"Active Mom" project makes it easier for unemployed mothers to (re)enter working life

The aim of "Active Mom", as the project is called, is to strengthen and consolidate the participants' ability to operate independently and confidently in the job market. The different cultural and socio-political backgrounds as well as the opportunities of the labor market are explained. At the same time, the expectations, special needs and requirements of the participants, including their respective family situations and the care of their underage children, are also taken into account.

"I think it is particularly important that both FAW and MainArbeit encourage participants to be open to non-traditional jobs," comments Martin Wilhelm, Head of Social Affairs for the City of Offenbach. These can include sectors in which women tend to be underrepresented, such as the skilled trades or the security sector, or newer, innovative sectors such as the environmental industry.

FAW seminar leader Rosalie Beyer also encouraged Michalina Neumann (name changed) to be creative in her choice of future career path. Born in Poland in 1981, Michalina came to Germany as a child. After graduating from secondary school, she looked into the training market and began training as a hairdresser. For personal reasons, she was unable to complete the course. However, due to the knowledge she had acquired and her natural ability to deal with people, she worked in the hairdressing trade for a long time and wanted to intensify her contact with people, which is very important to her. Initially, she thought of supporting young people or young adults and volunteered to help the homeless.

At the same time, Michalina completed a ten-month training course in the field of everyday support and care assistance. Everyday companions work with people who are mentally and emotionally challenged. This enabled Michalina Neumann to learn how to offer her care recipients qualified support to help them cope with everyday life. The focus here is on support, activation and meaningful activities. Everyday companions who assist people with dementia on an outpatient basis or in retirement and care facilities in their personal environment require basic knowledge of the disease, housekeeping and care of the elderly as well as good communication skills. A high degree of empathy, creativity, flexibility and patience are also required. All of this is also very important to Michalina Neumann when working with her clients. It also quickly became apparent that she is very good at supporting those affected in their everyday activities and improving their quality of life.

Accompanied by Rosalie Beyer, Michalina Neumann has tested herself in the areas of school support and assisted living since joining "Active Mom" in January 2022. As the offers for sustainable employment in this area were not possible, Michalina Neumann and Rosalie Beyer developed alternative application strategies in consultation with MainArbeit, which led them to the city and district of Offenbach's disability support services. At the Wilhelm-Thomin-Haus in Rödermark, the management of the facility offered Michalina Neumann the opportunity to work shadowing in order to find out whether a lateral entry as a care worker for the 18 residents of the new home, which was built in 2017, was possible. Everyone involved quickly came to an agreement and an employment contract was signed from July. Michalina Neumann is looking forward to the fulfilling full-time professional challenge. Behindertenhilfe in Stadt und Kreis Offenbach e.V. has gained a committed, creative and empathetic new employee for its home in Rödermark and the residents of Wilhelm-Thomin-Haus a competent contact person and supporter.