Fundacja FUNDUSZ WSPÓŁPRACY

The objective of the Development Partnership is to open new employment prospects for all those who are prevented from reentering the labour market for inability to stay at permanent employment place on a regular basis. The Project is targeted at parents (primarily women) who after a prolonged employment break caused by parental responsibilities (maternity or parental leave) experience problems with labour market reintegration. The Project is intended to help the participants to reconcile professional activity with private life by enabling them to work remotely (via Internet), without leaving their place of residence.

When on parental leave, Project beneficiaries have ceased to sustain contact with their working environment and track technology or legal changes in their specialty areas. As a consequence, their professional skills and fitness for company needs tend to deteriorate. On the other hand, in a number of trades physical presence of employee in company premises is not required. This is especially true for two areas of activity: broadly defined office support services (accounting, book-keeping, HR management, reporting, etc.) and designing (engineering designs, graphics, etc.). Those working in these and similar areas may well combine their jobs with children care, provided that necessary means for day-to-day communication with the company are available to them.

Surveys of potential beneficiaries and employers from the Project area, as carried out under Activity 1, revealed a substantial interest in Internet-based employment combined with lack of any meaningful knowledge of that subject. Conclusions from a review of returned questionnaires served as a basis for development of training curricula.

The Development Partnerships is planning to deliver five training series of 240 training hours each (200 classroom hours and 40 on-line learning hours). Sessions will be delivered to groups of 15 participants each for a total of 75 beneficiaries. Upon completion of the training component, the beneficiaries will proceed with hands-on training, which will involve 2-month placements with selected enterprises. The placements, of internship nature, will be designed to induce the beneficiaries into organisation of work and employment aspects (especially technological ones) at specific job positions and to prepare them for on-line working. It is also planned to deliver a series of training for employers to encourage them to establish on-line jobs.

An integrated training system, based on new experienced, will be created throughout the term of the Project. Following Project completion, the system will be modified to align it with current requirements of the labour market. It is also planned to expand the system (especially in terms of target themes) and apply it in Projects of support to various groups of beneficiaries.

Final beneficiaries will contribute to the setting up of learning sessions and subsequent placements. Every change in beneficiary-related project plans will be consulted with group leaders, as elected by the beneficiaries. Group leaders will be invited to Project Council meetings to discuss and modify work plans. Moreover, the beneficiaries will be invited to take part in awareness campaign planning. It is also envisaged to broadcast a special TV programme (for the local Polish TV channel), wherein viewers will voice their comments on the Project, as well as radio broadcasts. Articles will be published by the local press media.

Upon Project completion it is planned to sustain contacts with selected beneficiaries and employers who have participated in the Project. The cooperation with these two groups is expected to result in establishing a base for the development of modern employment schemes. Good practice will be disseminated and included in mainstream social policy of the government through publication of information materials in Poland and abroad, hosting of conferences for the representatives of local governments, press media, educational institutions, labour offices, as well as through local media, which will provide coverage of ongoing Project progress.

• Model of supporting flexible forms of employments and principles of distance working for persons taking care of children and dependants