Equal Opportunities for Older Women
About the initiative Content and framework conditions Organisational background Back
Landesfrauenausschuss (Regional Women's Committee)
Communicational details
Address:
Landesfrauenausschuss Mecklenburg-Vorpommern im Sozialverband Deutschland e.V., ehemals Reichsbund
Henrik-Ibsen-Str. 20
18106 Rostock
Germany
Contact persons and their known foreign languages:
Ursula Stecker, Chairwoman
Renate Schmollmann, Deputy Chairwoman
Telephone:
0049-381-7686070 (office)
0049-385-662747 (privat)
0049-3991-120561 (office)
0049-3991-664765 (privat)
Telefax: 0049-385-3260023
E-Mail:
Internet:
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:
Sozialverband Deutschland e.V.
Address:
Sozialverband Deutschland e.V.
Henrik-Ibsen-Str. 20
18106 Rostock
Germany
Telephone: 0049-381-7686070
Telefax: 0049-381-7686071
E-Mail:
Internet:
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Content and framework conditions of the project work
The initiative was founded in: 1992
The initiative was founded because of the following reasons:

On the initiative of the National Women's Committee, social organisations were founded in 1990, following the Fall of the Berlin Wall, that originally focussed on helping the war-disabled and surviving dependants, as well as the physically challenged and social welfare recipients.
Target group(s): Social security pension recipients, surviving dependents of war dead, single older women, unemployed and no longer employable women who are approaching retirement age.
Targets: The Regional Women's Committee is dedicated to facilitating the integration of those affected into a social group and to bringing about social and political change.
Details of the work done by the initiative:

- Personal interviews, counselling, offers of help;
- Passing on information and further education;
- Help in participating in social events and trips;
-Motivating women to take on leading roles in voluntary organisations, e.g. as chairwomen of committees, as chairwomen of local and regional associations, including talks with women already in such positions;
-Discussions on socio-political legislation on regional and national levels, e.g. on the reform of provision for surviving dependents.
Areas of work of the initiative:
Care
Leisure/sport
Social contacts
Education
Health
Living circumstances
Unemployment among women
Mobility
Security/protection
Success that the initiative has achieved:

There is a great deal of interest in the events, seminars and conferences that we organise. We have received recognition from political institutions on a regional and local level.
Problems that the initiative has been faced during its work:

Few people are prepared to take on voluntary work, for reasons which include lack of public recognition for such work. A further problem is lack of funds for events, seminars and conferences.
Participation of the target group concerning the conception, planning and implementation of the initiative's work:

Older women participate directly via voluntary social work. They participate in all aspects of organising voluntary work on a regional, district and local level.
Co-operation:

Since 1993 the Landesfrauenausschuß (Regional Women's Committee) has been working together with the Landesfrauenrat (Regional Women's Council), of which Ursula Stecker is a founding member. Together we conduct lobbying work on proposed legislation affecting women in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. We organise women's events together, and also in co-operation with other women's organisations and with equal rights representatives.
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:

7 volunteers/honorary members.
The total number of hours worked for the initiative is approx. 50 hours per week.
Budget:
Sources of funding:
Funds from the supporting organisation(s)
Publications or information material available on our initiative:

Documentation of the women's conference organised by the Landesfrauenrat (Regional Women's Council) in 1999 in Heiligendamm, and numerous contributions in the "Reichsbundzeitung" newspaper and the local press.
Recommended literature:

Ute Ehrhardt: Gute Mädchen kommen in den Himmel, böse überall hin
Informationen des deutschen Frauenrates
Tips and suggestions for people interested in foundig a similar initiative:

- Courage and endurance, enthusiasm;
- Co-operation and partnership with men in a spirit of equality;
- Of crucial importance is working together with the equal opportunity representatives of the local institutions and with the Landesfrauenrat (Regional Women's Council).
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2001-04-25