Rationale

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Women's role on the labour market (LM) is traditionally high in the CR, which is not accomp. by adequate changes in public opinion, stereotype thinking, LM/its structure/ culture/values. The work/family conflict is considered to be the womens issue only also by women themselves.Women are those who have to seek individual solutions to the problem as there are no mechanisms that would help support the work/family balance without decreasing womens career chances. This is also becoming true about men with care responsibilities.The family, the roles changes, as well as external conditions (econ. pressures, work demands on flexibility, mobility of work force, effect of ICT).These changes have impact on all the aspects of life, contribute to social differences, unequal chances. Existing social programmes are targeted more at risk groups and less at active support for functional families (incl.single parent ones).To address the work/family issue in a complex way the DP propose to develop & implement a model programme that, as a whole, shall be tested in 1 region, with outputs dissemination to other regions of the CR, and across EU via the TCA and ETG. The identified Vysočina Region is relevant in many ways.The project develops inovative solutions to work/family balance, responds to the situation analysis (see the project), comes up with changes in gender stereotypes, on LM (flexible working, ICT), family support services, complex counselling,life-long training through ICT, ensures access to ICT for specific target groups.The reason for forming the DP is a systemic approach based on active participation of public bodies, NGOs, employers/social partners, target groups. Part of the DPs have been working together within the 1st round of Equal, some partners are newly added,several other DPs are proposed for confirmation within the Action 1. The proposed DP offers a pool of necessary skills/experience/capacities critical for effective distribution of tasks, full project impl.

Objective

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The global goal of the project is to develop and implement a model programme for support of work/family balance, focused on specified target groups nd on one region for full implementation / testing. The model programme consists of 4 thematic approaches:

1. Ideas / Thinking and Values. Goal: to change gender stereotypes in family roles, gender stereotypes that contribute to inequalities; to introduce new values, new work/organ. culture that would support the work/family balance principles. Main activities: surveys (also for evaluation purposes, gender mainstreaming, situation / contextual analyses on the regional level, target groups needs identification / reflection).

2. Services. Goal: to develop and introduce inov. / improved services for families reflecting real life needs of the target groups, know how / good practice transfer (TCA). Main activities: development of inovative models (e.g.non-institutional child care), their testing on community level, employer level. Development of info services related to family-support services available in the region, recommendations for legisl., organ., institutional changes.

3. Work. Development and testing of new organiz./working plans, processes and tools that would lead to work/family balance solutions in cooperation with employers, public authorities. Main activities: development of model (flexible) working plans for SME, gender specific awareness raising activities for employers. Furthermore: teleworking as specific flexible-working tool supporting work/family balance, training module for teleworkers, tele-server (web site) as complex information resources on teleworking and for teleworkers. Recommendations for legisl., organ., institutional changes.

4. Knowledge. The goal: elimination of barriers to e.g. (life long) learning / training, to job opportunities, to counselling services through ICT. Main activities: development / setting up of complex counselling centre available for relevant experiments / inovations, offering complex services incl. training. E-learning adopted to the needs of the specific target groups; a model telecenter in rural settings of the Vysočina region.

Innovation

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Process oriented: Improvement / broadening of current flexible working methods (FMP) reflecting needs of target groups, employers sensit. to prevent negative / discriminative impact of poor application of FMP. ICT to enhance FMP as work/family balance (W/FB) tool, equal opportunities support tool. ICT as a tool for life long training/learning of specific target groups. Inovative complex counselling centre developed in coop. with target groups, accredited for excellence in social services, with certified (gender oriented) courses.

Goal oriented: Development of selected inov. (child)care models, family support services (pilot testing with sel. emplyoers, care providers), forming of inov. networks of care providers. Tested solutions will be reflected in recommendation for legisl. changes. Flexible working methods to support W/FB: teleworking as a W/FB tool eliminating barriers, supporting equal opp.principles. Model telecentre as a W/FB tool developed along with target groups / community-level to meet real needs and open up new opprotunities. W/FB audits with employers / criteria identific., awards.

Context oriented: Within the new flexible working method / teleworker: legisl. analyses, recommendations for changes (TCA know how transfer). Non-institutional care-provisions for families: legisl. analyses, recommendations for changes (TCA know how transfer). Network development.

Inovations maintained through ongoing, continuous evaluation. Inovations implemented on regional / national level. Global inovation: development, implementation, testing / validation of the model programme.

