- I’ll make friends with Abkhaz peers via the Internet.
- I can come with the Abkhaz girl to the next meeting.
- I’ll send Abkhaz children pictures and toys made by Georgian children.
- I can cooperate with non-governmental organizations operating in Abkhazia.
- I’ll tell about women's peacemaking to my friends.
- I’ll hold a workshop and "gather" peacemaking initiatives of young people.
- I’ll try to influence on my parents, who are still aggressive.
There are many more specific suggestions made on the last day of training. Participants of the training expressed their strong desire to be engaged actively in the process of peacemaking.
All of this was conditioned by the three-day training session on "Conflict and Peace", which was held in Batumi on May 11-13.
Participants were interested in the theory of conflict, analysis and ways of its solution.
After the second day of the training they were watching the performance of Batumi Drama Theatre "Last stop".
They looked at different conflicts presented in the performance through the lens of the knowledge and on the third day, during reflection, they could not hide their emotions because of composure shown by the public. They mentioned: we should not give the conflict the opportunity to escalate, it is difficult to manage conflict, but everyone can do it, and if society is united, it will be able to resolve the conflict, we must take care of conflict resolution, even when it does not concern us personally.
Most of the participants knew well the information on Georgian-Abkhaz conflict. This facilitated the perception of the issue and created the background for the third working day, which was dedicated to the theme "Peace and Peacemaking." Emphasis was placed on the peacekeeping role of women, the publication of Fund "Sukhumi", "Women in search of peace". Participants elaborated action plans, taking into account their peace initiatives.
The young women will use the obtained knowledge not only themselves, but will provide for others – they will hold workshops in Kutaisi, Tskhaltubo, Khoni, Poti, Senaki, Khurcha and try to find peace initiatives.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna, women’s Swedish Foundation.
Two-day training for women-mobilizers of Women’s Support Centers was held in Fund "Sukhumi”. The theme of the training was "Project writing and advocacy".
The training was attended by eleven mobilizers of the Women's Support Centers in Kutaisi, Khoni, Tskhaltubo, Senaki, Poti, and Khurcha. The first day of the training was devoted to the elaboration of projects (project cycle, main stages, mission, purpose, strategy is a typical project, etc.), and the second day was devoted to the issues of civil interests advocacy (advocacy skills: problem definition, searching for information, definition of objectives, verification mechanisms) as well as the issues of cooperation with local authorities.
During the training there were defined a lot of problems of the population. For example, pansioners who live in Khurcha and Nabakevi and it is very difficult to go to Zugdidi to get pensions, so they are asking for the opening of an ATM of "Liberty Bank" in Khurcha or delivery of pensions in place.
Reflection of the training showed that most participants are ready to work on project elaboration independently and develop an effective strategy for advocacy.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization EED Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst.
The first training of the School of Young Women-Leaders on "Effective leadership” ("Leadership and communication”, "Leader and team”, "Gender qualities of a leader”, "Conflict management”).
19 young women were actively engaged in the three-day training.
The feedback after the training showed that the team work made young people confident. The training provided an incentive for the girls to become more independent, protect their rights:
- I was afraid that I could not work in a team but the atmosphere created by the trainers and openness of the girls helped me to overcome this complex.
- I feel the rush of positive energy that gives me the strength to express my opinions, views, and not to blindly obey others’ decisions.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna, women’s Swedish Foundation.
The
training, held in the collective center "Electromechanical Lyceum" within the framework of the project, supported by the British
organization "Conciliation Resources", was attended by 11 people
(active groups, selected by IDP communities, living in collective centers
"Ankom" and "Electromechanical Lyceum").
The training
participants were given information about their institutional rights.
Particular attention was paid the right of selection of housing, which is quite
topical and problematic. The following issues were also important: protection
of IDPs of unreasoned resettlement (guarantee, funds); rehabilitation of
collective centers; transfer of ownership.
They
mentioned that it is necessary to distinguish authority and keep hierarchy so
that IDPs were able to raise their problems and solve them in the appropriate
structures.
The training
participants were provided with the detailed information about issues which
they were concerned about.
The training on advocacy and lobbying was carried
out in the collective
center "Electromechanical Lyceum" within the framework of the project
"Awareness rasing of IDPs living in
unrehabilitated buildings, on their legal issues in regard with the process of
rehabilitation", supported by the British organization "Conciliation
Resources". In the training participated active groups of IDPs living in the
collective centers "Ankom" and "Electromechanical Lyceum".
The objective of the training was to increase opportunities
of IDP communities for advocacy of their problems and lobbying issues of resettlement,
to identify problems and solutions through advocacy and elaboration of messages.
