Project financed by: European Commission - Directorate General V Third System an Employment   The business of being a woman   1. Project description   The project intends to create a network of some experiences in self-organization of economic initiatives having a social value, which were started within women's associations, in order to address the issue of social integration, equal opportunities, women's employment and visibility of their knowledge and skills. Among these experiences those based on an organizational model still unexplored in the Italian context are particularly significant: the management of spaces where social aggregation is possible as well as the production of flexible services, opportunities to create incomes and jobs, social visibility and cultural contribution by those women who run the risk of being marginalized. These experiences catch the interest of the Local Authorities which are particularly alert to the gender viewpoint and the enhancement of social citizenship, intending to innovate social policies in the current crisis of the welfare state. To carry on these experiences, named Intercultural Centres for the creation of economic and social opportunities, we need to make an effort in focusing innovatory models for its organization and management, and for strategies of relationships with the local development context. To this aim we will carry out a research/action on the Intercultural Centre Alma Mater in Turin and 15 mentoring seminars in two Italian regions: Emilia Romagna and Tuscany. In the second stage, on the basis of the results of the research in Turin, we envisage experimenting patterns/processes which have had a positive impact on the creation of income, employment and services for the improvement of life quality. Also planned are some transnational training sessions which will be organized as a Summer university course.   2. Goals and expected results   Opposing the trend towards social disintegration and exclusion by enhancing initiatives of social and economic self-organization by women. Developing, within these associations, the management of valuable services in terms of social exchange, proximity services (i.e.: personal assistance) for the building up of support networks, cultural mediation and conflict resolution. Meeting the increasing demand for "empowerment", coming from women, in allocating public resources. Creating an operational network among some experiences that are working in Europe for the setting up of Intercultural Centres by women's associations for the development of a new economy. Highlighting the strategic model of the Intercultural Centre through the definition of a pattern and organizational and management strategies. Strengthening, by means of participated investigation tools, the organizational model of the Intercultural Centre, its development processes and the economic initiatives already completed. Identifying the models that have had an economic impact in terms of employment. Supporting the local authorities that have already allocated resources to this line of projects. Organizing 15 mentoring seminars for the local women's groups, organized drawing on the model of the Centre in Turin. These seminars are a form of participated mentoring and support for the implementation of projects identified by local groups.   3. Project phases   Research/action on the experience of Alma Mater in Turin. It is a participated research on the experimentation already started in the management of the Intercultural Centre Alma Mater in Turin. Organization of mentoring seminars: 10 in Tuscany and 5 in Bologna, for associations of women, having the same goals as Almaterra's. The seminars are a participated way to mentor and monitor the implementation of the projects that these local groups have focused on. The members of Almaterra will take part in these seminars as lecturers/experts to transfer their views on good practices and procedures. Animation and experimentation, building on the results of the research made in Turin, of patterns/processes that have had a positive impact on the creation of income, employment and services to improve the quality of life. In this stage the local groups of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna will be involved. Organization of two transnational training sessions which will be planned as a Summer university course. Capitalization and dissemination of the results.   4. Partners   - Intercultural Centre Alma Mater from Turin - Municipality of Turin - Piedmont Regional Authority - Municipality of Florence - Tuscan Regional Authority - Unicoop Tuscany/Lazio - UCODEP/Movimondo from Arezzo - Association "Donne in Movimento" (Women on the move) from Bologna -"Casa delle donne per non subire violenza" (Women's home for opposing violence) from Bologna - ISI - Municipality of Bologna   - Adel from France - Seies from Portugal   5. Duration   The project has a 22 months' duration and will be completed in September 1999.