Equal Opportunities for Older Women
About the initiative Content and framework conditions Organisational background Back
Lebensentwürfe von Frauen in der Zeit nach der Berufstätigkeit in Beruf und Familie (Women's plans for their life in retirement and when their children have grown up)
Communicational details
Address:
Christliche Initiative Internationales Lernen e.V.
Vilbeler Landstraße 36
60313 Frankfurt
Germany
Contact persons and their known foreign languages:
Ute Wannig, Project manager, English, Spanish
Telephone: 0049-69-284924
Telefax: 0049-69-295104
E-Mail: cil.frankfurt@t-online.de
Internet: www.cil-frankfurt.de
About the initiative
Status of the initiative: The initiative is an initiative aimed at improving equal opportunities for older women through an organisation that pursues objectives which are independent of gender or age.
The initiative has the dicisive support of the following organisation:
Christliche Initiative Internationales Lernen e.V.
Address:
Christliche Initiative Internationales Lernen e.V.
Vilbeler Landstraße 36
60313 Frankfurt
Germany
Telephone: 0049-69-284924
Telefax: 0049-69-295104
E-Mail: cil.frankfurt@t-online.de
Internet: www.cil-frankfurt.de
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Content and framework conditions of the project work
The initiative was founded in: 1996
The initiative was founded because of the following reasons:

The project is the continuation of a preceeding project called "Getting Old with Dignity" (1988-1996), both in terms of content andof staff. The interest among the participants in this topic is very great and has been taken into consideration in the new poject.
The initiative was founded for a limited period of time:

Limited until 12/1999
Target group(s): Women in women's oganisations, working women and housewives
Targets: - Create an awareness for the Third Phase in Life and its conditions, with a view to sustainability;
- Position the existing work done by female senior citizens so as to include different generations;
- Contibute to new socio-political framework conditions.
Details of the work done by the initiative:

On the basis of the German project group contacts were made with women in the USA and the Netherlands which led to encounters there. The community Sant' Egidio in Rome was consulted, and the group participated at the Third Austrian Povery Conference in Salzburg. From 28 - 30 June 1999 a final conference took place with our international partners at which the work done was summarised and evaluated.
Some of the themes discussed in this project and compared internationally: social policy models, paid and unpaid work, social insuance, solidarity between the generations.
Areas of work of the initiative:
Material aid
Political participation
Education
Success that the initiative has achieved:

In the course of three years, a working group including several generations and countries has dealt systematically with this complex social issue.
Problems that the initiative has been faced during its work:

We have to compete with large organisations when applying for funds. The target group identified so strongly with the theme that sickness among the participants and stress at home or at work were sometimes the result.
Participation of the target group concerning the conception, planning and implementation of the initiative's work:

The working procedure as descibed was conceived, planned and carried out jointly with the target group.
Co-operation:

We have been cooperating with "Active Senioren", Leipzig, since 1996 and a partner group of women in the USA (CIL/USA, New York). We organise international workshops, correspond, and return visits.
Information:

We are available for people interested in receiving more information on our initiative by phone.
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Organisational background of the initiative
Staff:

1 salaried employees at the supporting organisation.
1 salaried employees at the initiative.
10 volunteers/honorary members.
The total number of hours worked for the initiative is approx. 30 hours per week.
Budget:

DM 230,000.-- for the entire project from 1996-1999
Sources of funding:
European Union funds
Federal funds
State funds
Funds from the supporting organisation(s)
Members dues
Publications or information material available on our initiative:

"Selbstbestimmt und Solidarisch", a documentation of the project, available from the umbrella organisation at a price of DM 10 plus postage per copy ( 5 copies DM 9, 10 copies and more DM 8).
Recommended literature:

Dr. Adelheid Biesecker: Lebensweltliche Erneuerung der Ökonomie - über alte und neue Formen weiblichen Wirtschaftens, in: Zeitschrift für Frauenforschung 3/1996
Katholischer deutscher Frauenbund (kdfb): Ab heute für morgen. Frauen auf zukunftsfähigen Wegen, Misereor 1997
Gabriele Streicher: Bildung im Alter - Geragogische Konzepte und Ansprüche im Vergleich, Diplomarbeit an der Universität Osnabrück 1992
Centre for our Common Future: Agenda für eine nachhaltige Zukunft, Genf 1995
Tips and suggestions for people interested in foundig a similar initiative:

The initiative requires qualified supervision and coordination. It must be designed didactically so as to stimulate a drive to research among the participants. It is important to alternate between gatherings in a large supervisory group and working independently in smaller teams.
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2001-04-25