During group works were identified the following problems:
specific criteria during re-allocation of IDPs to
alternative accommodation, specific terms for the
commencement and completion of repair works, employment of IDPs on construction
objects in Kutaisi,proving members of different generations of one family with housing.
The training participants are ready to use their
skills and experience to lobby for their issues and problems of the community.
In the office of Fund "Sukhumi" was held a two-day training on "Advocacy - an effective tool for the protection of civic interests". It was attended by 24 members of advocacy groups of the League of Women-Voters from eight towns in Western Georgia. Among the participants were students, teachers, journalists and public figures.
The training program included both theory and practical exercises in groups.
The participants got acquainted with the concept of advocacy, its stages and methods of determining effective actions in the process of advocacy.
During group works participants defined one problem for each town and developed a strategy to address it.
As a result of the training, participants obtained new skills for advocacy, planned their joint future activity and shared their experiences.
The training course was covered by the local TV company "Rioni".
Training
on Capacity building was held for the participants of the first and second
courses of the Leaders’ School in hotel "Imeri”, Kutaisi.
"Effective
communications, conflicts in team and ways of solution” – after discussing of this
theme young women thought about their habits.
"The
information obtained at the training was so specific and comprehensive that I didn’t
have to ask any questions”, "the knowledge obtained during the three days will
help me in successful conduction of measures planned within the 16 Days
Campaign and in my daily life”, - these were opinions of the first course
graduates.
Participants
of the democracy course were familiarized with mission, functions, goals and
structure of project writing with great enthusiasm.
"An
idea about creation of youth NGO came out at the first training. This training
will help us realize this idea”, - said the girls.
The
participants of both courses gathered on the third day of the training to
discuss plans of the forthcoming campaign. The meeting was quite original and
interesting as the girls were given the opportunity to work together and share
their experiences.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna, women’s Swedish
Foundation.
"In the Leaders’ School we obtain knowledge which is unavailable for us in other places”; "Most of all I remembered group activities at the training”; "I really enjoyed working onetiquette andimage of a business woman," "We look forward to a new phaseof the training"The theme of effective communication was very timely and important since we have much to do in the future” – these phrases were heard during the training evaluation when the training came to an end and there were defined plans for future campaign and homework.
According to the training evaluation, discussed themescorresponded tothe needs ofthe group.The training is just the beginningof educationin the Leaders’ School, and the girls need to make great efforts and work hard to achieve the rest. The main thing isthat the groupis motivatedand focused on knowledge which is the key to success.
A lotof creative ideasexpressedat the trainingshould be improved andrealized bythe girls!
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna, women’s Swedish Foundation.
- At the training we have learnt how to formulate project objectives properly that activities held by us to achieve these objectives were aimed at changes, improvement of women IDPs’ lives. The obtained knowledge will help us in implementation of the monitoring of our activities and evaluate an impact made on our beneficiaries, - this is the general opinion of the participants of the training on "Project planning, monitoring and evaluation”, which was organized in Borjomi for Fund "Sukhumi” employees on September 5-7.
The training was conducted by trainers-consultants from the Centre for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia Eka Datuashvili and Irina Bregvadze.
During the three days the training participants worked on elaboration of the Logical framework of the project, formulation of objectives, reasons, indicators, with the methods of evaluation and project planning, methods of information gathering.
During group works the participants had the possibility to use the obtained knowledge and deepen it based on different cases.
This training is very important for the Fund "Sukhumi” employees since they face with the issues discussed at the training in their everyday activity.
The training of the School of Young Women-Leaders was held in Fund "Sukhumi” for three days. "Conflict and role of women in conflict” – this topic was actively discussed by the young women from the Leaders’ School.
-Woman can solve conflict situation by her diplomatic skills.
-Conflict is a frequent phenomenon in our reality, so we want to know more about it, to be able to peacefully resolve the conflict, - said the training participants.
-Girls from the School of Leaders expressed their desire to contribute to the peaceful resolution of Georgian-Abkhaz conflict.
-The training was focused on leadership qualities of an individual. According to the participants, relationships are conditioned by personal qualities. Woman-leader must be able to control herself, her feelings and emotions.
On July
23-25 representatives of the Democracy course of the School of Young Women Leaders
were provided with the seminar in the City Council (Sakrebulo) of Kutaisi.
Trainers
were members of the local self-government, head of Women’s Political Resource Centre.
During the
three-day seminar participants acquainted with the essence of the local
government, political system of Georgia,
the relationship of political parties and civil society, stages and history of
feminism and women's role in politics.
