BRPID - Georgia
 

 

Georgia Association of University Women
Integration and income generation project for marginalised women

Despite the fact that Georgia has ratified and recognized women's rights conventions, there is no provision for disabled and marginalized women.

This project, based in the Oni region (north west of the capital, Tbilisi) aims to integrate these women into society through the revival of the national craft of felt production.  The project began in 2007 and the Georgian Association of University Women are working with the local council of Oni, the Georgian Ministry of Culture and Science and the "Georgian Felt" company.   The project teaches creative skills to women with physical disabilities, refugee women and unemployed women, so that they can produce handicrafts, earn an income from this work and keep this traditional Georgian handicraft "alive".  Each training group comprises 30 women who receive three months training in photo art and traditional felt production from professional artists.  The Georgia Association's partner in this project, the  Disabled Women International Organisation (GDWIA) provides training rooms and exhibition space.  Two exhibitions of mixed feltworks were held in 2007 with the support of local authorities.  Trainees produced a photographic catalogue of their work.

The Russia-Georgia conflict in August 2008 temporarily halted the project as Oni was one of the areas under attack. The project will continue in 2009.