The online meeting was attended by the civil society organizations “Equality Now” and “Civil Spectrum - Equality” registered in Baghdati. The agenda of the forum, the issue of the presentation of the organizations’ work and the topic of the third monitoring were discussed. They also talked about the grant competition, which will be announced at the end of February. These organizations already have concrete ideas for project proposals.
The work is carried out in the framework of the project “A common forum for CSOs from Guria, Imereti and Racha-Lechkhumi for PAR Roadmap monitoring”.
“Involving parents in school life - cooperation in activities against gender stereotypes and violence” - a meeting of round format was held on this topic. Among the participants there were students, parents, teachers, representatives of different spheres of society.
They got acquainted with the publication of the Fund "Sukhumi" - “Schools against challenges of gender equality, gender stereotypes and domestic violence”. They talked about the dangers of gender discrimination, about cooperation between teachers and parents in terms of protecting young people from violence. They touched upon the problems caused by the covid-19 pandemic and their solutions. The discussed issues were relevant for all participants, and the meeting was active. Information about the round table was published in the newspaper "New Education".
New working year in the Youth Clubs of the Fund "Sukhumi" started on January 16 with interesting meetings. The topic "Early Marriages" motivated the participants for an open discussion. They talked about stereotypical thinking, the role of parents and society. They gave examples of how a family created at an early age failed, how a 17-18 year old girl was left alone with a child. They underlined not only health or psychological, but also education and employment problems.
It was noted that young people should have responsible attitude towards marriage, and such discussions contribute to it.
Online meetings were held with students from 10 public schools. One part of the Youth Club members has already held informational meetings with peers on the topic of early marriage, and the second part plans to talk about this topical issue.
Poti, Kutaisi, Terjola, Kobuleti, Etseri (Samtredia municipality), Nosiri (Senaki municipality), Koki (Zugdidi municipality), Khajalia (Lanchkhuti municipality), Gurianta (Ozurgeti municipality), Pakhulani (Tsalenjikha municipality), Pakhulani (Tsalenjikha municipality) - the geography of the Youth Clubs is diverse.
In January, 6 online group meetings of psychologist and lawyer were held for the beneficiaries of the Women Support Centers from Khoni, Senaki, Tskaltubo, Kobuleti, Khurcha(Zugdidi municipality), Pakhulani (Tsalenjikha municipality) - 35 people from 28 to 67 years old took participated.
The conversation was about how to manage negative emotions, and why it is so important in the situation of pandemic and domestic violence.
Couples and individual beneficiaries from different regions of Western Georgia also receive psychotherapeutic and legal consultation. This free service, is a great assistancefor them.
The life of the forum theater in January is held online, but quite actively. Facebook page of the Fund "Sukhumi" presents videos and photo collages prepared by young actors. A new section has begun - all actors of the forum theater will record a personal video.
The rehearsal period is actively continuing. The plan for February is already developed. The forum theater group hopes to meet with the audience soon ...
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
For teenagers, it was surprising that "nicknames" often are the cause of conflicts. According to them, if another name comes from a surname, for example, Antiya - Anto, Mebonia - Mebo, this is not hurtful, but if it indicates a flaw, it can cause a conflict.
Regular online workshops on: "Skills for peaceful resolution of conflicts" were held with members of the conflict management group.
The conflict expert of the Fund "Sukhumi" introduced them to these skills. They learned what rules they should use to avoid conflict escalation. They were sent a list of skills in messenger groups.
Work with boys was held online in January. Group and individual meetings were held with the schools of Terjola, Zugdidi, Tsalenjikha, Kutaisi, Senaki, Poti, Lanchkhuti, Ozurgeti and Kobuleti municipalities.
Most of the meetings were held on the Zoom platform, which made it possible to show videos and hold discussions.
“I chose videos on the topic of violence and bullying to better demonstrate the essence of the problem,” mentiones the trainer - Beka Potskhveria. - The boys actively discussed these actual problems and the facts reflected in the videos. According to them, a tolerant society will better combate bullying and violence.
One of the main activities of the Fund "Sukhumi" is promoting gender equality and creating a favourable ground for women’s participation in local planning and budgeting, as well as in being represented in decision-making positions.
Organization is engaged in educational, consultative, monitoring and advocacy activities to improve laws, policies and practices that strengthen the vulnerable groups and promote equality between women and men, and their equal participation in various areas of public life.
From the day of its foundation to the present day, the Fund "Sukhumi" has been continuously involved in confidence-building between conflict divided societies, peacebuilding and positive transformation of the conflict. Long lasting cooperation with partner organizations operating in Abkhazia and the study of the peacebuilding experience of various countries have laid the foundation for numerous partnership projects aimed at increasing the role of women and raising trust in the process of peacebuilding and conflict transformation. Numerous researches and surveys were undertaken within the frames of joint projects. Policy papers, analysis, methodological guidelines dedicated to peace and security and innovative perspectives on conflict transformation were published and spread.
Through the trainings, information meetings and discussions, the Fund "Sukhumi" actively works with population (women - IDPs, youth) in the direction of rethinking the past, destroying the enemy image created by the conflict, reducing tension and spreading a culture of peace.
Fund "Sukhumi" developed and launched community-based Gender Responsive Early Warning System (GREWS). Using the gender indicators, the organization constantly monitors the situation of IDP and conflict affected women and girls, as well as the level of their
