Stay ahead! Parenthood is no time-out

The project 

The decision to found a family along with the interruption of the carreer isolates many women as well as men from employment in their professions. Single mothers and fathers suffer most from this situation. Many parents seeking re-entry into the job market following a period of parenting are confronted with a multitude of problems.

The desire for part-time employment often reveals itself as a hurdle to employment in general. Further obstacles include an incompatible time-rythym and a growing distance to the field of profession. Yet another barrier is the fast moving development and change witnessed in industry, business and service sectors, making knowledge updates in ever-decreasing time increments by professionals crucial. 

The qualification project “Stay ahead! Parenthood is no time-out” was targeted at parents still in the parenting phase wishing to direct their energies to their re-entry into the workplace. Classes were held mornings in order to insure harmony and compatibility with parental responsibilities. The content of the qualification targeted the updating of existing knowledge and the obtaining of new qualification of heightened effectiveness in the profession. It is composed of qualification modules and contains the subjects communication, organisation, marketing and computer applications.

The participants were able to complete the qualification thereby obtaining the certification to „office manager Kolping Academy". Social pedagogical counseling and assistance were offered which included, for example, assistance in life-planning as well as in the preparation of job applications.

Kolping Training Centre
Schwäbisch Gmünd

Contact person
Patricia Hagenbach, head of Training Centre
patricia.hagenbach@kolping-bildungswerk.de 

EU Funding Programme
ESF Objective 3

Sum of Funding
38.895,-- €

Period of Funding
26.01.2004 - 31.12.2004