How do Women Support Centers evaluate the activities of the Fund “Sukhumi”? What results do they provide and how important are monthly information meetings? What kind of support do women need?
Internal monitoring was conducted to answer these questions.
Meeting participants openly express their mood and share new ideas:
- These meetings are a source of new information for us. Violence against women has not ended, and we must strengthen our positions in the fight against this problem.
- Women rarely have the opportunity to get together and express their thoughts, tired of the daily routine, we find a different mood, and we really need it.
- I am glad that you think about women, about our empowerment. Our self-esteem is growing. New ideas appear. It would be good if we were given the opportunity to implement our ideas.
The meetings were held in the Women Support Centers of Zugdidi/Khurcha, Senaki, Khoni and Khobi.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
A civil dialogue with women's groups on the issues of migration was held in Kutaisi. The meeting participants – women representing different social groups – got acquainted with the research of the Women Fund "Sukhumi" "Gender Dimension of the Causes of Women Migration through the Prism of Rights, Social Factors and Intersectional Vulnerability". Then a dialogue regarding the reasons of women migration and its social consequences, measures to prevent migration was held.
The participants gave a number of examples – along with the positive economic effect, the traumatic impact of migration on the women migrants themselves, their family members, especially children. They painfully noted moments of alienation and other psycho-emotional difficulties.
There was a discussion on what efforts, in addition to structural solutions, ordinary members of society can undertake to reduce migration trends and reduce its negative psycho-emotional consequences. Interesting ideas were expressed about community-level activities and the resources needed for them. The next stage is planned to select and implement the most interesting initiatives.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
During the ordinary meetings of women's mutual assistance groups, various cases were discussed, problems and improvement of economic conditions were discussed. In Tskaltubo, women are looking for seasonal work (picking blueberries, nuts or work at seaside resorts). Some of them have such experience and recommend it to others, because additional income will solve many needs.
One of the group members in Khobi was given a smart phone, which will simplify the necessary communication for her.
The members of Kobuleti group are especially grateful to our organization, because no one has shown them so much attention.
The meeting with Chokhatauri group was held online. Psychologist of our organization participated in it. According to the participants of the mutual assistance group, the psychologist's useful advice is a serious support for them.
A great incentive for the participants of the meetings is that such groups operate in 10 municipalities and with the help of project assistant Nino Chabukiani they have the opportunity to share their experiences with each other.
The project is implemented with the support the Equality Fund (Canada)
Mobilizers covered various topics at information meetings. The problems of domestic violence and ways of prevention are actively discussed everywhere. At the meetings of the Women Support Centers of Khoni, Chokhatauri, Tskaltubo, it became clear that a lot of work on identification is ahead.
Successful practices and results encouraged women from other centers. During the exchange of information, new cases were identified in the Women Support Centers of Khobi, Vani and Senaki.
The Para-specialists of the Fund are actively working with mobilizers. They study the needs of women, inform them about services and programs.
"There are many services that women do not know about, so we must continue to provide information about them, we must talk about this to everyone who cannot come to meetings," noted the beneficiaries. In June, internal monitoring was conducted in the Women Support Centers of Senaki, Tskaltubo, Terjola and Vani. The monitoring showed that process of informing should be continued. The need for professional courses for women was also noted. The problems identified during the monitoring will be implemented from next month and will make the work in direction of supporting women more effective
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
The cutting and sewing courses organized by the Khobi Women Support Center have ended. Our organization established a day rehabilitation center in the village Shuakhorga.
The two months of the basic course and each lesson were interesting.
The women celebrated the last day of training with an exhibition of their works. They say that they had a good teacher who taught them all the detailes. It was also nice to be together, to communicate...
The graduates will try to apply the knowledge they gained in practice.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
- I am a woman who did everything to keep her family. At the same time, I am a mother who changed the future of her children. I was afraid of how to live, what to do alone. I did not dare to get a divorce. I should have left earlier. I regret that I endured for so long...
This young mother of many children was in our Rehabilitation Center.
There was another young woman with her children - she still lives in an environment of violence.
The advice of a social worker and a lawyer, a course of psychotherapy, days spent in the center gave good results. A special example for her was a woman who escaped violence and lives peacefully with her children. With the help of the City Hall, our support and the support of other organizations, everything was solved gradually and she is grateful...
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Four meetings were held with women activists from the Women Support Centers of Senaki, Tskaltubo, Tsalenjikha and Zugdidi (village Khurcha).
The meeting participants got acquainted with our new research "Gender aspects of women's migration". After the presentation, there was held a discussion on - how the socio-economic and legal status and intersectional vulnerability factors influence migration decisions.
Fragments from the participants' speeches:
"Migration is a serious problem of our time - due to economic factors or vulnerability. Many people have emigrated, and this problem affects women the most".
"Women are forced to emigrate because there is no way out, and ultimately our reality is the following: family alienation and generations, growing up without mothers."
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Discussions on the psychosocial, economic, legal, structural aspects of migration and its prevention were held with women groups of Khoni and Khobi municipalities. They were familiarized with the results of the research of the Charitable Humanitarian Women Fund “Sukhumi”, and discussed ways to prevent migration and reduce its negative consequences.
The women had visions based on their life experience about how important it is and what needs to be done to reduce migration and mitigate its consequences, reintegrate women in emigration and improve the psychosocial climate in their families.
They believe that they have the resources to implement small civil initiatives and can initiate meetings on migration risks, for example, with discussions based on real stories. Particular interest was expressed in raising awareness of possible negative changes in the emotional and behavioral state of children, as they see many negative examples that worsen the climate of families and, in general, society. Specific ideas will be discussed at future meetings.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
Those gathered at the information meeting of Senaki Women Support Center discussed the needs of women. Social and infrastructural problems in the IDP settlement remain a priority.
Women exchange information, share their opinions with each other, resources, methods, that can be used to solve problems.
Our organization together with them plans and looks for resources to support women
The project is implemented with the support of the organization Brot
für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Germany)
