Through the Mothers Looking Ahead project we wanted to improve the educational and professional inclusion of mothers in Europe by creating sustainable learning and mentoring opportunities. Our goal was to design a motivational programme and training curriculum that empower mothers with confidence, digital and soft skills, and better access to the labour market. We aimed to provide innovative tools such as an e-learning platform, OERs, and mentoring forums, while also fostering networks and role models to reduce stereotypes. At the same time, we wanted to strengthen adult trainers and career coaches with new methods and resources to support mothers effectively. Ultimately, the project sought to increase mothers’ employability, economic independence, and quality of life, while promoting equity and inclusion at European level.
We applied for the Mothers Looking Ahead project because mothers across Europe face common challenges in accessing education, training, and the labour market. They are underrepresented in entrepreneurship, have lower employment rates than women without children, and often struggle to re-enter education, gain new qualifications, and balance work and family life. Our partnership needed to develop a European initiative to: - enhance the educational and professional integration of mothers, - empower them with confidence, self-esteem, and economic independence, - provide innovative training resources and digital learning tailored to their needs, - create networking and mentoring opportunities to reduce stereotypes and support career growth, - strengthen adult trainers, tutors, and career coaches to better guide mothers. The project addressed these needs in a sustainable way, combining research, curriculum development, digital tools, mentoring, and wide dissemination.