Female Grundtvig 2

Final Project meeting in Germany 3-4 July 08

2008-08-04T10:13:00.007+01:00

Wednesday, 2 July 08

Arrival in Berlin.

Thursday, 3 July 08

Morning
• Welcome and introduction: Tk Formazione presented a summary of all activities carried out during the 2 years of the project (2006/2008) focusing on all results/outcomes produced.

• Tk Formazione presented the general structure of the final Guidelines of the FEMALE project defined during the last meeting in Turku.

• Presentation of national results according to the reporting form - feedback from all partners on the project activities since the last meeting: partners presented the main results achieved in their country related to the topics defined during our last meeting in Finland.
• Analysis of project final results.

Afternoon
• Elaboration and validation of the final project Handbook: we worked on the common part of the final Handbook and validated it.

• Inputs for the Final Reports for NAs: we worked on the common section of the Final Report to submit to our NAs by the deadline of the 30th September 08.

Friday, 4 July 08

Morning
• Final outcomes definition: we collected all information from each partner to complete our final Handbook.
• Implementation of the FEMALE web site and leaflet definition in 6 languages. We worked in different work groups: each partner translated the leaflet in its national language.
• Conclusion: definition of our final activities.

Afternoon
• City tour in Berlin.

END OF THE FEMALE PROJECT!

Project meeting in Finland 21 – 24 May 2008

2008-08-04T09:52:00.008+01:00

Wednesday, 21 May 08 - Åbo (FI)

Arrival in Åbo. Thursday, 22 May 08 - Åbo (FI)

Presentation of female entrepreneurship in Finland
· Meeting with entrepreneur Heidi Saari and Stefania Santiano: Heidi Saari explained us her professional experience working in the clothing sector.

· Meeting with entrepreneur Tanja Lepistö and Sirkka Kaarina: they explained us their experience in craftmade sector.

Guided City tour in Naantali

Presentation of female entrepreneurship in Finland
· Meeting with entrepreneur Sinikka Söderlund

Lunch at Café Amandis with Sirpa Ruohonen (entrepreneur and café owner)

Visit to a local enterprise the Muminworld in Naantali

Departure back to Turku/ÅboDinner by the river in Turku at restaurant Svarte Rudolf.

Friday, 23 May 08 - Åbo (FI)

Meeting with a female entrepreneur Birgit Griese at the Centre for Continuing Education at Åbo Akademi: she explained us her experience as trainers of foreign language in Finland showing great dynamism and enthusiasm in her work.

Feedback from all partners on the project activities since the last meeting

· 1st and 2nd questionnaire: analysis of results and discussion
· Feedback from each partner on the 2nd questionnaire submitted to our target group of women entrepreneurs
· Definition of final document structure for our project activities 2006 – 2008.

Lunch at Café Arken at the university

A walk to the cathedral to see the Promotion (a ceremony of conferment of doctor’s degrees)

Definition of the activities timetable for next months, Michela Calabrese
· Implementation of the FEMALE web site and leaflet
· Meeting evaluation and forward planning

Dinner at restaurant Harald in the Turku city center

Saturday, 24 May 08

Conlusion and departure.

Project meeting in Spain 31th Mars - 1st April 08

2008-04-22T08:57:00.020Z

Monday, 31 Mars 08 - Gijon (ES)

Morning

Welcome and introduction
Breakfast with the Mayoress Doña Paz Felguerosa. Presentation of the FEMALE project to the audience and the press.

Feedback from all partners on the project activities since the last meeting: feedback from each partner on the availability of women entrepreneurs interviewed during 1st step to take part in the 2nd phase.

Afternoon

Presentation of ASEM Mentoring School: Maria Luisa de Miguel presented the ASEM Mentoring School and its main activities explaining us all phases carried out during the training programmes for the mentorees and the importance of the relation mentor/mentoree.

For the dinner we were invited by ASEM to their monthly dinner.

Tuesday, 1 April 08 - Candas (ES)

Meeting with the Directora del Área de Igualdad del Ayuntamiento de Gijón: presentation of data on the municipality of Gijon and the history on equal policies and instruments since 1978.

