Gender Equality Best Practices

My business, my future

"My Business - my Future" project is the fifth, modified and improved edition of the original program of The Economic Foundation from Gdynia. The project aims at supporting these individuals who are planning to start their own economic activity. It is realized in the form of a competition and its crucial stage is the proper selection of the candidates - motivated and full of ideas for a practicable business. When it comes to the selection of the target group we have taken into account the difficult situation of women over 45 years of age on the labour market and we wanted to increase their chances of returning to professional activity. During the recruitment process the gender criterion was taken into consideration. Accordingly, among 30 qualified participants there were 20 women. During training child and dependent care cost reimbursement was provided - this kind of support was intended especially for women.

The selected group of the participants have the opportunity to benefit from the experience of the professionals and they are granted financial help in the form of:

• Training course,
  
• Individual career counseling,
  
• Individual business counseling,
  
• A one-off grant to the amount of 40 000 zlotys intended for investments related to running a new business,
  
• Monthly finance support (1000 PLN), for the maximum time of one year.

So far these kind of projects executed by the Foundation have proved to be extremely effective, and their effects permanent. Most businesses established by the participation in the project are successfully functioning on the market and constantly developing.

The project was awarded the main prize in 2010 European Social Fund in the Pomeranian Voivodeship - interesting ideas, good practices competition.