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Description
This project addresses the problem of professional burnout of women working in CSOs. 70% of people working in the third sector are women, which makes 3.5 m female workers. Among other things, the overrepresentation of women in the sector means low pay and few opportunities for promotion. Meanwhile, this work involves various risks such as harassment, unreliable pay, lack of job security, and work beyond regular working hours. In turn, this leads to stress, loss of motivation, low self-esteem, and professional burnout (approximately 40%). Meanwhile, organisations are not equipped to prevent these problems occurring.The Project Promoter will conduct research into needs of women working in the third sector in Pomorze, especially in small, rural towns, and publish the findings in a report. It will then provide women with a full range of support such as power workshops, psychological consultations, supervision, coaching, and counselling on labour law. Organisations in which women work will also receive support in the form of tools and strategy. The Project Promoter will conduct a social campaign on Everyday Heroines working in the third sector. The final element of the project will be publication of a development guide for women leaders. Primarily women leaders in CSOs, women activists, and women social activists (approximately 100 people) active in Pomorze will benefit, especially those in small towns and villages. They will become more aware of their employee rights and more motivated, and feel less stress and professional burnout. Women leaders, and entire organisations as well, are improving their time and team management competences. Awareness of women’s community work and women’s rights will also improve in the CSO sector.The association TAK Trójmiejska Akcja Kobieca will be a partner in the project - the association works with experienced women experts, coaches, and activists, who will become involved in the project.
Summary of project results
The project addresses employment rights and burnout among women working in the third sector in Pomerania. 70 per cent of all people working in NGOs are women, but there are far fewer women on the boards, only 49 per cent (ngo.pl, 2019). This high percentage of women employed in NGOs is due, among other things, to the socialisation of women into care work, discrimination against women on the labour market and the flexibility of working hours offered by organisations. Unfortunately, phenomena such as low pay, lack of employment contracts, overtime, working under pressure, harassment, stress or burnout are still common in the sector. More than 40% of activists are extremely exhausted by their work, 38% admit to burnout, while at the same time up to 72% feel satisfaction and meaning in their work (2020). Activists from small towns are particularly vulnerable. Unstable financial conditions, lack of knowledge about workers'' rights or environmental links encourage bullying and the perpetuation of violent practices. The sector lacks organisational and human resource management tools.
The project carried out activities both directly supporting Pomeranian women social leaders and strengthening their organisations (and teams). The Project Promoter carried out a qualitative study entitled ''Everyday Life of Women in the Third Sector in Small Towns in Pomerania'', the results of which were summarised in a report. A social campaign entitled ''Everyday Heroines'' was also prepared. The campaign included an exhibition, which was shown in 14 places in Pomerania, and accompanying events, including debates. Women leaders from Bytów, Kartuzy, Słupsk and Sztum took part in empowerment and networking workshops. Each of the four two-day workshops was attended by 20 people. The women leaders were also offered psychological, super-vision and coaching support, as well as access to consultations in various fields: law, communication or finance. As part of the project, the ''Compendium of Women Leaders - Empower Yourself. An anti-burnout guide for social and activist women''. - It provides material for the leaders'' own work and an empowerment tool for coaching work. In addition, 10 NGO teams were supported with training and advice on organisational strategy development or intersectoral cooperation.
"Everyday women heroes – women in the third sector. We Go Further" aimed at strengthening and wider dissemination of the results of the project Heroines of Everyday Life – Women in the Third Sector. As part of the initiative, 200 copies of the publication "COMPENDIUM OF WOMEN LEADERS - anti-burnout guide" were printed, 50 copies of the report "Everyday life of women in the third sector in small towns of Pomerania - diagnosis, needs, challenges and recommendations", one dissemination event and 10 individual dissemination and instructional meetings in the Pomeranian region were organized with people representing social organizations, local government units and leaders activists, local media.
The project directly benefited up to 100 women - local NGO leaders - who received concrete support in recognising their rights, recognising symptoms of burnout and counteracting it. The organisations themselves also received support. The activities carried out as part of the project have helped to raise awareness of the problem of professional burnout among women working in the third sector and the need for the systematic implementation of working standards.