Lunch in Candás with the mayor. We were received by the municipality and its delegation which presented the local context of Candás.

Afternoon

Reception by Amalia Fernandez , Concejala de Desarrollo local e Igualdad. Casa de Encuentros de Mujeres: “ Programa para la incorporación de la mujer en el mundo laboral.”
Visit to Embutidos Santa Rita.

Return to Gijón and dinner in typical cider cellar Lagar de Cabueñes.

End of the meeting..

2008-03-25T16:50:00.007Z

Friday, 07 Dec 07 - Toulon (France)

All partners contributed to the definition of the time planning for 2008 and the implementation of the FEMALE web site http://www.female-project.eu

We met the Chamber of trade and of Craft of the Var grouping 25000 enterprises: presententation of the specific actions of female entrepreneurship showing data on the situation in the Var. We discussed in particular on professions traditionally managed by men, but more and more interesting for women.

Afternoon:

We visited the centre of Toulon.

In the late afternoon we met ATIRE, Platform of Local Initiatives. Eugénie DELMAS, woman Manager, presented briefly the activities of her organization supporting people in difficulty (because of the age, the fact to be woman, etc.) in the creation, the development and the renewal of business activities. ATIRE is a platform existing in the Var distributed in peripheral area to reach more easily people interested to starting a business.

Third project meeting in France 06 -07 December 2007

2008-03-25T16:11:00.011Z

Thursday, 06 Dec 07 - Toulon (France)

Morning:

Welcome and introduction: the project coordinator (Tk Formazione srl) illustrated the activities carried out during the first year (2006-07) and presented next deadlines and activities to carry out during the second year (2007-08).

All partners presented their activities since the last meeting. Presentation of the questionnaires and report: each partner presented the main results achieved in their country through the questionnaires submitted to 8 women entrepreneurs focusing on:

1. The persons we have interviewed: short presentation of the persons interviewed – who are they?
2. A short list with the main factors contributing to success in business for the interviewees on the base of the collected questionnaires
3. A short list with the main elements influencing negatively their business.

The general results achieved in each country showed that the problems related to female entrepreneurship in all partners countries are almost the same: lack of capital investment, reconciliation between work and family, etc.
Moreover we find that the main problems related to entrepreneurship are the same for both men and women.

Presentation of female entrepreneurship in France: Proget83 presented briefly the female entrepreneurship in France with particular attention to the Var Department. Furthermore Séverine Bemka presented the female entrepreneurship situation in France showing statistical data.

Afternoon:

We met local partners in Toulon.

Couveuse d’entreprise: the Incubator Company includes 500 enterprises supporting them to the creation and the development of their activities through technical, administrative, accounting advice.

Boutique de Gestion : the Boutique de Gestion is a national network for the creation and development of enterprises.

Employers' union of the Var: UPV in Toulon is a union of 5000 local companies in the south of France. The UPV aims at representing small and medium enterprises by means of lobbying towards government and public organization. They support employers as well as employees from an economical, financial, legal and social point of view.

Evening:

We had a dinner in a typical restaurant where we eat French specialities and drank good vine in a very nice atmosphere.

Bon Appétit!!

Project meeting: 4th day

2007-06-13T13:45:00.000Z

Thursday, 17 May

PBCC and the partners were welcomed by Lithuanian Labour Market Training Authority in Panevėžys. The director presented the main activities of the centre. The target groups are convicts (people in danger of social exclusion), students and unemployed.

The centre provides career guidance, psychological counselling to the target groups and also runs a job club. The LLMTA, which exists in major cities in Lithuania, was founded and is funded by the ministry of social security and labour of the Republic of Lithuania. Special projects are also funded by the European Social Fund.

During the final meeting the project was evaluated and ideas were put forward for further work.

Project meeting: 3rd day

2007-06-12T14:48:00.001Z

Wednesday, 16 May 07

Project partners participated in the conference “Women’s Roles: Stereotypes and Perspectives”.

The event was aimed at analysing the particular obstacles that prevent women from fully participating in business and social life. The partners made presentations on women entrepreneurship in their countries.