Budget Action 2

500 000 – 1 000 000 €

Beneficiaries

Empowerment

 With beneficiaries

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From the very beginning of the detailed programme preparation direct involvement of the target groups is critical. For Action 1 several workshops and meetings are planned to involved both the current DPs, potential new DPs and target groups representatives. At this stage it is the task of DPs to help identify target groups representatives for close involvement in project preparation. Along with time-line, detailed programme specification (for Action 2 and 3), a training programme/series for relevant target groups representatives will be developed to enable their full participation at every stage of the project incl. project management (prelim.content to be finalized along with the target groups to meet their needs: e.g. content, timeline, project management, planning, evaluation, communication strategies, ICT utilis. for the coordination purposes, web-based work, information management). Access to ICT will be ensured. Taking into account specific needs of the target groups, specific measures will be taken to enable their participation (e.g.child care provisions at the meetings, at the telecentre, at the counselling centre). All the meetings will be provided with minutes taking for evaluation, seminars / workshops will provide evaluation forms to ensure feedback for further development / planning.

Target groups representatives will be members of the development / implementation teams, they will be invited to all the meetings, they will have access to / will be involved in the shared web-based boards and e-conference. To prevent ad hoc gaps in access to ICT, paper-bulletins / newsletters will also be produced for hard copy deliveries. Target groups will make direct actors of all the critical project activities: they will participate e.g. in development of e-learning, telecentre, counselling centre, support services to ensure that these will meet the real needs of those specific target groups. For larger outreach of project activities / outputs, mainstreaming strategies will be developed in greater detail; detailed evaluation mechanisms will also be developed. Target groups of employers, local authorities, media will be involved similarly, plus these will also be involved in preparation of workshops, coordination meetings for close cooperation and evaluation.

 Between national partners

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The DP currently consists of several DPs from the Equal 1st round as well as several new institutional partners. To coordinate / prepare the project development, all the current Equal DPs were addressed as well as pre-identfied potential new partners. There were two joint meetings of all the partners that decided to join in, and on-going consultations were carried out via e-mail communication as well as via individual meetings. The DPs were also updated on all the developments, drafting stages. In this way each DP had access to instant information, were enabled to influence the project content. Pre-identification of further potential partners is carried out for confirmation in Action 1.

Individual DPs are directly involved in preparation of the relevant activities. For the Action 1 there are several workshops and meetings planned, that will involve also target groups. The entire DP (incl. target groups) will be closely involved in detailed programme preparation for Action 2 and 3, in detailed roles / tasks specifications. The results will make an integral part of DPA and individual partners agreements. In order to coordinate all the tasks effectively, the DP will share a web-based discussion board/space for project discussions, coordinations, documents, directories etc. storage for instant online availability. E-conference / mailing lists will also be set up.
Action 2 and 3 : Monthly coordination meetings on the steering committee level, monthly coordination meetings on the level of development teams. Target groups will directly be involved on all the levels of project management, planning, evaluation.
Apart for web-based discussion boards / space, e-conferences, e-bulletins, paper-bulletins will be produced to keep all the DPs timely informed.

Transnationality

 Percentage of the budget for transnational activities

• 8.0%

 Transnational Co-operation Partnerships

Background

 Involvment in previous EU programmes

• Two and more partners involved in A&E

National Partners

Agreement Summary

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The three DPs share an interest in the problem caused by the need to combine home-life and working-life. They are interested in tackling the problem of work/life balance from a wide and integral perspective, trying to take into account the different factors which give way to the stress between the family and personal requirements on the one hand, and the labour requirements, on the other, considering the role of the different agents (public administration, business world, trade unions, associations, specialized institutions, educative institutions, etc.) in the treatment of this problem and its solution, bearing in mind that there are different kinds of obstacles in the way to find a balance between home and work, these obstacles and solutions may vary between different cases, depending on the personal social and economic position, but also the character of social structures in general.

The three DPs have the ambition to confront the complex problem from different perspectives, such as citizen participation in order to influence the decision-making process relevant to family and work, desirable and provided social service, for example different kinds of councelling and child-care, and functional/dysfunctional organisation of family-life and working-life.

All three DPs are working in different national contexts while on national level they are working regionally, i.e. Spanish DP in Andalusia, Czech DP in Vysocina region and Swedish DP in Varmlands. The 3 DPs share an interest in analysing the implication of these different contexts, drawing on lessons from other partners and codifying good practice in produced materials / models.

