Rural Women for Changes – Nairas`s Story

Naira Bolkvadze, woman entrepreneur, village Maradisi in Marneuli municipality.

“I have been living in Maradisi for 25 years, a village inhabited by eco-migrants. At first, it was very difficult for us to adapt to the new environment. I remember how my husband and I lived in a small carriage dreaming for a better future. The main thing that strengthened our population was hope and support from each other. Together, step by step we began to look for the information about this land and use it in our favor. Nowadays, instead of huts and carriages, we live in houses and are actively involved in livestock and agricultural activities. 

The new initiative of UN Women and Taso Foundation helped us a lot in achieving our goals and developing our businesses. As part of the initiative, I became a community worker in Maradisi community and do my best to help women reveal their potential. We have a lot of interesting trainings on different topics, however considering the pandemic, all the training sessions are being conducted remotely. So, we need the appropriate equipment that unfortunately not everyone can afford. I want the women in my group to get as much knowledge and experience as possible, so I always try to support them to attend each training session, become more motivated and informed. In addition, within the framework of the same project, I participated in the grant competition and purchased additional vegetable seedlings for business development. I mainly produce broccoli, almost all types of lettuce, cauliflower, etc. My husband helps me to sell the products in the Tbilisi market and supermarkets as well. If before I had income periodically, now I have the opportunity to sell products during all seasons of the year. My business is being developed quite successfully. I have already covered part of the loan taken for the greenhouse and I also bought a hand tractor with my first profit. Also, I employ several local women during the working process.

In the future, I plan to develop the business again. For coronavirus, falling market prices, and other improvident occasions, I want to purchase a refrigerator with the help of various grant competitions that allow me to freeze my products and sell them at a profitable time.

The Women's Economic Empowerment project had a great impact on the development of women in our village, we have learned a lot, have become more motivated and self-confident, and we are actively involved in the decision-making processes as well. Earlier, we have been talking about rural problems but never even discussed the ways to solve them. Now, if there is a problem, we discuss it together and then take action to eliminate it. I am very proud of the women of my village and I am happy, with the help of the project we’ve become more active, strong, and have been able to realize our capacities."

The project “Women’s Economic Empowerment project through Social Mobilization and Capacity Building” is part of the UN Women’s regional project “Women’s Economic Empowerment in the South Caucasus”, supported by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC). The project “Women’s Economic Empowerment project through Social Mobilization and Capacity Building” is implemented by Kakheti Regional Development Foundation (KRDF), Taso Foundation (TF), and CARE Caucasus (CARE).