In certain regions in the EU-countries, the living standards remain quite low and the rate of unemployment among older people and especially women is very high. The working opportunities for women 50+ in these areas are limited to the production of local, traditional products and to the disposal of these products only to visitors of their region. Many of these products are based on traditional recipes with exclusive use of local materials.

The aims of the project are to support women 50+ to take part in training activities in order to keep producing their products in the same traditional way, but according to EU legislation and to promote them to a wider market through e-commerce.

The objectives of the proposal include support of the development and adaptation of innovative ICT –based content, services, pedagogies and practices for lifelong learning through promoting the training materials, and delivering training in order to raise the competence level of the target group. These will be achieved through adaptation of training materials and piloting them, on the following topics:

• Organization of the production of local, traditional products in harmony with the conditions and limitations set by the EU as far as production, conservation and packaging are concerned.
• Organization of the procedures for e-commerce distribution so that the market will expand from local to national and European level.
• Provision of information to women on the procedures and requirements necessary for their products to be characterized as biological.

Expected results

• Decrease of unemployment among the sensitive target group of women 50+, of underdeveloped regions and/or with minority origin, at their majority with low educational level.
• Upgrading of their economic & social status.
• Preservation of traditional production of local products.
• Promotion of local traditions to inhabitants of other parts of the country or Europe.
• Production of products according to EU legislation and for biological products
• Limitation of internal migration of people coming from underdeveloped regions.
• Increase the possibility of employability for the younger members of local societies through these activities