"Feminine Entrepreneurship in Italy”, Michela Calabrese, Tk Formazione Srl

“Feminine Entrepreneurship in Finland”, Satu Laitila, Åbo Akademi

“Feminine Entrepreneurship in Spain”, Maureen B. Lawton, ASEM

“Feminine Entrepreneurship in France”, Severine Bemka, ProGet 83

“Feminine Entrepreneurship in Germany”, Florian Hans, Deutsche Angestellten-Akademie

In the afternoon the time was dedicated to the places of interest within the city of Panevėžys........

Project meeting: 2nd day

2007-06-12T13:50:00.000Z

Tuesday, 15 May 07

In the morning we visited Vilnius accompagnied by a touristic guide.....

On return to Panevėžys the partners were welcomed by the president of the Active Women organisation.

She presented the organisation and the wide range of regional and national activities. The organisation is one year old and its members are active in different political parties.

The partners intermingled with the members of the organisation over tea and cakes.

Second project meeting in Lithuania 14-17 May 2007

2007-06-11T13:06:00.000Z

Monday 14 May 07 - Panevėžys, Lithuania

Our second meeting was in Lithuania. The Panevėžys Business Consultancy Centre (PBCC) welcomed all partners in their office.

As first thing, each partner presented its project activities since the last meeting.

It has been a pleasure to meet all partners again!

Afterwards we attended a meeting with the governor of Panevėžys County.

The governor explained the situation of women in employment and in politics. A debate followed focusing on the situation of the female in each country.

Later we were transferred to a local farmstead run by a woman entrepreneur, as an example of agrotourism in Lithuania.

The business woman started the farmstead in 1997. She was one of the first to start an agrotourism business in Lithuania.

In 10 years her business has gone from three rooms to 50 rooms in three buildings. She also provides conference and wedding services. Furthermore she was one of the founders of the rural tourism association of Lithuania.

And in the evening.......we were invited to taste typical local products in the farmstead restaurant.

I sveikata!!

Florence visit photo gallery

2006-12-14T15:44:00.000Z

Fourth meeting day in Florence - Thursday, 23 Nov

2006-12-07T09:54:00.000Z

Activities done during the fourth day:

- Brainstorming on new proposal ideas to submit on the next calls (LLP – Lifelong Learning Programme 2007 – 2013): all partners agreed to participate and collaborate in future projects on different topics,

- Definition and validation of the activities timetable,

- Definition of the female entrepreneurs target group who will be interviewed,

- Meetings with Local Stakeholders: CISL – Confederazione Italiana Sindacati Lavoratori– Coordinamento Regionale delle Donne (Italian Confederation of Trade Unions - The Regional Coordination Women), D.ssa Claudia Russo. The Regional Coordination Women promotes Equal Opportunity policies within the labour market, the reconciliation work/family, etc.
She explained the support of the Confederation of Trade Unions for the enterprises, the initiatives promoting equal opportunity in work places (public and private), and the difficulties to promote the reconciliation between working life and family for women especially in the private sector. Instead in public bodies there are kindergarten to support women with children.
The meeting went off according to the agenda and with fruitful results.

Third meeting day in Florence - Wednesday, 22 Nov. 2006

2006-12-07T09:52:00.000Z

Activities done during the third meeting day:

- Cultural and historical visit in Florence: guided sightseeing tour, during the morning, of the town to churches, historical buildings, monument, etc. with a tourist guide. The visit was an enjoyable moment to know Florence and its historic/cultural/artistic aspect.

- Development of ideas on the questionnaire to submit to the female entrepreneurs: all partners defined the structure of the questionnaire in 3 sections. We discussed on the opportunity to propose open or closed questions. In order to compare the data on the female entrepreneurs life/working experience it seems better to use closed questions. By other side, with open questions the interviewes would be more free to explain their personal experiences without a fixed path. Maybe the best solution would be the presence of closed questions for objective data (personal data, work experience data) and open questions for personal comments.

- Meeting with local stakeholders: visit by CNA - Confederazione Nazionale Artigianato Piccola e Media Impresa, D.ssa Licia Papini: illustration of the structure and main activities of CNA – Handicraft and SME Association of Florence. The association represent a valid point of contact for all active and dynamic enterprises operating in the province of Florence. The meeting represented an interesting moment of comparison and consideration on concrete initiatives and experiences in the Tuscany economic tissue.

