17 Jul 2024
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July 17, 2024 admin

Join the WOW-ME Movement

Imagine a world where women, especially those facing significant obstacles, can confidently re-enter the workforce, equipped with the latest digital and design thinking skills, owning their narrative, and empowered by effective career development strategies.

Imagine a world where women, especially those facing significant obstacles, can confidently re-enter the workforce, equipped with the latest digital and design thinking skills, owning their narrative,  and empowered by effective career development strategies. This is the ambitious vision behind the WOW-ME Project (Women on Work Market – Maximising Empowerment). Funded by SEPIE under the Erasmus+ KA210-ADU Action Type, the project runs from February 1, 2024, to January 31, 2026. This collaborative initiative tackles the gender gap in the job market across four European countries: Spain, the Czech Republic, Norway, and Slovakia.

A Growing Need for Women’s Reintegration: Why WOW-ME Matters

Statistics paint a concerning picture: women in Europe, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, face significant challenges when re-entering the workforce after career breaks. These breaks are often due to family commitments, outdated skillsets, lack of self-confidence, or lack of access to adequate support systems.  As the digital landscape evolves rapidly, this gap between skills and job market demands becomes even more pronounced. The WOW-ME Project addresses this critical issue head-on by providing women with the tools and resources they need to thrive in today’s competitive environment.  

Bridging the Gender Gap: WOW-ME Tackles Diverse Challenges for Women in the Workforce Across Europe

The WOW-ME Project is a collaborative effort born from a shared vision: achieving gender equality in the European workforce. This mission takes on particular urgency when considering the wide range of challenges women face in the partner countries.

  • Spain: Despite working hours increasing over the past 15 years, the number of Spanish women working part-time remains stubbornly high, well above 20%.  This statistic suggests a lack of access to full-time opportunities or a preference for part-time work due to childcare responsibilities. Further compounding the issue, women in Spain are more likely than men to hold precarious, job-insecure contracts. Research also shows that labor force participation rates for Spanish women with children under 15 lag behind women without children.
  • Czech Republic: The Czech Republic offers some of the longest maternity leave periods in the world, up to 4 years per child. This generous policy, however, can lead to setbacks when mothers return to the workplace. Challenges include reduced salaries, placement in lower-skilled roles, and decreased chances of promotion.  Further emphasizing the gender gap, the Czech Republic has one of the highest unemployment rates for mothers across the EU and faces a significant Gender Pay Gap (GPG).
  • Norway: Norway offers a beacon of hope, demonstrating how adequate resources for women and mothers can contribute to lower gender disparity. Ranking third globally for gender parity, Norway boasts a high rate of mothers re-entering the workforce due to flexible working arrangements. While digital skills disparities are not a major concern for native Norwegians, the project acknowledges the challenges faced by immigrants in this area. The Norwegian partner Norsensus will play a crucial role in sharing best practices and inspiring other countries to adopt similar approaches to supporting gender equality in the labor market.
  • Slovakia:  In Slovakia, a significant obstacle exists for mothers on maternity leave: they are prohibited from continuing paid employment with their employers, part-time or full-time unless they are self-employed.  This policy is considered a major contributor to the lagging employment rates for Slovakian mothers with children under three years old, compared to other EU countries.  Furthermore, employment rates for Slovakian mothers with children under the age of 14 remain below 60%.

 

Empowering Women to Re-enter the Workforce

The WOW-ME (Women on Work Market – Maximising Empowerment) Erasmus+ project tackles the challenges women face when returning to the professional sphere. We provide innovative training and support to help women regain their footing and thrive in today’s dynamic job market. This blog post explores the goals, methodologies, and lasting impact of the WOW-ME project. We will delve into how we recognize the diverse challenges faced by women across Europe and our mission to bridge the gender gap. Join us in this transformative movement and empower yourself to overcome these barriers!  

The WOW-ME project equips you with the tools and resources needed to:

  • Confidently re-enter the workforce
  • Overcome obstacles hindering your return
  • Develop the skills and competencies for professional success
  • Achieve economic independence and carve your path to career fulfillment.

 

Understanding the WOW-ME Project

The WOW-ME project is a small-scale partnership in adult education under the Erasmus+ KA210-ADU Action Type. It builds on the outcomes of the WOWIT – Women On Workmarket With Inclusive Techniques project, focusing on empowering women with fewer opportunities to re-enter the labor market. The project is designed to address the needs of women who face barriers such as lack of digital skills, prolonged absence from the job market due to family responsibilities, and other social and economic disadvantages.

