On 6 and 7 December 2021, all the partners of the Let Women Choose project finally met in person in Tallinn in Estonia, guests of the Eesti People to People partnership.
In fact, due to the Covid-19 emergency, after the first meeting held in Italy at the headquarters of the Service Coop coordinator, the partners had held all the meetings in virtual mode.
Tallin welcomed us under the snow in a very nice and welcoming Christmas setting.
During the morning of December 6, we reported on the communication and dissemination activities carried out during the project and on the results that emerged as well as the expected impact of the project.
All the partners expressed their satisfaction with the work done and the results obtained, which form the basis for the development of a future project that can also represent a continuity of this project.
In the afternoon we visited ENUT – women’s umbrella organization (Eesti Naisuurimus-ja Teabekeskus (The Estonian Women’s Studies and Resource Center), at the University of Tallinn.
ENUT – acronym for Eesti Naisuurimus- ja Teabekeskus (The Estonian Women’s Studies and Resource Center) – is a grassroots, non-profit, non-governmental organization open to the public. It was registered in April, 1997. The Center, located at the Tallinn University, is the first women’s resource center in Estonia and it includes a specialized library on women’s and gender issues.
ENUT’s aim is to promote better understanding of human rights and the democratic process by encouraging gender equality, co-operation between men and women in all aspects of life, and the empowerment of women.
The meeting with ENUT was led by ENUT leader Reet Laja. During the meeting the objectives and results of the project and the theme of female entrepreneurship were examined.
In the second part of the afternoon the partners visited the old town of Tallinn.
On the morning of the second day, we visited the central office of the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund (Eesti Töötukassa), where guests exhibited the career services provided by the Estonian PES and their supportive role in making career-decisions and the Business Start- Up Subsidy and its supportive measures (enriched with success-stories and examples).
Eesti Töötukassa was founded in 2001 to administer unemployment benefits. Since May 2019, it has also been organizing labor market services that help the unemployed find a new job. Eesti Töötukassa is a quasi-governmental organization and a legal person under public law. It carries out its business independently of the government, but on the basis of a mission and operational rules defined by law. Among its services: Business start-up subsidy; Career services; Coaching; Training; Counseling services; Work practice; Apprenticeship; and so on.
In the afternoon, the partners visited the Career Center, where President Epp Eomois – EENA, President of BPW Estonia, gave a presentation on women in entrepreneurship in Estonia. A discussion with all participants followed.
The Estonian Association of Female Entrepreneurs (EENA) was founded on 11 November 1992. Its goal is to help establish contacts between competent women and women leaders in their field, exchange ideas and opinions and implement joint action plans and preserve the club’s traditions.
There are eight clubs in Estonia with more than 130 members. There is also an EENA youth section with members from all clubs. Each EENA club is unique, with a different dimension and history.
EENA has been a member of BPW International since 1993. Since then, the international name of EENA BPW Estonia has been used.
BPW International (International Federation of Business and Professional Women) is an influential international network of business and professional women from nearly 100 countries in 5 continents with Consultative Status at ECOSOC/United Nations. Founded in 1930, BPW International develops the professional, leadership and business potential of women on all levels through mentoring, networking, skill building and economic empowerment programs and projects around the world.
The meeting was truly a valuable opportunity to capitalize on the results achieved, lay the foundations for the creation of future collaborations and ensure the sustainability of the project even after its conclusion.
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LET WOMEN CHOOSE! 