Creating career opportunities for women affected by conflict

Gala event in Zugdidi showcases handicrafts made by 40 women supported by the EU and UNDP

February 24, 2023

Photo: Irakli Gamsakhurdia/Hands for Peace — Irakli Gamsakhurdia/Hands for Peace

The women-led non-governmental organisation 'Hands for Peace' hosted a gala exhibition in Zugdidi to present the results of a 'Handicraft for Social Change' project, supported by the EU and UNDP through the EU4Dialogue initiative.

The EU and UNDP support allowed 40 conflict-affected women to join a training programme in tailoring, embroidery, knitting and macramé to develop professional careers, earn a living, improve livelihoods and increase self-reliance. Six training participants already found jobs in different local enterprises and one of the beneficiaries was successful in applying for a grant programme.

“In partnership with the European Union and civil society organizations, we help conflict-affected women to become successful in business and professional careers. Better access to educational and economic opportunities empowers women and benefits the entire community".

Mariam Begiashvili, EU4Dialogue Project Coordinator

The gala event opened with a runway show with the project beneficiaries and their children presenting clothes and accessories created during the training. Guests also visited a craft fair where project participants displayed their needlework, including various garments and knitted toys.

In addition to handicraft training, ‘Hands for Peace’ helped women to master marketing, sales and social media, as well as learn how to write business proposals and apply for grants.

Aiming to build social cohesion in a conflict-affected society, the project brought together internally displaced people and their host communities. Out of 40 training participants, 15 were displaced from the Abkhazia region and 25 were the residents of the Khobi, Tsalenjikha and Zugdidi municipalities.

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EU4Dialogue: Support to Conflict Transformation in the South Caucasus and the Republic of Moldova is a joint initiative of the EU and UNDP under the broader EU4Dialogue program. The project partners with local civil society organizations and grassroots groups to improve socio-economic conditions for people, build livelihoods, drive progress toward gender equality, promote youth engagement and support the peaceful transformation of conflict.

Media contacts

Sophie Tchitchinadze, UNDP, +995 599 196907, sophie.tchitchinadze@undp.org
Otar Kobakhidze, UNDP, +995 599 775879, otar.kobakhidze@undp.org
Tamar Mikadze, European Union Delegation to Georgia, +995 32 2364364, tamriko.mikadze@eeas.europa.eu