  • Project Title: Women on Work Market – Maximising Empowerment (WOW-ME)
  • Start Date: February 1, 2024
  • End Date: January 31, 2026
  • Duration: 24 months
  • National Agency of Applicant Organisation: SEPIE
  • Project Lump Sum: €60,000

 

The WOW-ME Consortium: A Force for Change

The success of the WOW-ME Project hinges on the dedication of its consortium partners – a diverse group of NGOs (Non-governmental Organizations) and SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) from across Europe.  This collaboration brings a wealth of expertise to the table:

  • EA Consulting (Spain) – Lead Partner: Experts in mission-based narrative approaches, guiding women to view job searches as meaningful chapters in their lives, making the process more manageable and empowering.
  • Rovnovážka (Czech Republic): Champions for equal opportunities, advocating for women’s rights in personal, social, and working life, with a particular focus on disadvantaged groups. Their mission seamlessly aligns with the goals of WOW-ME.
  • Norsensus Mediaforum (Norway): Offers expertise in media & digital literacy, advocacy, and civic participation, with a focus on empowering marginalized groups. They contribute significantly to WOW-ME’s objective of enhancing digital competencies.
  • FutuReg (Slovakia): Specializes in regional development and supporting families, youth, and children. Their holistic approach enriches the project’s impact on the community.

 

Breaking Down Barriers: The Unique Focus of WOW-ME

Beyond the standard job training initiatives, the WOW-ME Project goes the extra mile to empower women facing specific challenges:

  • Disadvantaged Women Take Center Stage: The project prioritizes supporting women facing multiple barriers, including socio-economic disadvantages and discrimination. Tailored support programs address their unique needs and empower them to overcome these obstacles.
  • Building Digital Confidence in the Modern Workplace: WOW-ME recognizes the power of digital literacy in today’s job market. The project focuses on building essential digital competencies and providing training on AI tools, making participants more competitive and future-proof.
  • Inclusive Training Methods for Diverse Needs: WOW-ME utilizes a variety of innovative methodologies to empower women in their job search:
    • Digital Competencies/AI (LTTA1 Focus): Equips women with essential digital skills and an understanding of AI tools, opening doors to new career opportunities.
    • Narrative Approaches (LTTA2 Focus): Women learn how to craft compelling personal narratives for job applications, showcasing their unique experiences and skills in a way that stands out to employers.
    • HR Career Coaching (LTTA3 Focus): Provides personalized career guidance and coaching techniques to help women identify their strengths and weaknesses, set realistic career goals, and develop strategies to achieve them.
    • Design Thinking (LTTA4 Focus): Encourages participants to approach career challenges creatively, developing innovative solutions to overcome obstacles.

 

Objectives of the WOW-ME Project

The WOW-ME project has set out several ambitious goals aimed at transforming the lives of women who are striving to re-enter the workforce. These objectives include:

  • Share Innovative Approaches: The project will develop and share innovative methods for career guidance and training. By incorporating new digital tools and methodologies, WOW-ME aims to provide a comprehensive support system for women in need.
  • Create an Online Toolkit: An essential component of the project is the development of an online toolkit for trainers. This toolkit will include various methodologies such as design thinking, digital competencies/AI, HR career coaching, and narrative approaches to job applications. The toolkit will serve as a resource for trainers to better support job seekers.
  • Update Training Offers: The project aims to refresh and enhance the training programs offered by partner organizations. By integrating new methods and tools, these programs will be better equipped to meet the current needs of women seeking employment.
  • Test New Training Offers: To ensure the effectiveness of the new training methods, the project will validate them in various national contexts. This process will help tailor the programs to the specific needs of both instructors and learners in different regions.

 

WOW-ME addresses the following 2023 Erasmus+ priorities:

  • Inclusion and diversity in all fields of education, training, youth and sport
  • Addressing digital transformation through the development of digital readiness, resilience and capacity
  • Creating upskilling pathways, improving accessibility and increasing take-up of adult education

 

Detailed Support for Diverse Groups

The WOW-ME project recognizes that different groups of women face unique challenges when re-entering the workforce. Therefore, it targets two main groups to ensure comprehensive support:

  • Primary Target Groups:
  • Disadvantaged and Minority Women: These women often face multiple barriers, including socio-economic disadvantages and discrimination. WOW-ME aims to provide them with tailored support to overcome these challenges.
  • Women Re-entering the Labor Market: Particularly those with fewer opportunities, such as long-term unemployed women and those who have taken extended breaks for family reasons. The project focuses on enhancing their employability and confidence.
  • Women Needing Digital Skills: In today’s digital age, lacking digital skills can be a significant barrier to employment. WOW-ME offers training to help women gain essential digital competencies.
  • Young Women with Families: Returning to work after maternity leave can be daunting. WOW-ME provides support to these women, helping them balance family responsibilities with professional aspirations.
  1. Secondary Target Groups:
  • Members and Trainers of Non-vocational Adult Education Organizations: These individuals play a crucial role in supporting job seekers. WOW-ME aims to enhance their skills and resources through the online toolkit and updated training programs.

Learners in Non-vocational Adult Education: By improving the quality of training programs, WOW-ME indirectly benefits all learners in adult education, helping them achieve their career goals.