Equal Opportunities for Older Women
About the initiative Content and framework conditions Organisational background Back
Interessengemeinschaft für Witwen e.V. (Widows' Interest Group)
Communicational details
Address:
Gartenstraße 5
65599 Dornburg
Germany
Contact persons and their known foreign languages:
Anni Bamberger, First chairwomen
Marlene Da-Via, Secretary
Telephone: 0049-6436-7437 oder -7206
Telefax: 0049-6436-7437
E-Mail:
Internet:
About the initiative
Status of the initiative: The initiative is self-help initiative.
The initiative is independent and has the following legal form: registered association
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Content and framework conditions of the project work
The initiative was founded in: 1989
The initiative was founded because of the following reasons:

The widows' interest group was founded because the interests of widowed mothers are insufficiently looked after.
Target group(s): Widowed mothers
Targets: Our demand is for an independent and just bereavement insurance and social security for family work, so as to avoid having to makes applications for social welfare.
Details of the work done by the initiative:

So far, we have been able to draw the attention of politicians from all parties to the injustice of the provisions for surviving dependents. Through resolutions, panel discusions with politicians and protest marches in Bonn, as well as PR work on radio, television and in the press, we have emphasised that we are no longer willing after the loss of a husband to be content with carity for our contributions to the family and to society. In the case of working women with independent income, the surviving dependents pension is stopped as of DM 1,740 income. We regards this as punishment for diligence.
Areas of work of the initiative:
Material aid
Social contacts
Success that the initiative has achieved:

One success has been the higher evaluation of the upbringing of children, as of 1992, from one to three years, when calculating pensions. However, this only benefits younger women; in the case of older women, it is still only one year.
Problems that the initiative has been faced during its work:

The insufficiency of the surviving dependents pensions and the difficulties this gives rise to in all realms of life make have an effect on the work of this interest group.
Participation of the target group concerning the conception, planning and implementation of the initiative's work:

Every year an annual general meeting of the members of the widows' interest group takes place; every six months a meeting is organised to which politicians and pension advisors are invited. These meetings serve to keep our members informed.
Co-operation:

We have been cooperating wiht the Westerwälder Frauenverbände and the Hausfrauengewerkschaft since 1990. We organise joint events and activities.
Information:

We are available for people interested in receiving more information on our initiative by phone, post or e-mail.
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Organisational background of the initiative
Staff:

2 volunteers/honorary members.
The total number of hours worked for the initiative is approx. 5 hours per week.
Budget:
Sources of funding:
Members dues
Publications or information material available on our initiative:

An information sheet and a documentation entited "10 Jahre Interessengemeinschaft für Witwen e.V. 1989-1999" are availabe from the widows' interest group under the contact address given above.
Recommended literature:

Udo Perina: Spezial Altersversorgung;
Laszlo A. Vaskovics: Soziale Lage von Verwitweten: vergleichende Datenanalyse zur demographischen, sozialen und wirtschaftlichen Lage von Verwitweten in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 1988;
Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wohlfahrtsverbände im Landkreis Limburg - Weilburg (Hrsg.): Leitfaden für ältere und pflegebedürftige Menschen und deren Angehörige.
Tips and suggestions for people interested in foundig a similar initiative:

You should join our association and support our demands.
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2001-04-25