- At the evening with all the partners we had a dinner in a typical Florentine restaurant where we eat Tuscany speciality in a relaxed atmosphere.

Second meeting day in Florence - Tuesday, 21 Nov. 06

2006-12-07T09:49:00.000Z

Activites done during the second meeting day:

- Introduction to the local context to the foreign partners and meetings with Local Stakeholders: explanation of the practices and legislation on the female entrepreneurship in Tuscany and on reconciliation between working life and family during the visits by the Responsible of the Female Entrepreneurship and Gender Policies Sector of the Tuscany Region, D.ssa Antonella Turci, and by the Regional Counsellor of Equal Opportunity, Adv. Marina Capponi.

With the support of an interpreter, Suzi Jenkins, the institutional representatives illustrated initiatives and projects carried out by the regional authority at European and local level,

- Illustration of the local context about the female entrepreneurship: visit by AIDDA (Associazione Imprenditrici e Donne dirigenti di Azienda), D.ssa. Orietta Malvisti Moretti.

AIDDA is a non profit association representing the first association founded in Italy with the aim to support the engagement of women in the economic and social sector. The president of the association illustrated the association’s activities and agreed on an active involvement in the FEMALE project with the participation of female entrepreneurs as testimonials of their life/working experience. During the visit we met women entrepreneurs who have been carrying out a business successfully.

First meeting day in Florence - Monday, 20 Nov. 2006

2006-12-07T09:44:00.000Z

These are the activities done during the first day of the Florence meeting:

- Presentation of the partner organizations to improve the mutual knowledge: each partner presented its own organization and its main activities,

- Definition of the responsibility and functions of the partners: each partner will involve its local network to implement the activities aimed at collecting and exchanging

information and best practices during all the project,
- Elaboration of ideas on the questionnaire to submit to the female entrepreneurs: each partner contributed to the definition of items and ideas on the questionnaire scheme to submit to the 8 referents representing the main target group of the project,

- Definition of detailed work methodologies and tools: all partners agreed on the elaboration of the questionnaire scheme and the identifying of 8 female entrepreneurs before February 2007. The scheme of the interview has to be prepared following the topics defined and validated within February 2007 through e-mail.

The project aims

2006-11-29T17:18:00.000Z

During their working life, and particularly in business, women often face different barriers and circumstances than men, particularly in rural and disadvantages areas. The aim of the proposal is to foster female entrepreneurship spirit through an exchange of experiences and best practice in Adult education. The objectives will be:

favour the diffusion between women of different cultural, social and economic aspects linked to business activities carried out by women through the dissemination of their success stories;
The exchange of female entrepreneurs best practices and experiences between different local and European stakeholders (adult education agencies, public bodies, associations, private companies, university, foundations, civil society);
analyse the didactical and educational informal and non formal approaches linked to the success stories examined involving adult learners (entrepreneurs and personnel working in the partnership structures).

Activities:

Local stakeholders awareness of the project aim and involvement;
Identification and involvement of at least eight business women in each country as testimonials;
Best practice collection through the submission of a structured questionnaire to the entrepreneur groups;
Collection and analysis of informal and non formal educational paths followed by the entrepreneurs;
Collection of support and funding laws for the self entrepreneurship;
Valorisation and dissemination of the achieved results (Publication, CD Rom, web sites, seminaries, final conference) .

The activities will be tightly linked to other local initiatives (Conferences, seminars, workshops) carried out by the involved stakeholders to foster dissemination of the results.

Kick-off meeting

2006-11-29T10:31:00.000Z

Dear partners,

this is the first post in this blog dedicated to our small/great project!
I'm very happy about the kick-off meeting we attended here in Florence from 20th to 23rd of November and I hope you had the same feeling.
I'm sure we'll achieve excellent results working together.
The blog will let us to share our experience in "real time", upload comments , photos and every kind of information we think it's usefull for the project.
We can also link this blog to our websites and divulgate it as soon as it will be filled out with the initial documents.

For the moment, all the very best
Gianluca