Name of organization:
Women’s Gaze
Description of organization:
Women’s Gaze is a feminist organization whose major aim is to analyze the social, political and economic conditions of women in Georgia. Their political agenda is to build bridges of solidarity between activists who support gender equality, especially from different groups or generations. The organization uses informal education in addition to cultural activities, such as movie screenings and reading circles.
Context:
The Orthodox Church is the most popular and influential institution in Georgia, with more than 80% of the population claiming to be members. Religious minorities are often marginalized, including Muslims who constitute approximately 10% of society. For example, Muslim women face challenges while wearing the hijab, which brings them unwanted attention and leads to questions about their Georgian identity. This is due to the Georgian identity historically being closely tied to the Orthodox Church.
Proposed project and expected results:
Women’s Gaze proposes to address this issue through implementing their “Building Intercultural Bridges” project. Videos will be created of youth, from religious minorities in different regions of Georgia, sharing their stories. A seminar will then be organized in Tbilisi for NGO workers and activists, to sensitize them to issues faced by religious minorities as well as encouraging collaboration and coordination. An online platform will then be created for activists from all regions to develop an intercultural understanding of problems.
By the end of the project, Women’s Gaze expects to:
- Produce 6 storytelling videos involving youth of religious minorities, from 3 different regions of Georgia.
- Convene a seminar for 20 NGO workers and activists in Tbilisi, to sensitize them to diverse realities faced by religious minorities, as well as develop action plans for collaboration.
- Create an online platform which will be accessed by activists from all regions of Georgia, to develop an intercultural understanding of problems so that collaborations can occur in their work for an inclusive society.
Project coordinator: Gvantsa Khonelidze
Contact information: womensgaze@gmail.com
Website: womensgaze.org.ge