Equal Opportunities for Older Women
About the initiative Content and framework conditions Organisational background Back
Kurs: "Du mußt Deinen Platz behaupten" (Course: "You Must Assert Yourself")
Communicational details
Address:
Magistrat der Stadt Hanau
Sachgebiet Seniorenarbeit und Frauenbüro
Am Markt 14-18
63450 Hanau
Germany
Contact persons and their known foreign languages:
Imke Meyer, Director of the Women's Office
Barbara Heddendorp, Social Education Worker Specialising in Working with Senior Citizens
Telephone: 0049-6181-295-292
               0049-6181-295-467
Telefax: 0049-6181-295-248
           0049-6181-295-214
E-Mail: seniorenarbeit@hanau.de
          frauenbuero@hanau.de
Internet: www.hanau.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:
Magistrat der Stadt Hanau
Address:
Magistrat der Stadt Hanau
Sachgebiet Seniorenarbeit und Frauenbüro
Am Markt 14-18
63450 Hanau
Germany
Telephone: 0049-6181-295-292
               0049-6181-295-467
Telefax: 0049-6181-295-248
           0049-6181-295-214
E-Mail: seniorenarbeit@hanau.de
          frauenbuero@hanau.de
Internet: www.hanau.de
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Content and framework conditions of the project work
The initiative was founded in: 1999
The initiative was founded because of the following reasons:

The course was designed to strengthen elderly women's self-confidence in everyday situations.
The initiative was founded for a limited period of time:

The course took place for the first time on 9.3.1999. It lasted 4 hours. Follow-up courses are planned.
Target group(s): Interested older women
Targets: - Strengthening and promoting self-confidence,
-Supporting mobility,
-Increasing the women's individual sense of security,
-Helping the women reflect and work on their own behaviour patterns,
-Communication with other women.
Details of the work done by the initiative:

After introductions, the course members divided into small groups to discuss "what makes me afraid?" Members conducted behavioural training in the form of role playing and afterwards discussed the results. Through observation and training, course members learned to increase their sense of awareness, and through bodily exercise they practised self-assurance and poise. In addition they learned to use everyday objects (umbrellas and handbags) as weapons.
Areas of work of the initiative:
Social contacts
Mobility
Security/protection
Success that the initiative has achieved:

The participants' self-confidence and sense of personal security have been strengthened.
Problems that the initiative has been faced during its work:

Many women had false preconceptions about the course, thinking that it had to do with martial arts, or else they dismissed it with the argument: "I don't need that sort of thing."
Participation of the target group concerning the conception, planning and implementation of the initiative's work:

The program was planned in common.
Co-operation:
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 salaried employees at the supporting organisation.
Budget:

DM 500.- (c. 250 Euro) for trainer's fees. Publicity work is financed from the budget for social work with senior citizens.
Sources of funding:
Local government funds (in F department)
Revenue from the project work
Publications or information material available on our initiative:

Leaflets, press articles, city's annual program, city's Internet home page.
Recommended literature:
Tips and suggestions for people interested in foundig a similar initiative:

Personal contacts, targeted advertising, and offering the course to already existing groups are all to be recommended.
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2001-04-25