Empowering Women: A Lifetime of Career Support

1. THE “WOMEN’S CAREER FOR A LIFETIME” PROJECT OF THE AWCDH I. THE ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN'S CAREER DEVELOPMENT IN HUNGARY (AWCDH) FOUNDED IN 2003 OUR GOALS - to help promote women’s equality • by working with and fostering the cooperation between organizations dealing with women’s issues • by taking an active role in the formulation of a common platform • and helping to promote equal opportunities for women • active in all major sectors of life; - to advance the dialogue • between legislation, government, the profit and non-profit spheres, higher education, and all potential stakeholders of AWCDH • in order to meet economic, social, cultural and educational challenges. - Representation of the interest of special women’s groups as employees such as: • integration of fresh graduates into the labour market • inclusion and/or continued employment of women returning from maternity leave • support of the careers of women above 50 • improving employment chances of women with disabilities. • women’s employment in the ICT sector.

2. Our objectiveshave been defined in the combined spirit of • the national development goals, • the laws on equality, • EU directives, • the corresponding UN Strategies and Recommendations, • and European Employment Strategy.  • the corresponding UN Strategies and Recommendations, • and European Employment Strategy, • promotion of Euro-Atlantic integration. WE ADOPTall positive foreign best practices within a Hungarian framework WE ARE GOING TO PRESENT exemplary Hungarian practices abroad by utilizing our networkwithin the European Union and the United Nations WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY to cooperate in the work of UN/ECOSOC as the first Hungarian NGOwith “Special consultative statuswith UN-ECOSOC”, gained in 2009.This circumstance makes our cooperation in the fields of European relationsand global issues like gender equality, women’s rights and women’s employment more effective.

3. THINK TANK •The dedicated members of AWCDH, well trained professionals in their respective fields, are putting their knowledge and expertise in the service of the goals set by the Association. •A Forum of knowledge transfer with the participation of organizations interested in an increase in employmentand the realization of gender equality (EU, government, economic and non-profit sector, scientific sphere, media) as a basis for an increase in women’s employmentand a more characteristic representation ofgender equality, thus contributing to the expansion of the labour market, its greater effectiveness, and the strengthening of economic competitiveness. • The AWCDH formulates and publicizes its views regarding women’s employment on Hungarian, EU and UN levels.

4. OUR STRATEGIC PROJECTS Foundation of the following Awards “Best Workplace for Women Award” since 2007 – yearly “Award for Women’s Equality” since 2007 – yearly “Local Governments for Equality Award” – 2005 Organization of 30 International Conferences Websites in Hungarian and English http://www.noikarrier.hu http://www.magyarnok.hu http://www.legjobbnoimunkahely.hu http://www.marciusafogyatekossaggalelonoke.hu http://www.womenscareer.org http://www.hungarianwomen.nethttp://www.bestworkplaceforwomen.com http://www.marchfordisabledwomen.com http://www.diversity.hu Expert activities and presentations

5. OUR ORGANIZATION 90members (yearly max. 5 candidates are awarded membership) 7 board members Articles Association: www.womenscareer.org Representation in all regions of Hungary International representations: EU, UN USA, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, UK, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Israel. Chapters: Local governments and Regional Development, Youths, Ageing, Disabled, Education, Corporate, Media, Sport, Culture, Health, Tourism, International Relations. Tom Lantos Memorial Committee

6. II. THE “WOMEN’S CAREER FOR S LIFETIME” PROJECT OF THE AWCDH SINCE 2009 Background: since 2009 Contacts with OWN Europe at the UN in NYC Board membership of Andrea Ferenczi since 2010 Participation of AF in AGE Employment Expert Group Rationale for the Project: Demographic ageing is a major problem all over the world, but in Hungary the situation is especiallyserious.The proportion of older people is growing, and the state of their health is poor. However, since the life expectancy of women outstrips that of men, it is of paramount importance that we draw the awareness of women to the need to continue living active and healthy lives. After all, not only must they look after themselves, but generally, they are also responsible for the health of their families as well.

7. Our Aims: To raise awarenessof the need to support participation of women above 50 in the labor market and to call attention to the importance of the role of older women in the family as well, because these women, popularly called the “sandwich generation”, must continue to care for their children on the one hand, and their parents and grandchildren on the other. Through our work in the domestic as well as the international arena we have gained assurance that we must do everything in our power to enhance the lives of women above 50 not only with respect to employment, but other fields as well, such as lifelong learning, knowledge transfer, health, life in the rural environment, art, culture, business and social services, the role of the media in promoting women’s lives, IT, victimization, and so on. In order to achieve these goals we are working in close cooperation with the Older Women Europe network. To learn best practices, exchange of experiences: The AWCDH has relevant domestic as well as international experience. We have ongoing cooperation with Older Women Europe and AGE Platform Europe, as well as Slovakian and Polish NGOs in order to help ensure equal opportunities and to help expand the activity opportunities of elderly women. To strengthen the general understanding, approach, acceptance and inclusion between participants coming from different countries to our events, who will subsequently popularize and make use of the information gained at the conferences in their respective countries and closer communities through both formal and informal channels.

