The project thus aligns with the German foreign office's objective of support for and networking of women through the promotion of an inclusive dialogue between women and NGOs in the Caucasus region. In easily accessible and inclusive formats we will network and upskill mothers and female leaders in NGOs and rural communities that are working with children with disabilities and their families in Germany, Armenia and Georgia and contribute to a learning community to strengthen cross-border civil society initiatives. 

Background 

The starting point of the project is the promotion of an inclusive dialogue between different social groups while placing a focus on female lead civil society. The project is organized with a multilevel bottom-up approach and focuses on articulating the needs and demands of people with disabilities and their caregivers while also promoting a learning community in which civil society organizations can learn from each other through best-practice examples. We thus address not only the factors that accelerate and support inclusion, but also explore the structural issues surrounding exclusion and ways in which civil society can overcome these. In all three countries women lead civil society organizations are playing an ever more important role in lobbying for and making visible the needs and demands of children with disabilities and their caregivers 

Problem description

Over the past two decades, education levels for children with disabilities in the Caucasus region have risen significantly, with out-of-school rates decreasing by half. Adoption of international conventions and the influence of bodies like the UN and EU have prompted important educational reforms. While progress has been made, challenges persist. Many nations still grapple with the legacy of segregated education, particularly for children with disabilities. Inclusive education strategies vary, and some countries face resistance due to capacity and resource gaps, and large parts of the population believe children with disabilities should attend special schools. 

The project has two pillars:

1. Strengthening networks within women with children with disabilities and cross-border capacity building of women-led civil society.

This pillar is based on the Self-Concept of Political Competence, which pertains to an individual's self-assessment of political abilities and their readiness to engage in political actions (ability self-concept). A strong level of self-concept in one's political competencies indicates a strong sense of agency. It signifies a conviction in the ability to comprehend political matters and exert influence in the social and political spheres. Within this model, the self-concept of one's political competences aligns with a generalized expectation of situations and actions. It reflects the belief that various options for action are available to an individual in specific political scenarios. The activites that are developed upon in this pillar are competence based, encouraging the participants to explore the competencies they have gained through caring for a child with disabilities. 

Activities

• Two low threshold weekend workshops for mothers of children with disabilities focusing on building networks and capacity (May and Juli 2024)

• Four online thematic workshops on organizational and personal resilience, topics can be legal rights and advocacy work, career coaching and psycho-social wellbeing (May, June, August and September 2024)

• Online conference on competence-based training and life-competencies (November 2024)

• Spin-Off: Curriculum and Handouts for partner organizations

2. Theater of the oppressed workshops around the lives and lived experience of mothers and families of children with disabilities. Theater of the oppressed works with  The preservation and reconstruction of democratically oriented civil society structures in the region or temporary exile. Our project promotes dialogue between especially vulnerable groups to increase their resilience and political awareness and to promote discourse on values and human rights to deepen mutual understanding. Considering the synergies between Armenia and Georgia, as outlined in the description, we endorse exchange formats and initiatives that encourage interactions among young people, with a specific focus on Armenia and Georgia.

Enhancing the political and social participation of women, along with vulnerable and marginalized groups, involves projects that raise awareness about women's social engagement and facilitate their networking with other civil society stakeholders. As part of a feminist foreign policy, the Federal Government emphasizes the importance of including all population groups in political decision-making processes and strengthening their political and social participation. This commitment extends to addressing the current inadequate representation of women both within and outside the political sphere.

This pillar aims to provide a space in which the participants can explore controverse topics and different perspectives within the group. The topics will be suggested by the participants and can be discrimination, religion, politics, love, education, self care, mental health or similar. The theater of the oppressed revolves around the concepts of dialogue and interaction between the audience and performers. Furthermore, these ideas have not only shaped a foundation but have also propelled the advancement and maturation of more robust concepts.

Activities

• Ongoing theater workshops for children with disabilities in Germany, Armenia and Georgia (May – September 2024) 

• Weekend Theater Workshop with mothers on selected topics (August 2024)

• short videos involving mothers and children summarizing lessons learned to be promoted on social media and in local workshops (November 2024)

• Spin-Off: Photo and Video material for public awareness campaigns

3. Easy access support for refugees especially women with children 

We will aim to provide easy to access support for refugees, especially women with children with disabilities, in all activities. 

Pillar 1: Strengthening networks within women with children with disabilities and cross-border capacity building of women-led civil society.

This pillar is based on the Self-Concept of Political Competence, which pertains to an individual's self-assessment of political abilities and their readiness to engage in political actions (ability self-concept). A strong level of self-concept in one's political competencies indicates a strong sense of agency. It signifies a conviction in the ability to comprehend political matters and exert influence in the social and political spheres. Within this model, the self-concept of one's political competences aligns with a generalized expectation of situations and actions.  The activites that are developed upon in this pillar are competence based, encouraging the participants to explore the competencies they have gained through caring for a child with disabilities. 

Pillar 2: Theater of the oppressed workshops around the lives and lived experience of mothers and families of children with disabilities

Theater of the oppressed works with the preservation and reconstruction of democratically oriented civil society structures in the region or temporary exile. Our project promotes dialogue between especially vulnerable groups to increase their resilience and political awareness and to promote discourse on values and human rights to deepen mutual understanding. 

Enhancing the political and social participation of women, along with vulnerable and marginalized groups, involves projects that raise awareness about women's social engagement and facilitate their networking with other civil society stakeholders. As part of a feminist foreign policy, the Federal Government emphasizes the importance of including all population groups in political decision-making processes and strengthening their political and social participation. This commitment extends to addressing the current inadequate representation of women both within and outside the political sphere.

This pillar aims to provide a space in which the participants can explore controverse topics and different perspectives within the group. The topics will be suggested by the participants and can be discrimination, religion, politics, love, education, self care, mental health or similar. The theater of the oppressed revolves around the concepts of dialogue and interaction between the audience and performers. 

The consortium was formed of 

Yarrow Global Consulting: https://yarrowglobal.com
WFS Bildungs gUG: http://wfsbildung.net
Inclusion Armenia: https://www.facebook.com/@InitiativeforInclusion/
Open House Georgia: https://www.facebook.com/OpenHouseKutaisi?locale=ms_MY