The
seminar, excursion, and meeting with members of the Sakrebulo, increased desire
of young girls to become ideal leaders. Some of them liked to sit in a chair of
the chairman of Sakrebulo.
"Whoever
sits in this chair will have a great future. Remember education and
intelligence are the guarantee of involving in local government activity and
subsequent promotion "- said the chairman of Sakrebulo Amiran Khvadagiani
and offered the girls internships there.
During the excursion,
the girls were given the opportunity to become acquainted with the activities
of people working in different areas. They met with women leaders and concluded
that "the immediacy is one of the best ways to the hearts of people".
Familiarization
with the suffrage gave the youth self-confidence. Today, they boldly say that
in future elections they make full use of the information, and will defend
their rights.
The training on the topic - "Preventive strategies against domestic violence" was held on 10-12 June in Batumi, in the hotel "Chao". Participants of the training were 16 representatives of local self government, invited from Kutaisi, Poti, Zugdidi, Senaki, Tskhaltubo, Khoni.
The reason of conducting this training was the fact that without inclusion of local self-government it is difficult to struggle with the problem of domestic violence. They, as a rule, are dropped out of the general context of struggle against violence and are not included in the referral mechanisms to combat domestic violence.
As a result of active work participants have elaborated original models of concepts on prevention of violence for each city, tailored to the reality of the local self government. They believe that this will be the basis for planning future strategies to combat violence.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization EED Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst.
On May 28-29 there was held the first training for young women selected for the School of Young Women-Leaders. The group comprises of young women living in Kutaisi, Tskhaltubo, Samtredia, and in the villages Koki and Nabakevi.
The theme of the training "Effective leadership” was very interesting for the girls. An interactive method of the training was acceptable for them. It involved the full involvement of the group, active discussions and thematic exercises. The productivity of the training was conditioned by the high motivation of the girls.
The most memorable moment of the training was the visit to the Gelati Monastery, which many of the participants visited for the first time.
Twenty-four girls from the School of leaders have successfully mastered the topics envisaged by the theoretical course. They were also given the homework and are looking forward to the next stage.
The project is implemented with the support of the organization EED Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst.
Training – "Peaceful future with women’s eyes” was held in Batumi. Participants of the training were 16 young ladies from the School of democracy of Fund "Sukhumi”.
During the training participants tried to express women’s vision in building peaceful future using creative methods – drawing, sculpturing, role games, breaking existing stereotypes and using new terms.
Role of woman is very important. Women’s voice should be heard during peaceful resolution of conflict. We should have our vision, formulate a model that we would use in official process or in the process of People’s Diplomacy – was mentioned at the training.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna, women’s Swedish Foundation.
On April 26-30, 2011 in Gori was held a training on social entrepreneurship. Participants of the training were representatives of the organizations from Western and Eastern Georgia, and an organization from Armenia working on IDPs’ issues, including representatives of fund "Sukhumi" - Lela Jalagonia and Tea Torinava.
The organizer of the training was EPF (Eurasian Partnership Foundation). Trainers of the training were representatives of the partner organization of the EPF - CzechFundraisingCenter. Training participants received practical and theoretical information on the separate aspects of social entrepreneurship. Using the obtained information and skills participants will make drafts of social business projects. Based on the drafts of business projects, participants will have the opportunity to make a full-fledged social business projects which will be considered for funding by the EPF in grants competition to be announced by the end of May.
Last year, the students of the School of Young Women Leaders have completed an annual training course and received diplomas. On April 15th the School graduates continued their education at the School of Democracy.
The two-day training program included the following topics: career planning, assessment of own abilities and skills, acquaintance with CV forms, norms of business etiquette and their proper use, formulation of ideas, goals, objectives and activities of the project, and project writing tools.
Participants called the training important and expressed the following views:
- We discussed essential and important topics: how to express oneself, got acquainted with project writing tools. We’ll use all these in practice.
- I hope that the School of Democracy will enable us to ascend to a higher level and develop the skills necessary for leadership. The previous year was particularly active. I am sure that the School of Democracy will also be interesting.
The project is implemented with the support of Kvinna till Kvinna, women’s Swedish Foundation.
The first one-day training on the theme "Advocacy
and elaboration of Action Plan” was held in the office of fund
"Sukhumi" within the framework of the project SIDA 508-665 (DRC).
Participants of the training were IDPs from
five collective centers of Kutaisi: Hostel of Silk Factory, Physics and
Mathematics Lyceum, Kindergarten # 45, Mountain College, Lyceum of Electrical
Engineering, Hotel "Tbilisi", Military Lyceum. In total, the training
participants were 26 people, including 20 women and 6 men.
At the end of training, the participants elaborated
15 messages on the basis of common problems.