8. The Themes: Employment, lifelong learning, the situation of rural women, cooperation between generations and communities, the importance of preserving women’s wellbeing, health, women’s self-care, sustainable lifestyles, life values, family models, the role of the media. Our Tools: Extensive Cooperation and Task Force: We welcome -women and men of all ages who wish to prepare consciously for a longer, healthier, and more meaningful life. -following stakeholders and sectors: Government, Parliament, local governments, NGOs, media, universities and colleges, commercial and agricultural chambers, corporations, trade unions, employees, rural and regional organizations, professional and tourist organizations, researchers, experts, farmers, producers, diplomats, doctors, artists, social workers and institutions, employment experts, EU and UN experts, as well as other interested in these topics from Hungary and abroad. Our Best Workplace for Women Award ensuring direct corporate network

9. Events We have so far organized the following international conferences in the frame of the“Women’s Career for a Lifetime” Project: In 2014 “International Cooperation for Women Above 50” Conference organized in cooperation with OlderWomen’s Network (OWN), Europe within the frame of the “Women’s Career for s Lifetime” Project of the AWCDH on 31 May 2014 in the Rubin Wellness & Conference Hotel, Budapest. in 2013 • European Cooperation for Women Above 50 – Lessons learnt during the “EU-2012 Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations” on 7 March 2013 in the Rubin Wellness & Conference Hotel, Budapest in 2012 – organized in honor of the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations: • Indian Summer Gathering, Consultation on Progress: Older Women’s Issues in the UN and the EU Women’s Career Club Meeting in the Rubin Wellness & Conference Hotel, Budapest on 22 September 2012; • “Health, Beauty, Security” international conference held on 28 June 2012 in the Rubin Wellness & Conference Hotel, Budapest; • “Women’s Careers for a Lifetime”, a joint conference of the AWCDH and the Figyelő (Observer- Business weekly) as well as the Családi Lap (Family Magazine) held on 28 March, 2012 in the Budapest Hilton Castle Hill. in 2009-2010 • “Women’s Careers above 40 and 50” International Conference held on 20 November, 2010 in the Gerbeaud House, Budapest; • “Women’s Career for a Lifetime” International Conference held on 21 May, 2009 in the Hungarian Parliament. Workshops, trainings, consultations – ongoing Education of the Media a network with journalists specializing on economic and women’s issues Employee recommendation for our partners

10. Our accomplishments: About 700 participants in our international conferences Hungarian and International Expert, Trainer and Speaker database Videos, presentations, research and surveys Operation and Development of Internet networking Strong presence in the media Introduction of AGE Platform Europe and OWN Europe in the Hungarian media Our professional network: UN:ILO, WHO, FAO, UNECE, UNESCO EU: EP: Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality AGE Platform Europe OWN Europe Polish and Slovakian NGOs In Hungary: National Assembly Committee on Employment and Labour, National Council on Ageing, Ministries, Local Governments, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungarian Labor Inspectorate, EBH - Equal Treatment Authority, National Institute for Food and Nutrition Science, Hungarian Central Statistical Office (HCSO) Demographic Research Institute, Gerontology Science Coordination Center, Faculty of Health, University of Debrecen Hungarian Scientific Association of Rural Health, Crime Prevention Department of the Hungarian National Police, Magyar Vöröskereszt (Hungarian Red Cross), MGYOSZ (Confederation of Hungarian Employers and Industrialists) Embassies

11. Corporate: BakonyiErőmű (Bakony Power Plant), BP European Business Service Centre, ELMŰ (Budapest Electric Works), FŐGÁZ (Budapest Gas Works) CISCO, Citi Bank, GE, Microsoft, Procter&Gamble, SAP, Vodafone Non-profit: SzépkorúakIdősekOtthona (Nursing Home, Süttő) Media: Axel Springer Magyarország, MediaCityMagyarország Ringier Publishing Hungary Sanoma Media Budapest Hungarian Public MR1 Kossuth Rádió Hungarian Public TV Channel M1 TV2 commercial TV

12. As a result of our efforts of the past 10 years,by long term strategic thinking and hard work we have ensured that our stakeholders, including the mediashould appreciate our cooperation and working relation and consider usas a reliable and credible professional source of informationon women’s and older women’s employment issues. Mrs. Andrea Ferenczi Boardmember of OWN Europe President of theAssociationforWomen's CareerDevelopmentin Hungary UgronGábor u. 28., H-1118 Budapest, Hungary Phone: +36 1 319 5245 • Mobile: +36 30 982 7093 • Fax: +36 1 319 2017 E-mail: ferenczi@t-online.hu

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