The women's mutual assistance group meetings took place in an unusual way. Everyone saw the results and benefits of the work. The winning initiatives, and those that did not receive funding, and future plans were discussed.
An initiative has begun in Senaki – the poultry farm will be further developed. In Khobi, motors for pumps were purchased, needed for the IDP community. In Tsalenjikha, women were given a sewing machine and a freezer – just what they wanted for their business.
In Terjola, two winners were given tools and materials needed for their micro-business. They took part in the festival – City Day – where they presented their creations: bags, brooches, collars, various accessories...
Funding of initiatives is a great incentive for mutual assistance group members. In the second stage, everyone will join because they have seen that women's mutual assistance groups are truly designed to help and strengthen each other.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
Our organization carries out a charitable and humanitarian mission and, of course, provides women with various support and assistance. One of these activities is distributing mobile phones to members of women's mutual assistance groups. Today, everyone needs a mobile phone as a means of communication and a source of information.
Therefore, in October, the organization donated new mobile phones to women who had difficulty in using their phones in Senaki, Kutaisi, and Terjola. This means their communication and awareness will improve.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
Women's mutual assistance groups have begun implementing initiatives.
The groups presented 18 initiatives, eight of which were funded by our organization.
In early October, the initiative authors received materials and tools, and they will begin their work.
Project Assistant Nino Chabukiani notes: "Implementing the initiatives is a great support for people from vulnerable groups. It contributes to women's economic empowerment and is a significant incentive for them and their families. Therefore, everyone who received funding is grateful to our organization. The groups have become even more motivated to work. Those who did not receive funding are now preparing for the second stage."
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
A dialogue with specialists working in the field of civic education took place in an interesting format. The topic of the online meeting was "Psychosocial, Economic, Legal, and Structural Aspects of Migration and Measures of its Prevention".
We presented the results of the Fund “Sukhumi” research and the digital resource www.sosfsokhumi.ge to the participants. We discussed the main factors of women migration, the psychosocial consequences of uncontrolled migration, and the importance of reducing it.
An interesting discussion was held on migration prevention mechanisms and migration trends. Participants shared their observations regarding the fact that while in previous years migration had primarily affected urban populations, now villages are also becoming empty, as introducing innovations into agriculture is extremely difficult, soils are depleted, and incomes have significantly decreased. Successful local entrepreneurs are less popular. It was noted that it is difficult to reduce uncontrolled migration without a corresponding positive socioeconomic environment, but at the same time, it is essential for society to recognize the negative psycho-emotional consequences of migration for families: alienation, deprivation of parental warmth for children, excessive burden for the elderly, not to mention the "brain drain" and changing demographics. Therefore, they believe public dialogue on migration issues is essential.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Mutual assistance group meetings were held in municipalities of Western Georgia according to planned. Assistant Nino Chabukiani held five meetings in Terjola, Vani, Kutaisi, Tskaltubo and Kobuleti. The remaining five meetings were organized and facilitated by the leaders, who successfully completed their tasks.
During the meetings in Zugdidi, Chokhatauri, Senaki, Tsalenjikha, and Khobi, group participants discussed issues related to the civic initiative competition. Emphasis was placed on feedback, so that they would be better prepared for the next stage.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
Preparation for the implementation of civil initiatives has begun in the women's groups of Kutaisi, Khoni and Khobi. It was preceded by a civil dialogue on the causes of migration, its psychosocial consequences and ways of prevention.
During the meetings they heard interesting opinions from young people who have their own attitude to this problem and believe that there are many sensitive topics, the understanding of which is extremely important for society. For example, according to their observations, parents sometimes unintentionally contribute to the alienation of their children from their peers by buying expensive things, which further aggravates their psycho-emotional state.
At this stage, consultations are being held with initiative groups, events are being planned and appropriate resources are being sought.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
In July, civil dialogue was continued in women's groups of Kutaisi, Khoni and Khobi. Participants discussed the reasons of migration, its psychosocial consequences and ways of prevention.
Their vision of what needs to be done to reduce migration and mitigate its consequences, reintegrate women and improve the psychosocial climate in their families was interesting; increase of teachers' awareness of the emotional and behavioral characteristics of children of migrant parents was also noted. Some participants shared their experiences on this topic:
"My parents' emigration brought a lot of psychological trauma, some of which I still experience. What children of immigrant parents need most is the right atmosphere." "The school period should be useful for them, because it was the teacher who brought the light back to me."
Some participants expressed a desire to share their emotions:
"I have some sketches and you can share them. If I could, I would give everyone the strength to talk about their pain, as I do."
"I would be happy to join the creation of interesting stories. I myself have a short but painful experience of migration. I know many others who would be happy to share their emotions."
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
During the next meeting of the women's mutual assistance group in Vani, the participants shared various information with each other. One part of the meeting was devoted to digital literacy.
The group members always attend the meetings with great interest. Such meeting was held in the village Khurcha (Zugdidi municipality), Kobuleti, Chokhatauri. In accordance with the needs of the women's mutual assistance group members, sewing courses were opened in Tskaltubo, which is very important for them.
Some of the meetings - in Tskaltubo, Tsalenjikha, Terjola, Kutaisi, Senaki, Khobi - were held online, but no less active and interesting.
A psychologist participated in the meetings together with a digital literacy teacher, who gave the participants useful advice. The group members got acquainted with new materials on our web page https://sosfsokhumi.ge/ – “Digital Service Center for Women Victims of Violence”. Project Assistant Nino Chabukiani notes: “During the meetings, we talked about civil initiatives. The group members filled out questionnaires where they recorded these initiatives. They are interested in different areas of work – poultry farming, cooking, cutting and sewing. These and other areas are presented in the questionnaires. According to the women, support for their initiatives is very important.”
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
During information meetings initiated in the municipalities of Terjola, Vani and Chokhatauri, women were introduced to the results of the research "Gender aspects of women's migration" conducted by our organization. It is planned to implement initiatives aimed at preventing migration and reducing its negative consequences, which will be based on the needs of specific communities.
The meetings noted that the migration issue requires multi direction work, although women's groups can also make a small contribution.
The main challenges were identified as: economic empowerment of women and support for women who have started small businesses but do not know how to expand the market.
It was noted that training in these skills will become a tool for preventing migration and will help other women who are afraid to engage in such activities and see migration as the only solution for a better future for their children.
Attention was paid to the consequences of migration - children who grow up without mothers. Particular emphasis was placed on childhood traumas that are not compensated by financial well-being. The women set themselves the goal of working in this area with both children and women migrants in order to promote better relationships between children and mothers.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
