The initiative combats exclusion by giving employment to long-term unemployed women or woman returning to work after family caring duties. It offers initial training to working skills, social support and networking with other social institutions and helps raising the chances of the target group to find employment on the regular labour-market.

In 1988 a large number of people became unemployed because of a wave of dismissals in the neighbouring village. As a reaction to that and thanks to the existing resources, some committed persons started the initiative (one of them is still working in the initiative). Niches for activities were looked for and found in the refinement of rural products.

Initially the initiative was set up for women lacking only a few years to work until their retirement. Due to the lack of elderly unemployed people the target group was modified to the group of long-term unemployed women in considerably younger age-groups. The field of bakery seemed to be apt for women returning to work since it demands every-day skills and qualifications. The production of liquors has been added later to the range of activities. The management of buffets was part of the initial activities, it was abandoned for a while and taken on again later. There have been no start difficulties of importance.

Main objective is to re-activate skills and abilities concerning working culture, work rhythm and to combat personal deficits. Qualification is a secondary target. In an anamnesis with each participant difficulties and deficits are discussed, objectives for the transit year are worked out.

Socio-pedagogical care accompanies the work in the project. The women are assisted and supported in developing self-initiative (help for self-help). Work happens 3 times a week, training 2 times a week. In the final phase one week of application training is offered. Only few women continue to work in the bakery sector, rather in sale and care-positions.

Social and Indirect Effects
The initiative offers employment and training to the unemployed women of the region or women returning to employment after family and child caring duties. It provides social support and assistance to work in the regular labour market. Innovations for the region are the refining of rural products and the public relations for biological products.

Assessment-Innovation-transferability
So far no assessment has taken place nor is it projected. Annual reports have to be delivered to the labour market service (AMS), which can be seen as an assessment measure, but results are not communicated to the initiative. The initiative is taken to be transferable, especially in a rural area. In an urban area respective modifications would be necessary, for example a shop could be set up. There are other women's projects in Austria which pursue similar activities, i.e. in the field of gardening. Initiatives with exactly the same activities are not known.

Prospects
Plans are directed to the consolidation and stabilization of the initiative. The Labour Market Service has guaranteed the continuity of financing. Unless there are political changes (other initiatives, different focus on target groups), the future of the initiative is secured. Yet financial reductions are expected in the fields of staff and training. 20 hours will have to be cut from the key actors' working hours. The transit workers will then work only 35 (now 40) hours for full-time. The socio-pedagogical assistance shall be maintained since it is very important and the social objective of the initiative shall not be given up. Furthermore a higher insertion rate is targeted at in order to secure the future of the initiative.

Grenzland-Naturprodukten-Kreis GNK
Ms. Angela Reininger (project manager), tel. +43 2859 6429

01/01/1989

case

Urban Policy

Social inclusion & integration