HISTORY Finnish women were the first in the world to get full political rights in 1907.

1. HISTORY • Finnish women were the first in the world to get full political rights in 1907. • The Central Association of Women Entrepreneurswas set up already in 1947 and CAWE is still one of the few central bodies of women entrepreneurs in the world. • Finnish business women were also the first in the world to form their own organization. • The founder of CAWE was Mrs Anna Mäkelä (see the picture). • Among the founders, there were also those who were the first to set up their own companies and to engage in independent businesses.

2. The CAWE • The Central Association of Women Entrepreneurs (CAWE) in Finland is an organisation looking after the interest of women entrepreneurs in operational, business and social issues. • It has more than one hundred local organisations across the country and more than 6.000 individual members. • CAWE is independent of any political parties.

3. VISION and VALUES • VISION: CAWE will be in 2010 a strongly, socially effecting, internationally networking, an independent and crowing Finnish women entrepreneurship´s intrest group. • VALUES: • Open • Careing • Compaining • Innovating

4. Aims • We aim at securing the rights and livelihood of private entrepreneurs, as well as encouraging women towards entrepreneurship. • The Central Association of Women Entrepreneurs focuses on special issues concerning women entrepreneurs, for instance, family-related and social political problems.

5. Aims • Women are showing an ever keener interest in private enterprise in Finland today. Their ambitions are being noticed and encouraged in our society. • To success in business, though, a woman needs more than society can give, she must have true dedication and long-range thinking together with a business idea that takes into proper account local competition. • The laws affecting businesses are the same for women and men, but the sectors in which women are involved are different. • This means that the social obligations and legislative issues concerning the status of women, childcare and other aspects of welfare, affect particularly a woman entrepreneur. • A business woman usually has a service enterprise employing other women.

6. Membership benefits • The Central Association of Women Entrepreneurs provides its members with an efficient channel to influence the social and political decisions and projects concerning women entrepreneurs. • The Association offers training and versatile possibilities for its´ members to develop themselves and their skills of entrepreneurship. • It stimulates and helps create an excellent network for new business relations.

7. Facts Distribution of membership by size of companies • 40 % self-employed (no employees) • 35 % > 5 employees • 11 % 5-10 employees • 7 % 11-50 employees • 6 % over 50 employees • 1 % over 100 employees

8. Facts Distribution of membership by business (2005) • 32 % Retail trade • 17 % social and personal services • 18 % business to business services • 5 % industry • 7 % hotel and catering • 3 % transportation and storage • 3 % construction • 2 % agriculture and forestry • 2 % electricity • 11 % other areas

9. The CAWE Acts • Being active in the Association gives women entrepreneurs a chance to influence upon their own lives. • The Association also provides a channel for exchanging with business colleagues ideas and expertise. • Furthermore, it gives new stimulus and new ways of thinking and encourages the members to take the challenge that working life and leisure time offer them.

10. International connections • Member of FEM - Female Europeans of Medium and small Enterprises and a correspondence member of the European Women’s Lobby • Connections to Scandinavian and European women entrepreneur associations and their unions • Communication with the European Network to Promote Women’s Entrepreneurship (WES)

11. New Board of CAWE Chairman of AWE • Kaarina Jokinen, forestengineer (H.N.C.), shareowner of logging company of Metsä-Patu Ky, Asikkala Boardmembers • Estlander, Seija, Helsinki • Gummerus, Katri, Tampere • Heikkinen, Miariikka , Kajaani • Kokko, Pirjo , Jyväskylä • Känsälä, Eija , Vaasa • Väisänen, Inkeri , Hämeenlinna • Alatalo, Marketta , Seinäjoki • Harjanne, Aila , Turku • Jönkkäri, Tarja , Pori • Korhonen, Mari , Helsinki • Leskinen, Jaana , Pieksämäki • Sjögren, Anne , Kotka Deputy members of board • Iso-Kuortti, Marketta , Lahti • Särkelä, Kaisa , Saariselkä

12. Interested in becoming a member • If you are a woman entrepreneur – whether working alone, as an employer or in a family business – and want to join an active network of women entrepreneurs, don’t hesitate to contact us • Office: YRITTÄJÄNAISTEN KESKUSLIITTO R.Y. Managing director Riitta VIHERSOLA Kaisaniemenkatu 1 Ba 74, 00100 Helsinki, FINLANDPhone 358-9-68441410 Gsm 358-400-991133 Fax. 358-9- 6844 1450 E-mail: riitta.vihersola@yrittajanaiset.fi www.yrittajanaiset.fi

13. The Chairman of the CAWE There aren´t smaller nor bigger matters, there are human factors – together we can solve everything ! ”Together we are strong!” Kaarina Jokinen Phone: 358-3-7674149, Gsm: 358-40-5728449 E-mail: kaarina.jokinen@phnet.fi www.yrittajanaiset.fi