On November 3, 2021, the representative of the Tbilisi office of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" - Ekaterine Gamakharia participated in a Gender Theme Group (GTG) - Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Task Force Meeting. The Gender Theme Group unites international organizations and embassies accredited in Georgia, as well as civil society organizations. Its purpose is to promote the "Women, Peace and Security" agenda in Georgia and respond effectively to challenges identified by individual group members, develop and plan appropriate actions and interventions.
At the meeting, the representative of the Fund "Sukhumi" together with her colleagues spoke about Resolution 1325, the results of monitoring the implementation of the three-year National Action Plan, and the main findings, where she stressed the challenges and the need to respond to them, such as - the development and implementation of a gender-sensitive early warning system;
On September 27, 2021, the representative of the Tbilisi office of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" - Ekaterine Gamakharia participated in an Information Exchange Meeting organized by the Human Security Group of the EUMM Field Office of Zugdidi.
The topics of the meeting were the ongoing "Russification process" in the Gali district, possible prohibition of learning Georgian language in the 11th graders in the lower zone of Gali district and the effectiveness of Georgian language programs initiated by the Georgian government to promote higher education for young people living in uncontrolled areas.
Ekaterine Gamakharia underlined the need to introduce free courses to help pupils to learn Georgian language and prepare students for national exams in the Gali district and the need finance these programs from the side of the Government. During the meeting, the representative of the Fund "Sukhumi" also highlighted the ineffective practice of enrolling students in the higher education system in the Gali district, which needs to change the approach.
“Practice of needs research using the GREWS” - trainings for women's initiative groups in Kutaisi, Tskaltubo, Khoni and Senaki were held on this topic.
Participants received competent knowledge: how to plan and conduct interviews, focus groups, how to put questions to the respondent and obtain the necessary information. They became familiar with the risks and challenges that may arise during the research. During the training, group exercises and simulated interviews were applied. After the training, the participants will be involved in the process of needs research and will use the obtained information in practice.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
The Office of the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality organized a joint meeting of the “Advisory Council for Experts on Reconciliation and Involvement Policy” and “Women, Peace, and Security - Advisory Platform on Enhancing Women's Effective Participation in Peacebuilding”. The aim of the meeting was to discuss the reconciliation and engagement policy strategy and its first evaluation and monitoring phase. The civil society representatives noted the significant progress that is evident in the implementation of the reconciliation policy from 2011 to the present.
Ekaterine Gamakharia, Head of the Women's Fund "Sukhumi" Tbilisi office, together with her colleagues, emphasized the need to take appropriate actions in response to the current challenges and to reflect them in the new strategy and action plan. Also, the need to increase financial and human resources to make existing reconciliation and confidence-building mechanisms more effective.
The members of the Council and the Platform reaffirmed their readiness to continue working closely with the Office of the State Minister on these and other issues and their willingness to engage in thematic groups in the process of developing a new Action Plan.
Requirement: to carry out installation of external lighting and benches on sports grounds. Koki Women Initiative Group works to address the problems identified in the community. The group members discussed what changes need to be made to the advocacy plan and what resources to include.
Zugdidi Women Initiative Group also continues the advocacy process - the members of the group are trying to clear the area near the IDP settlement from thorns and are acting according to the prescribed plan.
At a regular meeting, members of Koki youth initiative group spoke about the project "Healthy Environment for a Better Future" - how the work was conducted, what results were achieved. This was their project debut and they are very pleased.
“Success of young people begins with such projects”, mentioned one of the group members.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
The members of the youth initiative group summarized the work on the project in the eco-club.
The project participants made the following assessment: a new challenge is always useful and informative; teamwork gives a good result - I was convinced of this when working on a project; non-formal education is one of the useful tools for introducing new initiatives; I am ready for new challenges.
Women Initiative Group of the village Pakhulani has successfully completed the advocacy process that began last month. A letter was prepared to the Mayor, signatures were collected, and a majoritarian candidate joined. As a result, the problem was solved - garbage bins were placed in the village. Fund "Sukhumi" thanks Tsalenjikha City Hall for cooperation and support.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
September was especially busy for youth initiative groups. Within the framework of the sub-grant program, the youth club at Tskaltybo public school No 4 implemented the project "BRAIN-ROOM - youth space for informing the society".
The project participants developed a thematic painting for the banner, which should become the main attribute of BRAIN-ROOM. Informational meetings were held within the framework of the project. The guests were the representatives of the City Hall and City Council of Tskaltubo municipality. Young people heard information about youth programs, gender issues, social policy of the City Hall. On the basis of the youth club, info-groups were created, which held master classes with older people on the skills of working with the Internet. Project activities were finished, although the discussion space BRAIN-ROOM remains, which is awaiting new guests.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
“Interaction in the language of “street art” - this is how the members of Senaki youth initiative group called the project carried out within the framework of the sub-grant program and used the format of street art to communicate with the public. The members of the group developed a thematic model and selected phrases. Then the idea moved to the wall of Senaki Public School No 7. Youth messages call for the need for peace, leadership, education, activism.
Young people organized a public lecture, workshops, invited students from various schools in Senaki.
- What we know about self-government, its structure, programs, budget, what does the decentralization mean - these issues turned out to be interesting for the participants.
The project is completed, although young people will continue to interact with the public through the messages remaining on the wall.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
Within the framework of the sub-grant program, Tskaltubo Youth Initiative Group implemented the project “Sustainable Use and Production - Youth for the Implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals at Local Level”.
A banner was prepared, thematic comics were printed and placed on the garbage bins, members of the club purchased stationeries.
The project activities were successful. An online survey, trainings, workshops on waste recycling were conducted. The project ended with an action: the club members placed thematic comics on the garbage bins.
The participants believe that the youth project will contribute to improving the ecological and sanitary situation in the municipality, informing the population about the rules for the use and recycling of waste, as well as increasing the self-awareness of the population.
The project is implemented with the support of the USAID