The purpose of our transnational partnership is to implement a programme (set of activities) that would further enhance partner’s work on national level through sharing experience and best practices, and that would come up with joint experience shareable on EU /transnational level. The proposed activities shall complement and add value to the national DPs work by comparing and contrasting different approaches to tackling different aspects of work/family balance issues in Spain, Sweden, and Czech Republic.

This wide and integral approach to the transnational cooperation is possible thanks to the meaningful complementarities noticed between the Spanish and Czech projects. For its part, the Swedish projects also provides a multilateral and integrated perspective to the issue of work/life balance, given to the variety of institutions within the DP, which makes possible to work from different positions towards a common interest. Besides this, the transnational project is enriched with the different social, economical and cultural realities from the countries represented in the three DPs.

The common interests of the DPs are:

Work / family balance issues in the targeted regions on regional or national level

Situation analysis looking primarily at:

Family oriented services; Counselling services / resource centres;

Parental education; Flexible working; (Lifelong) Learning and training.

These common interests are strengthened with the common perspective that gender-equality is one key to find a better balance between home-life and working-life.

The DPs are committed to developing experimental and innovative models in their respective regions to reduce gender-based discriminations and unbalances: research works related to conciliation and use of time, all round experiences about changes in the use of time, new technologies applied to conciliation, citizen participation, resources, spaces and time reorganisation, and elimination of gender stereotypes.

From the methodological point of view, the transnational project devised – as it happens with the different national projects – presents a high amount of innovation, as well as underlying debate among the parts involved and identification, exchange and dissemination of good practices from the different territories represented in the DPs. As the three DPs work in different social systems with different approaches to the organisation of family and work, the methodology of studies, study-trips and thematic seminars can provide an exchange of qualified knowledge from different systems within the EU. Study-trips can for example offer groups of employees a chance to share the daily practice of colleagues in Spain/Sweden/Czech Republic, thematic seminars can provide a tool to spread project-results in a wider circle of interested groups and persons.

The proposed working programme aims to respond to the common burning issues of conciliation looking at it from a more global perspective, that is, considering it not as a mere problem of working women lacking time to care of their homes and families, but a complex problem of a social nature, which shall be handled in an integrated way taking into account its multidimensional character.

All this provides the basis for a rich and balanced transnational cooperation, which aims to achieve the transference of information and knowledge about strategies, flexible working organisation schemes, services management models and support devices (public and private) as well as useful operative solutions to favour a real advancement in the balance of opposite forces and existent stresses hindering the development of a harmonious personal and professional life.

Český svaz žen (Czech Women's Union)

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Czech Women´s Union is a non governmental organisation with large membership base and rich traditions acting across the political spectrum.In the meantime it operates on the principle of modern and effective organisation and acting on the voluntary basis in various levels in benefit of women and their rights. It comes out from the basic international documents approved nad accepted by the UNO which are supported also by the Czech Republic. Czech Women´s Union is It is oriented primarily to theThe Czech Women’s Union is a non governmental organization with large membership base and rich traditions acting across the politic spectrum. In the meantime it operates on the principle of modern and effective organization and acting on the voluntary basis in various levels in benefit of women and their rights. It comes out from the basic international documents approved and accepted by the UNO which are supported also by the Czech republic /the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Women's Discrimination, the Action Fundament, a document of the 4th UN World Conference on Women and its linked on the document of the 23rd Extraordinary Session of the UNO General Assembly held in 2002 in New York with the main topic “Women of the year 2000, gender equality, development and peace for the 21st Century.” It is oriented primarily to the actual and perspective projects of co-operation and partnership, to the help and education, strengthening of family, preparation to the EU entry etc. It has been launching the wide national discussion with “hot issues “ which are of big interest among the women and the members.

Contact person(s)

ADV spol. s r.o.

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ADV is a consultancy agency in the sphere of quality standards / ISO systems, marketing, and public relations.

Contact person(s)

Agentura TIS, spol. s r.o.

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The main activities of Agentura TIS are training and adult education, services in education, economic, legal and management consultancy, analysis in economic situation and structural changes in industry and trade, crisis management, liquidation, bancruptcy and restructuring. Agentura TIS is member of the Association of Institutions for Adult Education (AIVD) and of the Czech Society for Human Resources Development.

