Equal Opportunities for Older Women
About the initiative Content and framework conditions Organisational background Back
Europa-Tagung: Willkommen im 3. Leben. Nachberufliche Tätigkeitsfelder älterer Frauen in Europa (European Conference: Welcome to Your 3rd Life: Post-career Activities for Elderly Women in Europe)
Communicational details
Address:
Nationales Netzwerk älterer Frauen e.V.
Herrmann-Meyer-Straße 38
04207 Leipzig
Germany
Contact persons and their known foreign languages:
Gisela Kurtz, Chairwoman of the National Network of Older Women, a Registered Charity, 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 "Nationales Netzwerk älterer Frauen e.V." (national network of older women).
The initiative has the dicisive support of the following organisation:
Nationales Netzwerk älterer Frauen 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: 1998
The initiative was founded because of the following reasons:

In 1995 the National Network of Older Women, a registered charity, was created out of a work group of older women that had been commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth to prepare for the 4th World Conference of Women in Peking.
In 1998, the chairwoman of the National Network of Older Women participated in a work group preparing for the International Year of Senior Citizens. There the idea of staging a European conference was born.
The initiative was founded for a limited period of time:

The conference took place in Leipzig from 11 to 15 May 1999.
Further conferences are planned at two-yearly intervals.
Target group(s): Invitations were extended to socially engaged older women from a range of European countries, especially from eastern Europe.
Targets: The goals of this multinational meeting of older women from the EU and eastern Europe were to exchange experiences, to identify fields of activity for retired women, and in particular to strengthen contacts with the women from eastern Europe and learn from their experiences.
Details of the work done by the initiative:

Discussion groups on the following topics took place: women's networks, ecological projects carried out with schoolchildren, women and nursing care, older women in politics and business, women and voluntary work in the church, women in eastern Germany: retirement at 45? In addition there have been numerous workshops and a cultural program.
A one-day a conference was held on occupational possibilities for retired older women in Europe, at which examples were presented and discussed.
Areas of work of the initiative:
Care
Leisure/sport
Material aid
Political participation
Social contacts
Education
Unemployment among women
Information technology
Success that the initiative has achieved:

We have received very positive feedback from the participants. A further positive point has been the lively interest in the conference shown by the media. Contacts have been established with eastern European women; these and will be extended.
Problems that the initiative has been faced during its work:

In preparing for the conference we had problems getting visas for the women invited from eastern Europe.
Lack of funds as a result of the negative economic situation also prevented several interested women from attending. Although the travel costs of the women from eastern Europe were by and large refunded, some of them were not able to put up the money beforehand, so that they were not able to attend. The women from western Europe had to pay their own travel costs, which some of the women invited could not afford to do.
Other problems included differences between the types of problems faced by older women from eastern and western Europe. Confronted with the existential problems that many eastern European women have to deal with, many of the other women present could only respond with a sense of helplessness.
Participation of the target group concerning the conception, planning and implementation of the initiative's work:

The National Network of Older Women, a Registered Charity, conceived, planned and organised the conference.
Co-operation:

We co-operated with OWN (Older Women's Network Europe) in planning the content of the conference.
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:

30 volunteers/honorary members.
Budget:

A budget of DM 50,000 (c. 25,000 Euro) was available for the event.
Sources of funding:
Federal funds
State funds (in F regional)
Local government funds (in F department)
Revenue from the project work
Funds from the supporting organisation(s)
Members dues
Donations and funds from sponsors
Publications or information material available on our initiative:

Documentation of the Conference may be obtained for a fee of DM 35 (17.5 Euro) plus postage from the Nationales Netzwerk älterer Frauen (National Network of Older Women) at the above address.
Recommended literature:
Tips and suggestions for people interested in foundig a similar initiative:

A generous helping of stubbornness and optimism!
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2001-04-25