FREENo. 2015-1- IS01-KA204- 013171 |
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An increasing number of women are interested in starting their own business. Despite the fact that we live in the 21st century, there are still obstacles which they face and a special demand for support has been observed from women who live in rural areas. Project FREE (full name: Female Rural Enterprise Empowerement) aims to identify those obstacles and then provide practical instruments to empower, encourage and support women entrepreneurs to overcome them. The main objective of this project is to assist women from rural areas in five partner countries (Iceland, UK, Lithuania, Croatia and Bulgaria) to become successful entrepreneurs with a focus on small business development. The main target group is women with a concrete business idea or currently running a newly established company in rural area. Strengthening of skills and competences, networking, growing businesses by encouraging creativity, encouraging start-ups – these are the needs of the target group which FREE is planning to tackle. An important part of the project is an online training programme for women, focusing on hard skills which will be supported by the development of Enterprise Circles™, based on an existing methodology from one of the project partners “Inova” in the UK. A Facilitators Guide will be produced, providing guidelines for the trainers and how they can deliver the methodology in the best way. Networks for women in rural areas will be set up, led by local women who will receive training in the methodology of “Community Driven Learning and Development”. Also, a “Guide for Policy Makers” will be produced, where recommendations regarding support for women in rural areas will be outlined. All the partners involved are experienced in working with women entrepreneurs in rural areas, with qualified staff and extensive networks for dissemination. Based on their knowledge and expertise of the needs of women in their countries, partners will work with groups from already defined rural areas. The project will start with an extensive research across all partner countries, including focus groups, desk research and online surveys. Project coordinator: The Directorate of Labour, Iceland Partners: Kaunas Science and Technology Park,Lithuania Inova Consultancy ltd., United Kingdom Business Information and Consulting Centre - Sandanski, Bulgaria CESI - Center for Education Counselling and Research, Croatia Harper Adams University (WiRE), United Kingdom Icelandic Regional Development Institute, Iceland
Project activities (achievements) October 5 – 6, 2015 – kick-off meeting in Sheffield (United Kingdom); March, 2016 – implementation of needs analysis in order to find out learning needs of target group; April, 2016 – first newsletter was issued. You can read it here; May 17 – 18, 2016 – 2nd partnership meeting in Zagreb (Croatia). Enterprise circles TM learning program has been presented; May, 2016 – project website was lounhed: www.ruralwomeninbusiness.eu Currently learning materials are being developed. The organization of Rural Women Business Training is taking place. Follow us: FREE - Female Rura Enterprise Empowermenth Contact person: Irma BagdonienėTel. +370 37 333 036 Email: irma.bagdonienė@kaunomtp.lt |