In today’s Europe, many minorities, groups or sectors of the society are facing their different and specific challenges, but none of these sectors is as wide - representing around half of the EU population- as women. Among them, there are those who are struggling to find new ways to reconcile professional and personal life in order to be able to start their own professional careers and set up their businesses. For them, it is essential to create tailored and relevant products that would help them achieve their goals. UNESCO has defined Cultural and Creative industries as the industrial reproduction and mass distribution of cultural works - going from visual and performing arts, cultural heritage, films, music, and books to design, architecture or advertising. Over the last years, and in line with “Creative Europe Framework”, this sector has emerged as a new and powerful force, with a great potential towards economic growth. And, at the same time, it is a very effective as well as attractive area for people to start their businesses. Female Entrepreneur, hence, took advantage of the above mentioned and empowered women to deviate from their established professional role models through formal, non-formal and informal educational practices and enter the entrepreneurial sector in this specific field. The project direct beneficiaries are: · Women from disadvantaged groups (living in rural areas, economically challenged, long-term unemployed) interested in becoming cultural entrepreneur · Internal and external experts and partner organisations Besides, indirect beneficiaries and project stakeholders have been: - Public Bodies (Business Bodies, Social Service departments, etc.) - International bodies active in the field of adult education and training - Cultural enterprises, tourism sector organisations and businesses, (adult) VET organisations/institutions. This project achieved four main Intellectual Outputs: IO1. Cultural Entrepreneurship Map of Europe: creation of an open education resource with a database of legislation, standards, best practices in cultural entrepreneurship within the EU. IO2. ICT Tool for (cultural) entrepreneurship competences assessment. IO3. Self- Assessment Tool of Soft Skills IO4. Online course targeting women: young and would-be cultural entrepreneurs. The project provides attractive and high-quality learning opportunities to both women entrepreneurs from disadvantaged backgrounds and educators working with them, to support them in the acquisition of soft skills and entrepreneurial competences and to ensure and maintain their participation in the entrepreneurial environment with a special focus on creative and cultural industries. The partnership developed a cross-sectorial open platform (merging concepts of cultural and creative sectors, adult education, entrepreneurship addressed to women) in an innovative and attractive educational project that would empower them set up their own businesses. Through the assessment and validation of soft and entrepreneurial competences, Female Entrepreneur designed a set of quality tools and materials that strengthen women’s self-consciousness and capacity to decide on the training paths more adequate for them. All the outputs are now available with free access in the official web of the project: https://femalentrepreneur.eu/en
The project's main objective was to provide women from disadvantaged backgrounds (living in rural areas, with economic difficulties, single mothers, etc.), who wish to establish a CULTURAL/CREATIVE ENTERPRISE, as well as aspiring or new entrepreneurs in this field and adults in general, with the appropriate support and guidance. Thus, it was intended to promote personal fulfillment during the initial stages of their entrepreneurial endeavor by improving their skills in the cultural and creative sectors using innovative approaches in training.
Women continue to face a number of problems, exacerbated by disadvantaged backgrounds (those from rural areas, with economic difficulties, single-parent families, etc.) For women who wish to start their own careers and create their own businesses, it is essential to find new ways to reconcile professional and personal life. The project focused on assistance for the creation and promotion of enterprises, especially enterprises in the CULTURAL and CREATIVE sectors of the European Union due to their power as economic engines. The tools developed and the knowledge acquired by the women entrepreneurs involved facilitate the creation and promotion of these enterprises and the possibility for them to expand and grow economically. All the skills and knowledge acquired through the training and workshops are intended to be recurrent at any time necessary because, for the women who will embark on the adventure of a new enterprise, all the support provided will be well received.