The partnership between Soroptimist International Foundation and World Vision Georgia, initiated in October 2022, has successfully concluded, bringing significant positive outcomes to women and girls across Georgia. This collaborative initiative, funded by the “Opening Doors to a Bright Future” Appeal, has focused on addressing critical areas of development in regions where women and girls face barriers to socio-economic inclusion. Through dedicated effort over nearly two years of work, the project has equipped participants with essential skills and resources to improve their livelihoods and create lasting change within their communities. We now look to celebrate its achievements and the progress made towards empowering vulnerable women and girls in Georgia.

The project’s comprehensive approach centred on four key objectives, each addressing crucial aspects of empowerment and development:

1. The Ultra Poor Graduation Programme reached out to women-led households facing extreme hardship, providing tailored vocational training and individualised development plans. This hands-on approach has helped participants chart their path toward social and economic independence.
2. SKYE Tech Clubs opened new doors in the digital world, arming participants with essential technology skills and online safety knowledge. This digital empowerment has created flexible employment opportunities, allowing women to access the growing online job market.
3. Safety and Wellbeing Training focused on building confidence and resilience, helping women and girls protect their physical and emotional well-being. This crucial component has equipped participants with the tools to safeguard themselves against violence and advocate for their rights.
4. German Language Education provided participants with more than just linguistic skills – it opened windows to cultural exchange and expanded career opportunities, particularly benefiting the most vulnerable young women in our program.

The success across all four objectives stands as a testament to the power of targeted, community-focused intervention in creating lasting positive change.

Final Report

Objective 1 – Ultra Poor Graduation Programme

The Ultra-Poor Graduation (UPG) development model set out to transform the lives of 10 vulnerable women-led households in the Imereti region, focusing on enhancing their social and economic inclusion. At its core, this initiative empowered participants through comprehensive life skills training, vocational education, and improved access to financial resources, whilst encouraging active community engagement.

The journey began with carefully orchestrated introductory meetings, bringing together key stakeholders including local government agencies and social services to identify eligible families. Following a meticulous assessment process, our team crafted personalised household development plans for each family, focusing on practical vocational training in high-demand fields such as hair care, sewing, accounting, and nail care.

 

Despite the challenges faced, including rising vocational training costs and scheduling issues due to childcare constraints, the participants demonstrated remarkable resilience, successfully engaging in their chosen vocational paths.

The project also integrated social support measures, ensuring that beneficiaries were connected with local municipal programs and services. This included advocacy efforts that led to one participant receiving previously unknown monetary social assistance, and another enrolling in a state employment program, securing supplemental income for her family.

Three participants who completed sewing training received personal websites, created by SKYE Tech Club members, to showcase their work. Other graduates found employment in private salons, using their new skills in nail care and hair care. However, the project faced a significant challenge with one beneficiary who temporarily withdrew due to personal safety concerns. Nevertheless, the project team quickly onboarded a new participant to continue the progress, ensuring that all households remained engaged and supported in their socio-economic empowerment journey.

 

 

Objective 2 – Digital Skills and Online Safety

The second objective aimed to equip 20 vulnerable girls and women with digital skills and online safety tools, empowering them to access flexible, higher-income jobs in the digital sector. Through the SKYE Tech Club initiative, participants learned social media management, web programming, and computer graphics, along with leadership and communication training. Collaborating with multiple agencies ensured the inclusion of those from vulnerable backgrounds, such as victims of violence and those at risk of homelessness. Initially, 22 young women joined, with 21 actively participating in 20 interactive sessions blending theory and practical application.

One of the standout achievements of this component was the practical application of the participants’ newly acquired skills. In the final phase of the project, the young women were divided into groups and tasked with creating business websites for beneficiaries from the UPG component who were running sewing businesses. This exercise not only solidified their digital marketing, website design, and content management skills but also provided meaningful support to the women entrepreneurs, helping them promote and sell their products online. The participants’ efforts were showcased during a final presentation event, where the women entrepreneurs provided feedback on the websites, reflecting the successful collaboration. Additionally, one participant secured a private commission to manage a social media page for a start-up business, demonstrating the tangible impact of the training and its potential to lead to real employment opportunities in the future.

 

Objective 3 – Safety and Wellbeing Training

The third objective aimed to equip 20 vulnerable women and girls with crucial knowledge in psycho-emotional and physical safety. In response to high rates of gender-based violence and femicide in Georgia, the initiative raised awareness of different forms of violence, abuser behaviours, and effective responses. Partnering with local agencies, shelters, and women’s organisations, the team facilitated two-day training sessions. Out of 30 individuals who initially expressed interest, 23 actively participated in these sessions, which utilised a range of methodologies including psychologist-led group interviews, practical exercises, role-playing activities, and fitness routines that taught essential self-defence techniques.

The training addressed key topics like gender-based violence, emotional regulation, healthy relationships, and communication strategies for dealing with abusers. Participants also received advice on digital security and protecting personal data. Self-defence techniques focused on targeting attackers’ weak points and creating escape opportunities. Participants practiced these techniques, gaining confidence in their effectiveness. The feedback from both facilitators and participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the value of the practical exercises and open discussions. To further strengthen the skills learned, it was recommended that additional opportunities for practice be provided.

Objective 4 – German Language Courses

Lastly, the project’s fourth objective focused on providing five of the most vulnerable young girls with basic German language courses to improve their cultural exchange opportunities and job prospects. Recognising the growing importance of German for employment in foreign companies and seasonal work in Germany, this initiative aimed to overcome socio-economic barriers to language education. The girls, selected from vulnerable communities, developed skills in listening, reading, writing, and speaking to enhance their competitiveness in the job market.

From March to June the five girls attended regular lectures and showed strong commitment, with final assessments reflecting significant improvement. By the end, they built a solid foundation in German, with some aiming to travel to Germany for summer jobs requiring language proficiency. Notably, three participants successfully achieved this goal, traveling to Germany in July, where they were able to apply their newly acquired language skills. This component not only enhanced their personal development but also provided them with new opportunities for income generation, marking a significant step towards improving their overall quality of life.

Conclusion

As we reflect on this partnership between Soroptimist International Foundation and World Vision Georgia, the impact extends far beyond the numbers. Over these past two years, we have witnessed remarkable transformations in the lives of women and girls across Georgia. Through vocational training, digital empowerment, safety education, and language skills, participants have gained not only practical abilities but also the confidence to forge new paths for themselves and their families.

The success of this initiative demonstrates the effectiveness of targeted, comprehensive support in creating sustainable change. While the formal partnership has concluded, its effects continue to ripple through communities, as participants apply their new skills, build their businesses, and inspire others around them. These achievements would not have been possible without the dedicated support of Soroptimists around the world, and the remarkable resilience of the women and girls who embraced this opportunity for change.

Further Information:

Soroptimist International Foundation is a Charitable Trust overseen by SI (Soroptimist International) Limited. Soroptimist International Foundation is currently managing legacies, Educating Women from War Torn Countries fund and the final projects of the ‘Opening Doors to a Bright Future’ Appeal. Donations to Soroptimist International Foundation, including the Educating War Torn Countries fund are gratefully received. The ‘Opening Doors to a Bright Future’ Appeal is now closed to donations.

For further information or to make enquires regarding legacies, please email hq@soroptimistinternational.org

Donations to Soroptimist International Foundation are gratefully received.

An average of 34 UK pounds will provide a woman or girl with transformative training, funded by Soroptimist International Foundation.