Global Fund for Women is contented with the work of Women Movement in Georgia

Representatives of Global Fund for Women have met the leaders of  Non-governmental organizations  working on women problems in Tbilisi  Hotel “Ambassador”. The goal of the meeting was to reveal main trends, difficulties and possibilities. Local and regional organizations participated in the meeting and also those whose programmes had not been financed by the Fund by this or that reason, but they have been suggested various ways of cooperation.

Thirty-five NGO’s of Georgia have hosted the representative of Global Fund for Women Angelika Arutyunova. It must be marked that it has been the first case for last ten years when the Fund has personally met the organizations it financed. According to the Executive Director of “Women Fund in Georgia” Nana Pantsulaya, the Global Fund for Women remains the only Fund which trusts the organizations  it finances and is orientated towards the needs and interests which the grantee and the grant receiver determine. “This is the only Fund which application form is now so easy to full in, that you can do it even in Georgian. No one but the Global Fund for Women has financed so many projects in Georgia for last 6 years. Its contribution is incontestable. Our organization is only one year old but the first grant we received is just of the Fund. And at present we are the only Georgian donor organization which gives grants” says Nana Pantsulaya.

Global Fund for Women has financed many organizations during its 10 years work in Georgia. “It is a great honor for me to visit Georgia”.  Our Fund was founded in 1987 and its capital was 5 thousand USD. Now it works in 162 countries and grants 8 million USD for different projects annually.  We began our activity in the Caucasus in 1995 and since then we have helped more than 80 organizations”- marked Angelika Arutyunova and added that the main goal of their meeting was to set future priorities and put such problem questions which prevent today strengthening of women rights.

To get acquainted with the  results of the work of women organizations  closely , the organizations were divided into groups (violence based on genderal differences, participation in politics, health and rights of the people with limited abilities, economic rights and educational information) there were determined according to the theme and activity, what was their main activity and bars they overcame.  Later each group has conducted its presentation.

One of the most interesting reports belonged to the so called “political group”. According to the speaker Lela Gaprindashvili (“Initiative for women equality”) the level of women self-evaluation in Georgia at present is very low and mentality and stereotype problems contribute to it.She also highlighted the theme of women quotation which has many opponents in Georgia but as she also stated quotation as a temporary measure  for women being more active would be decisive in politics. Among the problems there was also mentioned low quality of solidarity, low economic status and instability among women. As for the Lali Gaprindishvili’s  group, it considers that positive results will bring popularization of a woman politician and socially active women, ethnic minorities and support of women of different abilities.

Concerning the bars the situation is the following; population of Georgia is still genderally insensitive, the level of consciousness is very low, despite activity of non-governmental sector in women’s sphere there  still are not revealed  great number of problems, moreover, there are  no privileges from the government. Governmental organizations have less confidence in NGO, the latter  themselves are less coordinated in work, there is not  made a stress on the successful projects they fulfill, material-technical base also creates difficulties and etc.  

At the end of the meeting Angelika Arutyunova expressed her hope that these problems would be overcome step by step in the nearest future. “Georgia still has a long way to pass and we ready for help. I want to underline that  the spectrum of NGOs  in the Caucasus is most wide  in Georgia  and it is not determined only by the number of problems. Women leaving in Georgia are mostly interested to solve them. Global Fund for Women is ready for cooperation with them’, stated Angelika Arutyunova.

Khatuna Bechvaia, organization ‘Tanaziari’, Zugdidi region: “We received the first grant from the Global Fund for Women in 2002. The  project was aimed at the improving situation of the convicted women and it was very effective. Later other donor-organizations were involved in the project.  In 2003 the Fund  financed  foundation of the Rehabilitation center where more than 400 pregnant women got psychological and pediatric consultations. At present the center has a licence, 22 doctors work in the center and it functions with its own means . We often go out to the regions where we held free  medical examination of children. We also founded in Zugdidi Women’s rights defend house with the assistance of the Global  Fund , where more than 300 women were trained in the sphere of women rights, conflictology and small business. 40 volunteers work with us today”

Khatuna Chincharashvili,  organization “Country house’, Dmanisi region; “Daily  newspaper “Gegutians” was financed by Father Kesha in 2004, later in 2005 Global Fund for Women continued to finance the project. The main subjects of the newspaper are human rights and women rights and it is free in the region. With the help of the fund we also held seminars concerning contraceptives. We have presented a new project lately to the Fund. According to it we intend to increase the amount of the newspaper and cooperate with the leading  papers”.

Alla Gamakharia. “Women Cultural-humanitarian fund Sukhumi” c. Kutaisi: “We work since 1997 and our priority is settlement of Georgia- Abkhazian conflict and diplomatic acivity.We also deal with the sphere of women’s rights. Our main beneficiaries are  Refugees. We practically cover Imeretia information area – three times a year we publish bulletin “Voice of a woman’, we also have a radio-project concerning genderal problems. Such programs will be also fulfilled in Batumi and Ozurgeti. As for the Global Fund for Women, we bought two computers and a car with its help last year, which was of great importance for us. In 2003 with the Fund assistance  we participated in Geneva Women conference . In 2004 we received Fund’s grant and opened  Educational centre for girls at the age of 16-25. Along with the three months course of English and computer  there were held trainings in women’s rights.

Corespondent of GINSC Irma Kakhurashvili