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Let s Once Again Believe In Ourselves
Partners for the Future Association
Background
The Partners for the Future Association was established in 1995 in Bourgas. Its activities are aimed at building practical social behavior and skills in key civil society areas, at assisting the growth and the development of the citizens, and especially of young people, in the new socio-economic environment.
The Partners for the Future Association was established in 1995 in Bourgas. Its activities are aimed at building practical social behavior and skills in key civil society areas, at assisting the growth and the development of the citizens, and especially of young people, in the new socio-economic environment.
Practice
The project goals were achieved by means of:
Five training seminars on:
1. How to worry less and deal with stress
2. My strengths and the decisions I make
3. How to more effectively resolve everyday conflicts
4. Personal skill for effective negotiations
5. Therapy of success
The seminars were held in five consecutive months, from October, 1997, to February, 1998, in Bourgas and Ravda. More than 50 unemployed women, aged 23 to 50 and registered at the Bourgas Labor Bureau, participated in the seminars. The seminars were free, with coffee and lunch provided at the expense of the funding organization. The participants were encouraged to get involved in discussions, to share their personal, specific experience. The seminars were a forum of goodwill and compassion and provided opportunities for new friendships.
Individual consultations with a social worker and a labor market broker, in order to provide assistance and support in solving women s personal problems.
The consultations were provided under the From Social Care to Employment project. The focus was on the exchange of information between the unemployed person, the social worker and the labor market broker.
Financial assistance to unemployed women with financial problems.
A round-table discussion with employers, Labor Bureau experts and NGOs dealing with women s issues. The round-table included discussions of the unemployment among women and the opportunities to find employment.
Publication of a Facing the Problem brochure. The brochure provided information on: project goals; services provided by the Labor Bureau; registration at, and obligations to, the Labor Bureau; stress therapy; advice on conflict solving; negotiating rules and opinions of project participants.
At every meeting under the project, the women got up-to-date information on the available jobs and support in applying for jobs. The participants who have improved their communicative skills and have acquired competitive knowledge have higher (70%) and secondary education degrees.
The project goals were achieved by means of:
Five training seminars on:
1. How to worry less and deal with stress
2. My strengths and the decisions I make
3. How to more effectively resolve everyday conflicts
4. Personal skill for effective negotiations
5. Therapy of success
The seminars were held in five consecutive months, from October, 1997, to February, 1998, in Bourgas and Ravda. More than 50 unemployed women, aged 23 to 50 and registered at the Bourgas Labor Bureau, participated in the seminars. The seminars were free, with coffee and lunch provided at the expense of the funding organization. The participants were encouraged to get involved in discussions, to share their personal, specific experience. The seminars were a forum of goodwill and compassion and provided opportunities for new friendships.
Individual consultations with a social worker and a labor market broker, in order to provide assistance and support in solving women s personal problems.
The consultations were provided under the From Social Care to Employment project. The focus was on the exchange of information between the unemployed person, the social worker and the labor market broker.
Financial assistance to unemployed women with financial problems.
A round-table discussion with employers, Labor Bureau experts and NGOs dealing with women s issues. The round-table included discussions of the unemployment among women and the opportunities to find employment.
Publication of a Facing the Problem brochure. The brochure provided information on: project goals; services provided by the Labor Bureau; registration at, and obligations to, the Labor Bureau; stress therapy; advice on conflict solving; negotiating rules and opinions of project participants.
At every meeting under the project, the women got up-to-date information on the available jobs and support in applying for jobs. The participants who have improved their communicative skills and have acquired competitive knowledge have higher (70%) and secondary education degrees.
Results
40% of the women involved in the project found employment, of which 10% were able to find jobs corresponding to their professional background;
10% of the unemployed women signed for job training courses with the Labor Bureau;
as a result of the joint efforts, a sustainable network of contacts and lasting personal relations was established and the women began to inform each other on new job offerings, to share successes and failures in meeting potential employers;
each of the participants has learned how to use her hidden psychological and intellectual capacity to deal with unemployment.
40% of the women involved in the project found employment, of which 10% were able to find jobs corresponding to their professional background;
10% of the unemployed women signed for job training courses with the Labor Bureau;
as a result of the joint efforts, a sustainable network of contacts and lasting personal relations was established and the women began to inform each other on new job offerings, to share successes and failures in meeting potential employers;
each of the participants has learned how to use her hidden psychological and intellectual capacity to deal with unemployment.
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