Contact person(s)

Aperio - Společnost pro zdravé rodičovství

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Aperio works for the public interest in two main areas. In the field of obstetrics, the Association advocates for the right of women to choose the method, place and type of obstetric services she wishes. In the area of family's position in society, it promotes equality for women and men in the family and on the labour market. In order to fulfil its mission, Aperio carries our research projects, provides information, initiates dialogues between the providers and recipients of services, and is engaged in promoting legislative changes. The Association's activities are focussed primarily on current and prospective parents, professionals and the general public, and private and non-governmental organisations.

Contact person(s)

DEMA a.s.

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DEMA Joint-Stock Company is a private enterprise dealing in public opinion polls (demoscopy) and market research.

DEMA conducts public opinion polls all over the Czech Republic, paying special attention to the opinion climate of the capital city of Prague, where it carries out both regular (flash) surveys on topical issues (with results published within 24 hours) and large-scale single- and multi-topic surveys.

The size and distribution of the respondent network allows the company to respond flexibly to customers’ requirements, as well as to offer local surveys (in districts, counties and regions). DEMA has at its disposal a network of skilled inquirers (400 trained people distributed all over the Czech Republic).

Contact person(s)

ETERIA, s.r.o.

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Activities of ETERIA include research, experimental activities and professional services with focus on disadvantaged groups, professional training, gender equality in career choice. Specific foci are on guidance and counselling, training for disadvantaged groups as well as professional groups such as trainers, teachers, tutors and counsellors.

Contact person(s)

Expertis Praha spol. s r.o.

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EXPERTIS PRAHA is a consulting and training company, a partner to managers and HR professionals in the management and development of people's potential. We help to develop the knowledge and skills of managers, company teams and individuals, and we provide a platform for the exchange of information and experience.

Contact person(s)

JPM Tisk, spol s r.o.

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Publishing and printing house, other services : public relations, promotional materials.

Contact person(s)

KD Software, spol. s r.o.

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KD Software, Ltd. is an independent software developer with focus on internet and intranet solutions, incl. e-business, e-publishing, B2B, B2C.

Contact person(s)

MĚSTO HAVLÍČKŮV BROD

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Municipality of Havlickuv Brod.

Contact person(s)

Národní centrum pro rodinu (National Centre for the Family)

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NCR is a non governmental organisation focusing on monitoring social conditions and policies related to the family, and on pro-family oriented activities in the Czech Republic. NCR was founded in 1996 by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Czech Republic.

Contact person(s)

Rentel a.s.

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RENTEL enterprise are focusing on distance learning via internet and intranet technologies raging from corporate short-term courses over to corporate university. Main foci of RENTEL are :

Complex analytical services, development and administration of long distance education; development of courses upon specific requests; tutoral services; training services, technical services including ensuring compatability of IT systems; documentation management and archiving.

Contact person(s)

VUSTE ENVIS, spol. s r.o.

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VUSTE ENVIS Ltd. is accredited organisation by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic for the arrangement of vocational re-qualification training schemes in the field of

Personal management

Management of SMEs

Social-care worker in the field of the service care and basic educational care

VUSTE ENVIS Ltd. is registered in the CCR PHARE / TACIS Register in Brussels, under No. CZE – 18632, and is inserted in the database of partners of the EU Leonardo da Vinci programme and in the database of partners FEMIRC - CZ for the realization of projects on themes of energy and environment, too.

The company is the first Czech member of European network of enterprises, institutions and administrative staff – ASTER, Brussels.

VUSTE ENVIS Ltd. is the member of the programme ARGO for realization of placements and exchanges of graduates of Spanish universities abroad.

Within VUSTE ENVIS Ltd. objectives belongs activities in this areas :

international affairs, projects, programmes of development

training and re-qualification of adults

editing and publishing house

economic, law and organisational consultancy

marketing, commercial and distribution centre

printing office, reprography

energy saving - measurement and planning, environment

Contact person(s)

Český helsinský výbor (Czech Helsinki Committee)

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Czech Helsinki Committee is a non-governmental human rights organization based in Prague, member of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (http://www.ihf-hr.org). Mission and foci: Monitoring of human rights in the Czech Republic (legislation and practice), advocacy and counselling, training, and human rights related information services. Programme areas: * criminal justice, penitentiary and post-penitentiary systems, police; * equal opportunities and labour market (women, disadvantaged target groups; special focus : discrimination, re-integration, flexible working); * integration policies and programmes for foreigners with long-term residency in CR; * social rights and social policies (specific targer group: senior persons); * ICT in human rights and social services / NGO sector.

Contact person(s)

MOPPS DP