ABOUT THE PROJECT

The project will offer a targeted support scheme in Italy, the UK, Norway, Spain, Bulgaria and Greece, to support mothers returning to employment and offering training whilst taking them on a journey of discovery. The women will recognise the skills they have developed as mothers and the project will also ensure employers become more aware of how pregnancy and child rearing enhances the skills of their female workers.

​

The learning methodology for the model will include a mix of group workshops, active learning and e-learning.  The flexibility in the delivery of the programme will ensure that learner’s needs and learning styles are being addressed.

The curriculum will undergo a pilot test in each country. Approximately 25 teachers will test the MOM programme and learn how to teach it, followed by 80 unemployed mothers who will benefit from the training. The project will commence with a Focus Group with 15 participants and findings of the reporting will be shared with policy makers and employers in both the public and private sector.

​

The Project Platform will be accessible for participants in the partner countries. As the platform will be available beyond the project lifetime (a minimum of 5 years), participants will benefit from ongoing support after the project ends.

​

At the end of the project, it is envisaged that the women participating in the project will have increased their self-confidence, acquired new skills and will recognise existing skills they have developed as mothers, thereby actively engaging in their local community and contributing to the long term sustainability of the project.

​

 

METHODOLOGY AND CURRICULUM

The MAAM curriculum has proved successful and should be considered as a basis for planning the MOM curriculum which will be discussed further at the Design meeting in the UK.

However to achieve the goal of targeting unemployed women, the project must adopt innovative training materials and methodologies coming from different countries, some previously developed by different project partners. This will combine innovative products with a new integral and comprehensive methodology to be used in the training programme. The methodology will allow users to gain all the necessary competences, to support them to find suitable work whilst supporting them to realise their existing soft skills.

 

The methodology will include:

​

• A set of learning materials accessible through the online portal of the project.

• A methodology addressed to provide the final user with the necessary soft skills and competences to support looking for employment.

• All partner institutions have the necessary expertise and knowledge to contribute to the research and methodology.

 

​

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

​

• Training contents and tools designed to be effective in increasing competences for employment and soft skills.

• Training materials and content to support participants to recognise the skills they have developed as mothers

• A flexible platform that can be accessed anytime in order to match the needs of working mothers and mothers looking for employment.

• Breaking down stereotypes with regards to working mothers

• Spreading the word, sharing the positives of employing mothers and the extensive skillsets that they have.

​

 

OBJECTIVES

​

• The main objective of the project is therefore to boost the employability skills for women with children, mothers wishing to return to work.

• Raising awareness of the skills mothers develop during pregnancy and whilst caring for children.

• Raise awareness with employers in the public and private sector of the benefits of employing mothers returning to work.

• A 24 hour online learning platform to support the women beyond the life of the project.

Mothers are often discriminated against when applying for jobs, whether directly or indirectly and there is evidence to show that even in the 21st century, many women still have to put their careers on hold when they make the decision to have children.

​

​

EXPECTED RESULTS

​

• E-campus: development of a multilingual and interactive online platform for unemployed mothers.

• Reports on good practices in Europe and focus group in each partner country.

• Workshop for mothers: Design of training (workshop) of empowerment of unemployed mothers and strategic job search; 3-day pilot workshop with 20 participants in Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Bulgaria for unemployed mothers.

• MOM training for trainers: Preparation of trainers to disseminate the method; creation of a manual for new policies and recommendations; pilot seminar for 5 MOM teachers in the United Kingdom, Spain, Bulgaria and Greece.

• Promotion: Seminar open to the public in each country for 20 participants; round table at regional level for 150 stakeholders and key actors; final conference in Italy to raise awareness on the subject, its sustainability and continuation (participation of 200 stakeholders)