Work for Women

Labour market and social affairs

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Description:

The Work for Women project aims to open up new career prospects and to place women currently living on social security (e.g. single mothers, immigrants, young adults without vocational qualifications, etc.) in regular jobs earning more than a minimal wage. The training and integration service is close to where the target group lives, whilst having a strong regional aspect. Account is taken of the specific circumstances in which the women live, e.g. via the offer of targeted support in the form of childcare facilities for single mothers, German booster courses for immigrants, teaching hours and internships which fit in with the needs of women and families, help with job interviews in companies (which should be located close to where the women live), and the testing of various working hour models.

The combination of tailored training, integrated in-company internships and individualised advice services, taking special account of the specific features of the assisted area, increases the opportunities of the participants to obtain regular jobs.

The six-month project combines general, occupation-specific, theoretical and practical content with an internship, especially in firms located inside the URBAN II area. These firms work in close co-operation with the project to offer the participants apprenticeships, the participants first receiving training so that they will meet the requirements of the firms. If women wish to receive training in the field of office technology, for instance, it may be possible for them to receive apprenticeships in the Bremerhaven Technology Park (the t.i.m.e.Port project). In this way, the companies located in the assisted area also gain a commercial benefit. In fact, two of the project participants from the first group are currently engaged in an internship in a company based in the t.i.m.e.Port.

The participants were found within a very short time in close co-operation with Bremerhaven’s welfare office, schools, childcare facilities and business people. Highly motivated women on welfare benefits were invited to a consultation session which aimed to ascertain their interests, skills and individual training needs as well as to work together to develop possibilities and approaches for vocational integration.

The individual consultation sessions support the entire project with a view to boosting the women’s motivation and staying-power.

The training process is modular in form. The modules are based on three levels:

• interdisciplinary modules (choice of occupation, learning to learn, computer skills, etc.)
• general educational modules (economics, mathematics / arithmetic, German / language skills, etc.)
• vocationally oriented, subject-based modules (trade, catering, marketing, clerical, etc.)

The priority throughout the entire process is early integration in the regular labour market. The project therefore encourages a flexible entry and exit of the participants. The traditional structure of a further training scheme is thus broken up in an exemplary fashion.
The individual educational needs of the women, together with the formulated requirements of the companies, form the framework for the content of the flexible training modules and thus optimise the chances for the participants to obtain a regular job.

The Work for Women project began in October 2002. The first session of the project involved a total of 18 women and ended in March 2003. A second session began on 1 December 2003 with 16 participants.

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