“I am proud that I can help another woman in crisis,” said Natia, 34-year-old mother of three young children and the proud owner of a small beauty salon in Zugdidi.

Today, Natia runs her business with confidence, but her journey here was far from easy. Natia found herself facing the challenges of raising her children and rebuilding her life from scratch.

With the support of ASB’s project “RISE Georgia – Reducing Inequality and Supporting Empowerment for Women in Crises”, funded by the Republic of Austria, represented by the Federal Minister of Social Affairs, Health, Care, and Consumer Protection, and ASB Germany, Natia began to rebuild her confidence. The project aims to empower women and girls in crisis situations across western Georgia through targeted social and economic support.

Through RISE Georgia, Natia received essential psychological support. “It gave me the strength to believe in myself again,” she says. She also participated in a four-day training on crisis communication, where she learned how to navigate difficult situations, strengthen her personal and social skills, and communicate more effectively. “It wasn’t just training - it was a turning point,” she reflects. “I left feeling confident and ready to help others.”

During the training, Natia made new friendships and began supporting other women with the resources she had. One of her students, whom she met during ASB’s training, is a single mother living in challenging conditions. Natia invited her to learn eyelash extensions at her salon. “This is a service no one else in her city offers,” Natia explains. “I want to give her a real chance to build a better future for herself.”

Natia is a living example of ASB’s new GBV/DV awareness campaign, “I Am Proud To…” The campaign Highlights Women’s Empowerment in Western Georgia and aims to inform and empower women to speak up and stand with each other.

Having once been a victim of psychological abuse herself, Natia understands how transformative support can be. With courage, resilience, and guidance, she has rebuilt her own life and empowers others to do the same.

This marks the fourth nationwide campaign run by ASB on GBV issues in the past year, reaching communities across Georgia and amplifying the message of women’s empowerment, solidarity, and resilience.