Marina Kakiashvili-Ruadze is a 2018 alumna of the Civic Leadership Program. Among just a handful of organisations working on social issues in Gurjaani municipality is Women from Regions for Public Development, a non-profit that Marina founded.
She is concerned with the plight of women and children in her region. According to Marina lack of information and services for children’s mental development and neurology is a dire problem. There are very few, if any, psychologists working with children in pre-schools and schools. In addition, a level of awareness among parents leaves much to be desired. That is why Marina, supported by Kakheti Regional Development Foundation implemented a project to help parents and teachers of 12 pre-school facilities and schools receive consultations from Tbilisi based psychologists and neurologists invited specifically for this purpose. In total 400 individuals benefited from the project, however, there is a constant need for similar interventions.
Marina implemented the project after the completion of the Civic Leadership Program which appeared to be helpful with respect to providing practical examples and new knowledge: “there was much we had not known. Now we are able to better analyse many issues.”
Among other problems affecting the region Marina names domestic violence, lack of empowerment and engagement of women. These are the very issues that Marina and Women from Regions continue to work on.