March 6, 2022
News
Although Georgian women have been proving their power for centuries, the country still faces challenges regarding women's equity and equality in society. Georgian women still have to emphasize that their strength and intellectual abilities are equal to those of men. Caritas Czech Republic’s Georgian country office pays special attention to the role of women and their empowerment in its work.
Role of Caritas Czech Republic’s Women in the Country’s Development
Ekaterine Meskhrikadze, Deputy Country Director of Caritas Czech Republic in Georgia has been working for our organization since its country office’s establishment in Georgia. With her activities, she has significantly contributed to the rural development and environmental protection of our country. Also, supported Georgian country office in founding partnerships with important state on non-state actors.
Ekaterine says that considering women’s characteristics, being empathetic, creative and hardworking, their engagement in humanitarian aid and development cooperation helps better understand the role of women in society and promote their rights:
“On the one hand, it is a very interesting sector – allows tackling different fields and making the daily routine more interesting. It allows you to assist those who are in need. It is very important for me when I see the result of my small contribution to someone's happiness, someone's success, especially my small steps towards the development of my county. But on the other hand, it requires hard work – balancing work and family with each other.”
Ekaterine wants Georgian women to be more active, use all their potential to create a better future for themselves and the whole country: “Only this way we can have a strong country. We should remember that women can highly contribute to the development of Georgia.”
Rusudan Chkhubianishvili, Project Manager of Caritas Czech Republic Country Office in Georgia has been working in the field of development cooperation since 2005. She says that as a woman, she feels equal and valued in all respects while working in this sector. With her work, Rusudan has supported better social inclusion of children with an autism spectrum disorder as well as has been contributing to the development of Georgia’s primary healthcare sector across the country.
Rusudan notes that there is no question in Georgia that women have less privilege than men: “Women have always been equal members of society and decision-makers in Georgia since the Middle Ages. However, the full involvement of a woman in work is associated with difficulties. I am also a mother and want to dedicate myself equally to raising children. A woman must find a golden interval to be realized both at work and in the family. I think I succeeded in this.”
Rusudan wishes all women strength, constant updating of knowledge, search for novelties and full realization of their skills: “Of course, I wish them happiness and the end of COVID-19. This applies to everyone regardless of gender.”
Tamar Kurtanidze, Caritas Czech Republic’s projects manager has been managing projects in our organization for several year. She has been actively working on the issues of protection of human rights in health and social care concerning patients' rights, rights of persons with disabilities through education, public awareness raising as well as setting up respective services. These interventions include complex projects for assisting systemic changes as well as contributing to improving accessibility to the quality health and social services in order not leave anyone behind.
Tamar believes that women's power has a significant role in the humanitarian aid and development cooperation sector and says that working in this field allows her to somehow contribute to the development of Georgia thanks to donor support:
“The engagement of women in this sector can help better understand the role of a woman in the society and also promote the rights of women worldwide, including rights of women with disabilities. I would like to wish every woman of the world the happiness, safe life, opportunity for self-development and self-actualization.”
Caritas Czech Republic Supports Women Working for Positive Changes
Maia Shishniashvili is a distinguished beneficiary and partner of Caritas Czech Republic in Georgia. Maia is a mother of a child with a disability and fights a lot for equal rights and opportunities for children and adults like her child: “What is life like for women in my country? That means, on the one hand, being deified, standing on a pedestal surrounded by respect. And on the other hand, being at high risk of violence if you do not meet the standard society offers you.”
Maia says being a mother of a child with a disability means that her status as a woman is objectively complicated – having a high responsibility for the child, less support from society and low opportunities for proper care of her child: “This entails a very large emotional and financial burden and social isolation, including being a victim of stigma and stereotypes. Sometimes, even being assessed exaggerated – heroically. Meanwhile, you just want to be an ordinary woman”.
Maia says that Caritas Czech Republic’s support is a great relief in the fight for the rights of persons with disabilities and their equal opportunities. She emphasizes that it is an amazing feeling when a strong organization stands by her side and strengthens in building her child's future.
Maya wants International Women's Day to lose its meaning, wants women's rights to be fully realized and guaranteed:
“I want every mother who has a child with disabilities to know and believe that in any situation her child lives with the same resources and dignity as non-disabled children or their mothers. I want them to know that their contribution to the community will be equally appreciated”.
