These photos describe a working meeting hwld on Ioseliani Street in Kutaisi. The Women Fund “Sukhumi” trained members of the initiative group in advocacy issues. Now they hold information meetings in their communities to raise civic responsibility.
Meeting participants talk about the importance of teamwork, the skills required to maintain common property, specific problems in the community and ways to solve them within the framework of civic responsibility.
Members of the initiative group identified problems and began advocacy. They are now sharing their experiences with others so that more people can become actors in local policy development.
The project is implemented with the support of USAID local governance program
The members of the women initiative group of the village Pakhulani of Tsalenjikha municipality developed an advocacy plan based on the problems identified as a result of the research. One of the priority issues in Tskoushi community was the renovation of the sports ground. It was revealed that there is no appropriate infrastructure and it does not meet modern standards. During the meeting, the members of the women's group discussed the activities that should be implemented in the future.
Tskaltubo youth groups implemented mini-projects on the theme of peace. All activities were aimed at popularizing peace issues and increasing the role of young people. The activities gave the participants an opportunity to get more information about Abkhazia and Georgian-Abkhazian relations. They discussed what they can do for peace, expressed their opinions in different ways and reminded the society of the priority of this topic. The women's group was also active. Members worked on an advocacy plan. The issues identified as a result of the research were selected as problems.
Women Fund "Sukhumi" organized a training with young people on the topic: "Mediation as a Ritual of Reconciliation" in school of the village Didinedzi of Zugdidi Municipality. The importance of mediation, conflict management and development of necessary skills - this was the aim of the training. In the first part, the participants talked about the historical role of mediation, drawing a parallel with today. The second part, the thematic block was devoted to the essence of mediation and a detailed discussion of the skills that a mediator should possess. In the third, practical part, the participants improved the theoretical material with role-playing games. Young people rated the training as timely and effective. The members of Didinedzi women initiative group spoke about the issues that have been resolved and those that need to be resolved in the community. The problem of drainage canals was revealed, as crops and plants are damaged during heavy rains. The women initiative group discussed the elaboration of an advocacy plan.
Women Fund Sukhumi's Tbilisi office representative, Ekaterine Gamakharia, was selected to participate in the Regional Training of Trainers on the Women, Peace, and Security and Humanitarian Action (WPS-HA) Compact in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 5-6. This event, organized by the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) and the OSCE WIN Project, brought together women peacebuilders and mediators from Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the South Caucasus.
On June 5, Ekaterine took part in a subregional meeting for South Caucasus women peacebuilders, where she engaged with OSCE and GNWP representatives to discuss the current situation in Georgia. She focused on the challenges posed by the "Foreign Agent Law" and its impact on women's participation, particularly for women peacebuilders. On June 6, during the hybrid event "Advancing Women’s Leadership in Women, Peace, and Security and Humanitarian Action: Assessing Progress and Charting the Way Forward," Ekaterine addressed regional progress and future strategies to ensure effective women's participation and leadership. The forum was attended by officials from the OSCE, UN Women, and the European Union.
The members of the youth group of the village Koki - Zugdidi municipality completed their work on the mini-project: "Hello, Abkhazia!", within the framework of this project various activities were carried out - a discussion on the topic of peace, meeting with peers, showing and analyzing a film. The aim of the project was to popularize the topic of peace. The members of the women initiative group worked on the topic of advocacy. The participants discussed the named problems. An advocacy plan was developed, according to which the group members will try to implement the process effectively.
Women Fund “Sukhumi” hosted a meeting, which was attended by members of the initiative group involved in the project. These are women and girls from different IDP communities (former clinical hospital, former technical college and residential houses located on Shervashidze street No. 58).
The meeting participants are ready to share the knowledge and experience, gained at the trainings and meetings, with people living in their communities and start to solve existing problems.
The project is implemented with the support of USAID local governance program
A working meeting was held at the office of the Women Fund "Sukhumi", which was attended by the members of the initiative group - IDPs from various collective centers of Kutaisi.
Group members try to use the skills acquired during the training and are motivated to solve their problems. According to them, the project empowered each participant and convinced them of their own abilities. All this is a necessary condition for the successful implementation of the advocacy process.
The project is implemented with the support of USAID local governance program
IDP Women and girls, members of the initiative group, attended a working meeting at Kutaisi IDP community center. They are informed about advocacy issues and will try to use their competence in practice to solve the problems of settlement.
The women noted: “The experience gained will help us to conduct successful advocacy with the relevant departments.”
“When I see a problem, I immediately begin to respond, prepare a letter, collect signatures and photographs, because I know that evidence will lead to success.”
“We have a letter with evidence, we will begin the advocacy process in a structured manner. Your support gives us more motivation. We hope you will help us when we face difficulties!”
The project is implemented with the support of USAID local governance program
