In the words of Natia Gulbiani: “Fighting violence starts with raising awareness”
Natia Gulbiani, 48, lives in Tskaltubo in Georgia’s Imereti region with her husband and two children. She is an English teacher at the public school in the village of Gumbra—someone who not only teaches but is always eager to learn herself. She recently became one of 50 women trained by the Charity Humanitarian Women’s Fund “Sukhumi” on issues related to violence against women, domestic violence, and available municipal services and programmes. After the training, Natia did what many participants were encouraged to do—she brought the knowledge back to her community. The initiative was part of the joint UN Women and UNDP project “Civic Engagement for Local Development”, implemented with funding from the Government of the United Kingdom. Across several regions of Georgia, around 800 women received information on domestic violence and available support services.
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“For a long time, I saw how deeply rooted gender stereotypes are in our communities. People still believe that a man is the head of the family and that a woman must obey him—and even tolerate violence. I never agreed with this, but I used to keep [my opinion] to myself. That changed when I began to reflect on my own children. I realized that one day, someone could treat my daughters unfairly. That thought made me understand that I cannot stay silent. I wanted to contribute, even in a small way, to fighting violence. When I was offered this training, I agreed immediately.
During the sessions, I learned about services available to survivors—free legal and psychological support, shelters and opportunities for professional retraining. For women who endure violence because they have nowhere to go or are financially dependent, this support is critical. I also learned that our municipality offers assistance programmes, including healthcare and emergency support. After returning home, I shared this information with my colleagues at school. I told them about protection orders, hotlines, shelters and women’s rights. During one of these conversations, I also advised a colleague—whose house had burned down—that she could apply for municipal support. She did, and she received help. That made me feel that what I learned truly matters. For me, these conversations are just as important as the training itself. When women hear about these issues from someone they know and trust, it has a stronger impact.
As teachers, we have close relationships with both colleagues and parents, so we can help spread this knowledge further. My role as a teacher has also taken on new meaning. Many children grow up without their mothers, as parents migrate for work. It is important for us to understand how these children feel and what environment they are in. Since the training, I observe my students more closely. I try to understand their emotions and whether they need support.
For me, the message is simple but urgent: Fighting violence starts with raising awareness. Even small actions matter. If we see that someone is experiencing violence, we should not stay silent. We should tell them that this is not normal, that they can seek help and that they are not alone. Information is a powerful force. I will continue learning and helping other women.”