Equal Opportunities for Older Women
About the initiative Content and framework conditions Organisational background Back
Meyersdorfer Frühstück - eine Gesprächsreihe für Frauen ab 45 (Meyersdorf Breakfast: a Talk Series for Women over 45)
Communicational details
Address:
Netzwerk älterer Frauen Sachsen e.V.
Herrmann-Meyer-Straße 38
04207 Leipzig
Germany
Contact persons and their known foreign languages:
Gisela Kurtz, Project Director, English, Russian
Telephone: 0049-341-4251420
Telefax: 0049-341-4251420
E-Mail:
Internet:
About the initiative
Status of the initiative: The initiative is an initiative of the accociation "Netzwerk älterer Frauen Sachsen e.V." (network of older women in Saxon).
The initiative has the dicisive support of the following organisation:
Netzwerk älterer Frauen Sachsen e.V.
Address:
Herrmann-Meyer-Straße 38
04207 Leipzig
Germany
Telephone: 0049-341-4251420
Telefax: 0049-341-4251420
E-Mail:
Internet:
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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:

We wanted to start a discussion group in which older women could talk about their problems and other things of interest to them.
Target group(s): Older women who are frustrated by their circumstances and who want to articulate their problems themselves.
Targets: We aim to increase public awareness of typical problems faced by older women in our society.
Details of the work done by the initiative:

For many women living in Leipzig, these monthly discussion meetings for women over 45 have, since 1996, become a regular feature of their calendar of events. This is true not only of network women: new recipients and women who have heard about the meetings from others and are curious to attend are always showing up.
This exchange of opinions between older women, which has become a Leipzig tradition, lives from the fact that nearly all the women present bring with them questions and problems they are willing to talk about with those of similar, or of different, opinions - but above all with other women who are past midlife.
The agenda always includes topics of current interest, such as "Why women's refuges?" or "How can older women today make use of their talents?" An expert on the topic under discussion is always invited to participate in the meetings. Short presentations are also sometimes made on projects or study tours, such as the presentation of the EU project "Founding a Women's Co-operative" or the presentation "Moslems, Jews and Christians in one country?" based on a recent study tour of Israel by Christa Knauth.
The meetings take place regularly on the first Tuesday of every month.
Areas of work of the initiative:
Political participation
Success that the initiative has achieved:

Information on the talk series and its themes is often published in the media. The series has a high profile among the general public.
Problems that the initiative has been faced during its work:

It is not easy to find women who have a talent for addressing explosive issues because there is usually a (male) superior in the background who nominates himself for the task.
We always have to be looking around for donations to finance the breakfasts.
Participation of the target group concerning the conception, planning and implementation of the initiative's work:

Many suggestions for topics originate from active network women.
Co-operation:

Since the foundation of the Netzwerk älterer Frauen Sachsen e.V. (Saxony Network of Older Women, a Registered Association), in 1995, we have been co-operating on a practical level with the National Network of Older Women.
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:

10 volunteers/honorary members.
The total number of hours worked for the initiative is approx. 10 hours per week.
Budget:

We have a modest budget for which we must always reapply.
Sources of funding:
Local government funds (in F department)
Members dues
Donations and funds from sponsors
Publications or information material available on our initiative:
Recommended literature:
Tips and suggestions for people interested in foundig a similar initiative:

Put controversial topics of current interest on the agenda and invite competent women to come along and talk.
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2001-04-25