DimensionePsiche

Single parents, the majority of them women, often lack professional qualifications and find themselves socially isolated. The project Loxandra - Training of unskilled/semi-skilled single parents for support and entry into the labour market will offer practical training that builds on the skills already possessed by this target group in order to enhance their employment prospects. The partners, including educational institutes, women's organisations and single parents' associations, will develop a training course specially adapted to the needs of the target group and implement it on a trial basis in Cyprus. The course will have two main components: practical training in cooking and selling traditional foodstuffs, including aspects such as hygiene, safety regulations and marketing; and support measures, including confidence-building and motivation. It is intended that the training programme will lead to the setting up of a cooperative, managed by single parents, selling products made by single parents. A training manual will be produced and published in English and in Greek. Single mothers will develop professional skills and be able to take advantage of employment opportunities. The innovative methods used can be adapted to other countries and different skills.

Coordinator:

• Intercollege (Cyprus)

Partners:

• International Training Center for Women (Netherlands)
• KEK Kronos (Greece)
• Kymenlaakson ammattikorkeakoulu (Sweden)
• Ass.ne Genesis (Italy)
• Gingerbread (UK)
• Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Cyprus)
• Sociological Association (Cyprus)
• POGO Pancyprian Federation of Womens Organisation (Cyprus)
• Single Parents Association (Cyprus)

Duration of the project: 1998-2000

Financed by the European Commission, DG Education & Culture, Leonardo da Vinci Programme

Project page in the EU LdV database