and is very acceptable”.
"I liked this form of
the training, sincerity, freedom. Such meetings are necessary like an air!
"I am very grateful
to organizers – Fund "Sukhumi” for a lot of new and interesting information…”
Society needs information on the topic of domestic violence, practical
use of existing mechanisms against violence and social cooperation between the
state and public institutions. This was evident on a one-day trainings
conducted by fund "Sukhumi" on July 24, 25, 26, with the financial
support of the organization "World Vision" for the representatives of
Didveli, Dimi, Pirveli and Meore Obcha, and Sviri communities.
At the end of the training there were made the following
comments:
"As a school principal I really needed information that you have
provided," "We already know how to identify violence cases, how to
help victims. I will try to share my knowledge with friends"; "As rural
district police representatives we often have to intervene in family conflicts.
We are grateful for the fact that we have provided us with the information on state
regulations and their practical use, "Once again we saw how complicated is
the problem of domestic violence, how far comprehensive approach is needed to
address it, how important is prevention of violence".
The training was conducted in an interactive mode, sometimes - on the
background of intense debates. There was also a theoretical material, the
specific stories and strategies elaborated to address them.
Special emotions were caused by youth forum-theatre performances of Fund
"Sukhumi”. There were identified the prospects for their future cooperation
with educational institutions.
Types
of conflict, personal elements, communication, as a tool of conflict management
- these topics were discussed at the regular training of the School of Young
Women - Leaders in Kobuleti.
The
first day of the training was dedicated to the presentation of homework.
Participants analyzed the survey on women's leadership, which they carried out
in the regions. During the discussion, they talked sincerely about their
mistakes, problems, and results.
The
other following days were interesting too. Particularly important for girls was
a discussion of the personal elements of conflict. They believe that from this
angle they looked at themselves for the first time, learned a lot and became
sincere.
-
It is impossible to manage conflict without effective communication. If you
want to improve relations, it is necessary to know the elements of
communication, - said the training participants. According to them, knowledge
and skills obtained during the three days will be useful to them everywhere.
The
project is implemented with the support of Kvinna
till Kvinna,
Representatives of different political parties,
different professions and ages, but of similar civic activism and leadership
skills, gathered at the three-day training in the Fund "Sukhumi".
This training was a beginning of the history of Women's Leadership School.
The majority of the participants have the potential,
desire and are willing to develop their skills to participate in the local
elections of 2014.
With the use of different methods the training was
held on issues interesting for the participants: the phenomenon of women's
leadership, the role and importance of communication, obstacles to women's
advancement in politics, managing emotions, the strategy of behavior in
conflict situations, ways of negotiating.
In the final part of the training, the participants
discussed the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security,
and made a special emphasis on its importance in enhancing women's rights.
The participants demonstrated their leadership skills,
got a lot of important and practical information, enriched their experience.
According to the trainers, each of them has the capacity and resources for a
political career.
The project is
implemented with the support of the Swiss Federal Department
The
tools of public communication, organization of public discussions and workshops
- this was the theme of the training held in Khoni Women Support Centre with
the participation of young people living in the municipality of Khoni. The
project covers the villages Nakhakhulevi and Matkhoji and aims to mobilize,
inform and activate the youth.
In
a one-day program, the participants received information about effective
communication, got familiar with the methods of planning and organization of
workshops and discussions. The theoretical and interactive work was followed by
the practical exercises. The participants had an opportunity, through the role
games, play the scenarios of advocating for different issues.
After
the exercises, there was screened the film on the theme of violence, which was
shot within one of the projects of the Fund "Sukhumi". The youth
discussed it.
The
participants noted that the training gave them the necessary information that
they will apply in the future.
The
project is implemented with the support of
organization «People in Need»
18 representatives of local self-government, city administrations and
social services from 6 regions of Western Georgia (Kutaisi, Tskhaltubo, Khoni,
Senaki, Poti, Zugdidi) were brought by Fund "Sukhumi” together at Sairme
resort.
Within three days they participated in the training on "Preventive
strategies against domestic violence".
For the participants of the training much was familiar, but there were
new information and approaches. This was conditioned by the topics presented
for discussion: gender equality, stereotypes, gender violence, state mechanisms
against violence, referral mechanisms of social and legal protection of victims
of domestic violence, a model of institutional cooperation...
At the end of the training, there were developed concepts for future
strategies for some regions.
Activity of Fund "Sukhumi" on violence prevention is
impossible without active involvement of local government agencies. The
training contributed to closer cooperation in this regard.
The project is implemented with the support
of the organization Brot
für die Welt – Evangelischer
Entwicklunsdienst (Germany)
-What is civic activism and what does it mean to be an active citizens; how can civic initiatives be developed and implemented in practice – theses issues were basis of two-day training program, attended by active and leader women from eight cities of western Georgia (Kutaisi,Tskhaltubo, Senaki, Poti, Khoni, Batumi, Ozurgeti, Zugdidi).
The topic of discussion was relatively new for the participants, but they did not find it difficult to define positive results of civic activism.
The practical expercises, continued in groups were especially interesting: each group, based on the problems in their city and existing reality, developed initiatives and ways for their implementation. They also developed a strategy for cooperation between local authorities and civil society activists.
"I am positively impressed and hope that I can contribute to positive changes in my city.”
"I will try to use the acquired knowledge into practice and solve own problems.”
- This is the participant’s feedback. They believe that their motivation has increased to be more active, considering that positive changes of the reality around them depends on civic activism and their contribution to society.
The project is supported by the U.S. Embassy in Georgia.
This time, the School of Young Leaders is seeking for women leaders in Poti.
A regular, fifth qualifying training was held in the Women's Support Centre of Poti.
Women's leadership, communication, essence of conflict - topics discussed during the training were very interested for the girls.
- We understand that only four participants will be accepted to the School, but this does not prevent us to be friends in the future - said the girls in the end of the training.
According to the participants the training was useful for them and this one day was the beginning of the continuation of future activity, since young people in Poti are passive.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna, women’s Swedish Foundation.
For the selection of young female leaders a regular training was held in the Women Support Centre of Khoni. Participants were actively involved in the discussions, interactive exercises and role games.
- We are interested in becoming more active. Today we had the opportunity to get rid of complexes and show ourselves.
- Of course, not everyone will get to the School of Young Leaders, but the information we have received, is important for us: we have learned to involve in discussions and express our opinions, - that is the evaluation of the participants.
Very soon, four participants will become members of the School. The rest will take part in other youth activities.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna, women’s Swedish Foundation.
