I act, therefore I am!

Elblag's Counseling Union for Disabled People (ERKON) for more than eighteen years is implementing the rule of equality of opportunity supporting the entry and return to the labor market of disabled people, 50+year-old people, young mothers and people living in rural areas. The main forms of assistance are expert advice, career counseling, vocational training and job placement. The growing awareness of the place and role of women in local labour markets made ERKON to adjust its offer to the changing conditions. Currently, every young mother who uses the programs not only receives professional counseling, psychological support or vocational training but also the childcare costs are reimbursed while serving all forms of support.

Equal opportunity is also breaking down stereotypes in employment. Local labour market is characterized by a high number of male vacancies. It is a great challenge to convince women that they can perform male occupations. Currently, ERKON recruits to two projects "Work-to-measure"and "Work pays off".

The project"I act, therefore I am!", aimed to prepare people to run their own business, is an alternative to the vocational activation projects. This is a solution for young mothers who, becoming their own boss, can handle work and child care and combine work and family life. Within the project young mothers receive training support, consulting, investment grants and bridge support. ERKON also runs Poland's first innovative project with a transnational component in the Human Capital Operational Program "Individual paths of employment". The project aims to develop a new model of employment for people over 45 years of age. In 2008 - 2009,482 women of all ages benefited from the projects, 149 of them were employed.