Success stories
Winners of the contest "Women for Change" - 10 bloggers and 10 leader women were revealed on April 18, 2015.
Jury members:
Nino Danelia - Ilia State University
Tiko Tsomaia - Georgian Institute of Public Affairs
Nino Tsintsadze - Tolerance and Diversity Institute
Neli Agirba - Rustavi 2 TV Company
Keti Kardava - Georgia's Public Broadcaster
Winners of the contest "Women for Change":
Teimuraz Siradze
Teimurazi is the founder of Non-governmental Organization "Association of Military Correspondents ". Currently he works at "Chronika+". Since 1996 he has written articles on armed conflicts and military issues for various print media editions. He was an Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper "Military". At the age of 16 he fought as avolunteers in Abkhazia. Teimuraz is extremal,his hobbies include literature and homeotherapy. His blog "Mr. Commander" is about Tamar Mghebrishvili.
"So, what that I am a woman? The soldiers and subordinate officers call me Mr. Commander. I see that they treat me with respect. Recently I was told that boys are even afraid of me, but, I don't think that it's true "- Tamar Mghrebrishvili says.
From September 2014 till today tamarhas been serving as liaison officer at Bagram base in Afghanistan. In 2013, she took part in peacekeeping mission in Helmand Province. Since February 2008, she has served as the commander of the 5th Infantry Brigade platoon, deputy company commander, company commander, the head of the battalion S-6, the planning officer of Brigadier G-6. In 2012, she studied the modern technology in NATO School in Italy. In 2007-2008 she undertook Junior Officers Training Course at the National Defense Academy. She got interested in military sphere while having practical course in print media as she studying journalism at the University. The topic of her Diploma was Military Journalism. She worked in the Public Broadcaster as well. Tamar Mghebrishvili dreams to be a General.
Manana Mamagulashvili
Manana is from Telavi. She is a correspondent of the Informational Centers network. She studied journalism at TelaviGogebashvili state University. She is interested in TV-video production. She prepared video-blog about LuizaMutoshvili from Pankisi.
"I don't want to know about the freedom, if I do not have opportunity to enjoy it", - says Luiza Mutoshvili.
Luisa is the chairperson of Akhmetaregional organization of the Republican Party. She teaches Georgian Language in Duisi School within the frame of the program"Georgian Language for Future Success" andTsinubani School within the frame of program of Kakhetiregonal Development Foundation (KRDF).
Nana Bagalishvili
Nana is the leader woman winner of the 2014 bloggers contest. She is the co-founder and board member of the NGO Civil Initiative. Under her leadership several civil initiatives and events has been implemented in Tsnori. By her initiative "Tsnori Initiative Group" was established, advocating youthinvolvement in the decision-making process of local municipality. She implements several cultural and educational activities, including the festival "Kiziki Autumn".
"What do I want from life?"Equality! Equality! equality and discovering human's talents in order to create "complete we" from "I", "you", "we", "he" and "they" and do our job altogether for kindness and wellbeing. Also, I want all children, adolescents and adults to have the opportunity to develop and to be a contributor to this process", - Nana says.
Her leader woman is Ketevan Khidasheli.
"Society should assist the rural woman in minimizing the stereotypes toward her role. It seems that it is the general agreement on the issue that the woman is the human first of all and then female, however fear of changes still exists, They want changes but do not want to learn , they want changes but cling to the negative stereotypes", - Ketevan Kidasheli says.
Ketevani became a civil activist when her family moved from Tbilisi to Dvabzu village of Ozurgeti district. She carried out several economic and social projects within the frame of the program of TASO Foundation. In 2010 she established a nongovernmental organization "Women for Regional Development".
Lika Enukadze
Lika is the Intern reporter of news program "Chronika" of Imedi TV. She studied cinemaat the Art and Social Sciences faculty at ShotaRustaveliState University. In 2014 she graduated from B. Patarkatsishvili Journalism School. She undertook Integrated Marketing Communication Courses at PR School. At various times she has worked at National Screening Center as well as at the Georgian Patriarchate TV Channel Ertsulovneba.
Tina Beruchashvili"They are in the mood for dancing. rehabilitation course is accompanied by Georgian folk music - arm movement is necessary for easing the post-surgical edema. They are from 40 to 75-year-age. Obstinate spirit makes the body healthy...Now Tina Beruchashvili is not alone, She is struggling along with more than 300 fellows to change life of other women" - Lika Enukidze is writing about Tina Beruchashvili, who is the founder of "Winner Women’s Club ", which unites the Breast Cancer Survivors.
Tina Beruchashvili is the General Manager of the National Screening Center. By her initiative the "Club of Winner Women " was established in 2009, which unites the Breast Cancer Survivors. The club aims at supporting oncology patients, their physical and psychological rehabilitation and socialization.In 2011, in Warsaw she was awarded for trust and recognition with the 6th International Award "Golden Owl" .
