Improving Digital and Soft Skills for Socially Excluded Women

"<< Background >>The IDEAS4WOMEN project tackles the urgent need to enhance digital literacy among women in Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Greece. According to the DESI Index, these countries rank among the lowest in the EU for digital competencies, with only 48.4% of Cypriots, 38.9% of Greeks, and 37.7% of Bulgarians possessing basic digital skills. Women face additional barriers such as financial dependency and unemployment, limiting access to education and training.This project delivered flexible, high-quality training programs tailored to diverse needs, targeting unemployed and underemployed women, housewives, single mothers, and recent graduates aiming to enter or re-enter the workforce. By conducting in-depth research and partnering with stakeholders from education, entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and women’s advocacy, the consortium identified target group needs and provided focused training on digital and soft skills, financial literacy, and career development. These efforts aimed to enhance employability, promote inclusion, and contribute to a competitive European workforce.<< Objectives >>The IDEAS4WOMEN project aims to motivate women and other socially excluded groups to learn essential soft and digital skills needed for well-paying employment. Through this initiative, participants not only gain new knowledge but also benefit from the creation of job opportunities, enhanced social cohesion, and economic growth—not only in Cyprus, Greece, and Bulgaria but across the EU.The training courses were carefully designed to provide both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, addressing the specific needs identified during the research phase. The topics covered included ""Digital Skills, Career Guidance, Financial Literacy, and Soft Skills,"" equipping participants with the tools to succeed in a rapidly changing job market. By fostering these competencies, the project contributes to empowering individuals, reducing inequality, and promoting sustainable development within European communities.<< Implementation >>A1: Activity Details (Project website and Social Media Presence): https://www.facebook.com/ideas4womenhttps://ideas4women.euA2: Activity Details (Set up - Online Educational Platform):http://www.learn.ideas4women.eu/A3: Activity Details (Identification of Areas, Participants, and Focus Topics):A3.1: Report on the target group regarding the identification of areas, participants, and focus topics (67 responders).A3.2: Stakeholders report related to the identification of areas, participants, and focus topics (37 responders). A4: Activity Details (Development of Educational and Training Material):Educational materials were developed on the topics of ""Soft Skills, Financial Literacy, Career Guidance, and Digital Skills"".A5: Activity Details (Training Activities):A total of 16 training sessions were conducted, engaging the total number of 110 socially excluded women, combining participants from Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Greece.<< Results >>The actual outputs of the IDEAS4WOMEN project are as follows:- Conducted research via questionnaires distributed in Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Greece (2 different questionnaires regarding the target group need's and the needs of the stakeholders regarding the target group).- Analyzed responses and developed two comprehensive reports: one on the target group (67 responses) and one on stakeholders (37 responses).- Identified four key topics (Soft Skills, Financial Literacy, Career Guidance, and Digital Skills) based on the research findings and partner expertise, documented in a framework report.- Developed educational materials on these topics in English, Bulgarian, and Greek.- Uploaded the educational materials to the project website and the online classroom platform - www.learn.ideas4women.eu/ and http://www.learn.ideas4women.eu/- Promoted the materials and project results through social media platforms, the project’s Facebook page, EPALE, and the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform.- Conducted 16 training sessions were conducted, engaging the total number of 110 socially excluded women, combining participants from Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Greece."