EWMI ACCESS has already funded 15 projects within the framework of the Rapid Response Grants Program. The projects aim to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and address some of the challenges caused by the pandemic. The implementation of the projects has already started.
See information on the winning projects:
- Ajara Democratic Development Union – Informing Roma community living in Kobuleti and Batumi about the COVID-19 threats and prevention mechanisms: disseminate information materials, provide individual consultations and support this group to get available state services.
- Europa Donna Georgia – Supporting cancer patients, as well as their families, caregivers, and larger oncology community during the COVID-19 crisis through providing them with up-to-date and practical information on the COVID-19 dissemination, symptoms, and special needs of cancer patients during pandemic. For this purpose, the organization will produce information leaflets and videos, hold online discussions and webinars, provide individual consultations to patients and their family members. The project is implemented in cooperation with the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC).
- Center for Advanced Technologies and Innovations – Developing and launching a mobile application CovidBuster to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The app will enable its users to record their contacts on a daily basis to help quickly identify their clusters if they become infected. It will also provide daily updates on COVID-19 and WHO’s and NCDC’s recommendations. Additionally, the app will send out regular reminders on the actions to take to avoid COVID-19.
- Coalition Education for All – Supporting public school teachers, students, and parents to adapt to distant schooling during the COVID-19 shut down through developing online educational materials (for I-IV and VII-XII graders) and operating a help line. The teaching materials will be developed by reputable teachers – finalists and winners of the National Teacher Award of Georgia, and will be widely disseminated with the help of National Center for Teachers Professional Development. It will also be posted on internet (popular web portal for teachers www.mastsavlebeli.ge, Facebook and other online resources).
- Georgian Journalists Ethics Charter – Identifying false narratives related to the spread of COVID-19, addressing false claims that gain traction, and redirecting citizens to reliable information and sources. To achieve the project goals, the Charter will prepare analytical articles in order to attack false narratives and provide factual information to citizens; Produce informational cards and animated videos on how to identify disinformation (the cards and videos will be in Georgian, Azerbaijani, Armenian, and Russian languages) and disseminate these cards and videos via Facebook page, mediachecker.ge, as well as through partner media organizations.
- Giorgi Beraia (individual) – Building capacities of the medical personnel in Western Georgia in management of pandemic at hospitals and relevant safety measures. The team of healthcare experts will deliver trainings to 192 health workers from 7 hospitals of Western Georgia (Kutaisi, Kharagauli, Boriti, Oni and Ambrolauri) in the following topics: COVID-19 dissemination, symptoms, and treatment; effective triage of COVID-19 patients; safety of the medical personnel; and prevention of COVID-19 contamination in health care facilities. It will also include practical exercises, such as how to put on and remove personal protection equipment.
- Gumbati – Raising awareness of COVID-19 threats and prevention mechanisms among Azerbaijani and Armenian ethnic minority citizens living in the Tsalka municipality. For this purpose Gumbati will compile useful informational materials on COVID-19 in Georgian, Armenian, and Azerbaijani languages and distribute them door-to-door in Tsalka villages keeping a safe distance from local citizens. The organization will also operate a hotline for local citizens to provide additional information/assistance on COVID-19, as needed.
- Mirian Jugheli (individual) – enhancing and promoting a digital solidarity platform prevencia.ge that provides citizens with up-to-date information on available online services/resources, COVID-19 myths and disinformation, and the spread of virus. The platform features the following information: (i) online services and resources offered by government agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector after the spread of COVID-19 in Georgia; (ii) myths, disinformation, and misinformation surrounding COVID-19; and (iii) updates about the COVID-19 situation in Georgia and WHO’s and NCDC’s recommendations. The platform will update information on a regular basis to help people stay at home and adhere to self-isolation rules.
- Ialkani – Protecting socially vulnerable groups in Ajara, including people with disabilities (PwDs) and multi-child families through raising their awareness about the threats of COVID-19 and the ways to prevent its spread. The support group composed of Ialkani’s members will visit project beneficiaries on a regular basis, provide them with critical information on COVID-19, monitor their health conditions, and identify their urgent needs. It will inform local government representatives about the primary needs of socially vulnerable populations and advocate for their resolution. Besides, Ialkani will pursue its charity work – mobilization of resources through crowd funding to purchase food and distribute it to the poorest families.
- Identoba Youth – Protecting people living with HIV in the Ajara region from COVID-19 by informing them about the virus transmission, prevention, and symptoms, as well as precaution measures for HIV patients; offering advice and connecting them with relevant state- and non-state services and resources, as needed. A team composed of an infectious disease doctor and outreach activists will reach out to HIV patients through social media and phone calls. A hotline will also be in place.
- Civic Initiative, Knowledge Café – Supporting lonely elderly people in the Sighnaghi municipality through identifying and responding to their urgent needs. For this purpose the Knowledge Café with the help of the volunteers will compile a database of elderly citizens living alone in the Sighnaghi municipality; reach out to them to identify and address their needs; raise funds and other resources to provide them with essential food and medical products; and assist them through stress-management activities.
- Platform “Salam” – Mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in Marneuli and Bolnisi through implementing intensive information campaign on COVID-19: preparing information videos, posters and brochures in Azerbaijani language that will be disseminated though online media as well as distributed in the grocery shops, pharmacies and gas stations in Marneuli, Bolnisi, and Gardabani. Population will also be informed about the ongoing activities and the state of affairs in their region. Salam will closely cooperate with responsible national and local government agencies in the process of developing and implementing the awareness raising campaign.
- Studio Velosipedi (Bicycle) – Helping children under 10 understand why they need to stay home and how to protect themselves from COVID-19. To achieve this Studio Velosipedi will produce a new episode of the very popular animation series – the Giraffe Zhoze. In the animation, the Giraffe will talk about COVID-19, focusing on its prevention measures, and sing a song that will make it easier for children to memorize how to keep themselves safe. Additionally, Studio Velosipedi will prepare and disseminate 10 animated posters for children on COVID-19.
- Welfare Foundation– Capacity building of primary health care workers and professionals in management of the COVID19 cases and relevant safety measures. For this purpose, Welfare Foundation will deliver online trainings (webinars) to healthcare professionals from various regions of Georgia. The training will cover the following topics: COVID-19 epidemiology and pathogenesis, infection prevention and control, patient triage, clinical care of severe respiratory infection, facility cleaning and disinfection. The regional offices of the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) will help Welfare Foundation in mobilization of the training participants.
- Association of Young Psychologists and Doctors “Xenon” – Protecting a high risk group of substance dependent individuals from COVID-19 infection through raising their awareness about the COVID-19 threats and how to avoid it. Xenon will: deliver personal and online consultations to substance dependent citizens and their family members in Zugdidi and Kutaisi; produce and disseminate informational materials on COVID-19 in general and specifically about the risks to substance dependent individuals; and train Harm Reduction Program staff in Zugdidi and Kutaisi on COVID-19 related issues.
