Silvia Gašparovičová awarded certificates to graduates in Kežmarok

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This is a pilot project of the Foundation being accomplished in colaboration with the PTCH Echo education centre in Kežmarok and its first part was carried out from 25 October 2004 to 10 March 2005. In the course of the training, the participants, mostly unemployed and disabled women, were trained in social communication, PC skills, PC accounting, language skills and operation and business management. The certificates were given to those who passed written exams and produced and presented business plans. Silvia Gašparovičová listened to the fifteen business plans presented by all the participants with amazing enthusiasm. Having made a thourough analyses of the situation in the region of Kežmarok, they want to make businness mainly in tourism, catering and wedding services, office equipment sale, healthy food sale, dressmaking and clothing repairs. Though these women are aware of the difficult situation in the region of Kežmarok, one of the regions with the highest rate of unemployment in Slovakia, they decided to have a try.

Therefore, the project has not finished once the certificates have been delivered. The purpose of its second part is a professional training at a training course that will be arranged in the First Public Academy by the Silvia Gašparovičová Foundation. For three months, the participants will be learning business practical details under the supervision of professional trainers. In the course of the following one-year period, these women and their involvement in the working process will be monitored for the purpose of advising or professionally assisting them in their business activities.

The approach chosen by the First Lady and her coleagues is unique in that it deals with the physically or socially handicapped who not only have received professional training, but who will also be assisted when getting involved in the working process.

Other educational courses will be following this project that proved to have been successful and useful, and their subjects will vary according to the market demand. The second course is supposed to be concerning with tourism and regional development, however depending on financing.