Shorena Tkeshelashvili
Shorena is the blogger of the online-edition "Teacher". She is a journalist. She Graduated from Kutaisi AkakiTsereteli State University. She worked as an anchor of morning program and prepared program on youth issues at Radio "Old Town".
"There is a negative reaction toward the gender equality, especially when you mention the feminism. Everyone believes that this is only the problem concerning women and not to whole society. Some people do not seeany problem at all," - the leader woman of Shorena's blog, Elene Kvernadze, founder of public movement" See, Learn, Break the Silence " says.
Elene is the program officer of UN Association Georgia. She is also engaged in academic activities and delivers lectures on gender and feminism issues. She studied political Science at Weber University in US. Eleneis a founder of public movement" See, Learn, Break the Silence ".
Lado Gogoladze
"We learnt from Natelateacher that the woman enjoys the same rights as a man, also learnt that homophobia is the most terrible affliction and homophobic people will never be able to create a strong state, we would like to have”, - LadoGogoladze writes about Natela Gogoladze.
Natela Gogoladze graduated from the history faculty of Gori Pedagogical University in1977 and began working as a history teacher at Surami #3 School. In addition to academic education, she cares for enhancingthe youths’civic awareness and actively tries to engage them in various activities. She established theatrical circle "Budrugana" in the school, the money raised from the performanceswere grantedto the persons with disabilities.
Salome Benidze
Salome is the communication officer of NGO Women’s Informational Center and blogger of online edition www.mastsavlebeli.ge. At various times she studied at Tbilisi State University, Vilnius University and at the Alexander Technological Educational Instituteof Thessaloniki - department of journalism, political science and public relations. She is an author of several books. Laureate of 2012 literatureaward "Saba" as well nominee of 2014 literatureaward "Saba" and Tsinandali Prize. Her stories are included in the collections of the" 15 Best Stories of 2013 "and” 15 Best Stories of 2014 ". She collaborates with several editions as a literature translator.
"Marika does not like recalling the 2008 war period… That’s when the young teacher realized that there was nothing more precious that life and soon started active working to make peoples life better, than before", - says Salome about Marika Buchukuri.
Marika Buchukuri
Marika was an ordinary teacher until 2009. She became an active community worker when the representatives of Foundation TACO arrived in Tirdznisi village and got engaged in women's economic empowerment project. Today Marika is the head of "ShidaKartli Community Foundation for Peace and Development". In parallel she is the UN human rights observers and the member of thecoalition "For Women's Political Engagement".
Kristine Maghlakelidze
Kristine is from Kutaisi. She is actively involved in local or international projects and programs: She is Administrator of Micro and Small Enterprise Promotion Program of Imereti, Racha and Svaneti, as well as the Kutaisi regional coordinator of "the European Union Film Festival 2015". Kristine is guiding the human rights lecture course forstudents of Media School. She got legal education at AkakiTsereteli state university.
"Tsiala knows that if she managed to enroll 5 Roma children to a school last year, this year this figure should be increased up to 10. Only thing that now concerns her is her successor, who will continue her activity. Also she is worried about the colors, which are slowly disappearing from Roma women dresses”, – Kristine writes about Tsiala Chkhartishvili.
Tsiala is from Kutaisi. She cares for integration of Roma children and for giving them school education. At various times she served as an interpreter for the law enforcement and judicial agencies. She speaks Russian, German and Roma Languages.
Salome Modebadze
Salome is the journalist of the nongovernmental organization "Women's Information Center”. She undertook master course in Journalism in Georgian Institute of Public Affairs. At various times she has worked as journalist and executive editor of the English-language newspaper "Messenger". She undertook professional practice at the Georgian department of Prague Bureauof Radio Liberty. She was involved in various social projects (Audio books for blind people and the project of Go Group Media "Journalists for Peaceful Caucasus” ). In 2013 Salome was presented for the Prize of EU Monitoring Mission in the Journalism for Peace.
"People have comprehended as well as immature life periods. Perhaps it is immature when you cannot make decisions, changes and follow the flow” - Nana Nersezashvili says.
Nana is one of the founder and head of the Community Organization "Leli”. "Leli”,established jointly with the youth of the village Liliani of Kakheti region,represents a big house, where everyone feels like at home. During the eight years she is implementing various public activates, including community mobilization, raising public awareness, empowerment of rural Women.
Salome Belkania
Salome is a journalist. She received the professional knowledge at the Tbilisi state University. She undertook practice coursesat various media outlets. She loves hiking.
"Lela is a psychologist and Eurythmos specialist. She delivers the physical exercises and gives advices to everyone, who needs help and special care, who wants to enroll to the school, to everyone...” – Salome says about Lela Prangulashvili.
Lela Prangulashvili is psychologist and Eurythmos specialist. She works with the people with special needs at the Social Therapy House. She is an employee of Tbilisi Free Waldorf School as well.