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Description
Since the state farms collapsed in the 1990s, the municipality of Banie has been dealing with various economic and social problems, such as unemployment and discontinuation of services important to the community, e.g. public transport links, and cultural and education centers. In recent decades, residents in the municipality have had practically no opportunity to make use of any form of formal or informal education, including with regard to digital skills. Women over 45 are in a worse situation in social and career terms. Their activities revolve around the home and looking after children and the seniors. There is no organization in the municipality that operates educational and activation projects for mature women. The project aims to increase public involvement and make women over 45 in the rural areas in the Banie municipality more active. We will organize one-on-one computer skills coaching in the form of accidental learning, and group computer skills workshops, as well as workshops on advocacy, project implementation, leadership skills, and teamwork. The participants will be put into four groups and with our support will organize, in their areas, an event for the local residents (minimum of ten people). We will initiate the creation of local action groups: workshops for the participants (on coming up with ideas on educational and cultural activities), workshops for institution, local government, and CSO representatives (coming up with ideas and methods to revive local activity, providing support for women''s activities). We will also hold a meeting to devise a model for local cooperation, attended by representatives of local government and cultural institutions and CSOs. Twenty women of over 45 who are in risk of social and digital exclusion will take part in the project. They will gain digital skills, learn about and gain skills relating to implementing local projects, and become more involved in local community matters.
Summary of project results
The project addresses the problem of social and digital exclusion and low social activity of women over 45 from the rural commune of Banie. Since the collapse of state-owned farms in the 1990s, the commune of Banie has been struggling with various economic and social problems, such as increased unemployment, gaps in access to public services, communication exclusion, lack of cultural or educational offer. The level of social activity is low. Women over 45 are in a particularly difficult situation, often taking care of the home and caring for children and the elderly without being economically active. Male and female residents often lack digital competences, which are nowadays necessary to initiate and participate in social activities. As part of the project, 20 women aged 45+ from Banie and Lubanowo took part in individual coaching meetings on how to use the computer and navigate the Internet. They also participated in psychological workshops, workshops on advocacy, the implementation of social activities, teamwork and the development of leadership skills. The project participants then implemented four local events for the residents of the community. Two of the events facilitated integration of the local community with the newly arrived refugee women from Ukraine. Finally, a workshop was organised for representatives of the municipality on communicating with the local environment, diagnosing problems and responding to the needs of the residents. The project participants, meanwhile, took part in a creative workshop on initiating and implementing projects. As a result, 20 women over 45 developed their social competences and skills in working in a group, initiating and implementing activities for the local community. They became authentically involved in activities for their villages. They have also developed their digital competences, which are essential in today''s world. There was also a increase of activity in the local community, which took part in events prepared by the project participants. The project has also initiated cooperation with the local government, cultural institutions and NGOs.
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