Project ”Women’s Career Development Program” (WCDP)
During 2009-2015, “Pro Business Nord” (PBN) implements the Project “Women’s Career Development Program” (WCDP) in the North of the Republic of Moldova with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), within the grant CA # 121-A-00-09-00703-00
The program identifies, trains, and finds employment opportunities for vulnerable and disadvantaged women in the Northern part of Moldova. By the end of the project, the WCDP will empower about 700 socially-disadvantaged and vulnerable beneficiaries. Of these, at least 500 beneficiaries will be directly assisted in obtaining employment.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Goal: Development of a new social enterprise model for a sustainable Women’s Career Development Program in the Northern part of Moldova.
The “Women’s Career Development Program” is innovative because it combines two components into a whole:
Objective I: To empower at least 700 vulnerable women with the capabilities to make independent strategic life choices and improve their economic welfare
Objective II: To ensure independent and self-sustaining income generating sources, by creating and developing a new Social Enterprise, to continue the PBN’s activities in the implementation of this community-benefiting Program.
Activities for Reaching Our Goal and Objectives:
- Professional development through vocational trainings in the following specialties:
- Accountant
- Accountant-operator
- Food salesperson
- Non-food salesperson
- Computer operator
- Office manager
- Insurance agent
- Forwarding agent
- Cashier in trading hall
- Personal empowerment through Trainings for Sustainable Livelihoods (TSL). The TSL trainings consist of such components:
- Motivation
- Self-Esteem and Confidence
- Effective Communication
- Career Planning
- Conflict Management
- Constructive Criticism
- Time Management
- Stress Management
- Labor Legislation of the Republic of Moldova
- Women’s rights
- To provide information and consulting services, offer support:
- Strengthening career development skills: writing CV/Resume and intention letters, preparing for the interview with employers.
- Employment assistance: searching and providing job vacancies, referrals for employment (internship).
- Trainings in Business/NGO Start-up and Development
- Trainings of Trainers (TOT) aimed at training and certifying trainers for TSL for promoting the TSL trainings in the Northern regions of Moldova.
Training is carried out using the latest teaching methods of distance learning on e-school.pbn.org.md.
Expected Impact
The Program will empower women from the Northern regions of Moldova in developing their professional and career skills, making them more successful on the job market and in society in general.
Due to the women’s personal and professional development, their lives will change for the better. The increased motivation, self-esteem and confidence along with the gained knowledge, skills and support will bring them success both in their families and at work. Women will become less vulnerable to the unpredictable lures of migrating abroad and will be able to avoid the threats of becoming victims of human trafficking.
Such empowerment will give women the possibility to take healthy and calculated risks necessary for achieving success in their careers and lives, to attain sustainable livelihoods and improve their economic welfare, thus contributing to the economic and social development of the Northern region of the Republic of Moldova in general.