Soroptimist International Foundation’s partnership with World Vision Georgia (WVG) has been dedicated to empowering women and girls across Georgia. Since October 2022, we have been able to showcase exceptional progress from this project, which has been enhancing life skills and employability for women and girls across Georgia. This article will delve deeper into the key goals driving the project, which set out to enhance life skills and employability for women and girls in the region. With support from the “Opening Doors to a Bright Future” Appeal and under the guidance of Soroptimist International Foundation, the project centres on empowering participants through holistic, targeted interventions.

This partnership has maintained a multifaceted approach to addressing critical areas of development. Key activities and areas of focus have included the expansion of digital competencies through SKYE Tech Clubs, the implementation of the Ultra Poor Graduation programme for socio-economic inclusion, and the introduction of comprehensive safety and wellbeing training. The project has also made headway in language empowerment and gender equality awareness campaigns. This update examines and highlights the efforts and successes in equipping women and girls with IT skills, supporting vulnerable households, and fostering a more inclusive society. Soroptimist International Foundation and WVG’s successful collaboration demonstrates our commitment to creating lasting positive change in Georgian communities.

 

Objective 1 – Ultra Poor Graduation Programme

The project’s first objective involved engaging 10 vulnerable women-led households through the Ultra-Poor-Graduation (UPG) development model. This part of the project aimed to foster greater social and economic inclusion of women and girls by equipping them with the necessary skills to access financial resources and enhance their involvement in community structures and networks.

Following a period of collaboration with local government agencies and social services to drive recruitment, the project team identified 10 women-led households, comprising of 17 adults and 32 children, that aligned with the project criteria – namely, their level of vulnerability, motivation, and commitment to participate.

Once selected, each household worked closely with our project team to develop personalised household development plans. These plans, tailored to the specific needs and aspirations of each family, focus on improving life skills, gaining vocational training, and accessing the social services available to them. The vocational training component of this objective has seen participants enrolled in various programs, including hair care, sewing, accounting, nail care, and confectionery. Despite challenges such as the rising cost of vocational training and difficulties in scheduling due to limited childcare options, the participants have remained highly motivated. Their dedication has been evident as they progressed in their respective courses.

However, the path has not been without its obstacles. The increased cost of vocational training, coupled with the lack of suitable training times due to childcare constraints, presented significant challenges. These issues were addressed through strategic partnerships and resource optimisation, ensuring that the participants could continue their training without interruption. In some municipalities, such as Zestaphoni, the unavailability of certain vocational courses required some beneficiaries to reconsider and choose alternative career paths. Despite these hurdles, the progress made so far is a testament to the resilience and determination of the participants.

Objective 2 – Digital Skills and Online Safety

The project’s second objective focused on the SKYE Tech Clubs, which equipped 20 vulnerable girls and women with essential digital skills and online safety tools, enabling them to access higher income online job opportunities with greater flexibility.

Preparations began in February 2024, with the project team developing a detailed curriculum and contracting three expert facilitators—two specialising in IT and social media marketing and one experienced in youth work and active citizenship. These interactive sessions blended theoretical knowledge with practical application, covering topics such as managing social media accounts, understanding cloud systems, and content creation.

In addition to technical skills, the SKYE Tech Clubs incorporated active citizenship training, aligning with ongoing pro-European civil activism to enrich the learning experience. Participants, aged 14 to 19, have explored civil participation techniques and reflected on their roles in building an active, rights-based society. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many participants expressing that the skills and knowledge gained were both new and highly beneficial. All the sessions under this objective were completed as of the end of July 2024, empowering participants to pursue online job opportunities and achieve greater economic independence.

Objective 3 – Safety and Wellbeing Training

For this objective, 20 women and girls were engaged in psycho-emotional and physical safety training to raise awareness about various forms of violence, understanding patterns of abusive behaviour, and responding to physical threats, including the basics of self-defence. The sessions began in the second half of June 2024 and have equipped participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect themselves and respond effectively to situations of danger.

Objective 4 – German Language Courses

Lastly, five of the most vulnerable girls from among the participants were enrolled in German language courses, aiming to enhance their cultural and educational exchange opportunities and improve their job prospects. In collaboration with the social agency and Kutaisi State University, the project team selected participants based on socio-economic vulnerability and commitment to learning. Since the courses began on March 24, 2024, participants have attended classes three times a week, either in person or through a hybrid model. Throughout, progress reports from the instructors indicated that all students have made noticeable improvements in their language proficiency, with the course having concluded at the end of June 2024.

Conclusion

Although this project has now reached its conclusion, the positive impacts of Soroptimist International Foundation’s partnership with World Vision Georgia continue to unfold. The update’s we have received from World Vision Georgia reflect the dedication and resilience of the participants and the project team, as they have worked together to overcome challenges and achieve meaningful progress. With significant advancements in areas such as socio-economic inclusion, digital empowerment, safety awareness, and language proficiency, the project has fulfilled its part in creating lasting change. These achievements stand as a testament to the power of collaboration and the unwavering commitment to improving the lives of women and girls across Georgia.

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 inquiries 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.