Two large projects for entrepreneurs took place in 2011 at PAPI Ştefan cel Mare

31.01.2012

With help for RECL employees, 15 women from Ștefan cel Mare learned in 2011 how to start a business as part of the «Women entrepreneurs in the Countryside» project, financed from the Social European Fund through the SOP HRD 2007-2013 programme. Because they were having difficulties in finding a job, they did not hesitate to take part in the proposed classes, scheduled to take place at Public Access Point to Information (PAPI). They registered and then learned one step at a time: how to start up a computer, surf the web and, especially, how to start on their own, in business. “Women were very happy with the course. They learned how to create a business plan and, in the future, many said they want to open small businesses – hairdressers’, a donut’s shop or a greenhouse for flowers. A job is hard to come by in these parts, so women came with open hearts when they learned about the training. At the final exam, they came with their own projects, and the evaluators were very happy, everybody getting the maximum score”, RECL manager Gina Vasilescu explains.

At the same class, trainees learned how to get European funds and received CNFPA certificates.

MedPlaNet, the second large project

The second large project for locals in Ştefan cel Mare, in 2011, was MedPlaNet. In May, PAPI hosted a class about growing medicinal plants. The teachers were specialists of the National Institute for Research and Development in Biological Sciences. The project, called MedPlaNet, included the entire Călăraşi area and received 1,425,660 Euros financing from the European Regional Development Fund and the Romanian Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism, which was the management authority and co-financer.

The project aims to offer the Călăraşi- Silistra area a specific identity by cultivating plants which have beneficial effects on human health. Locals flocked to the courses, especially since they have a role model in this field – engineer Aurel Petruş, already an experienced grower.

After the training ended, people wanted to learn even more and researched online by themselves. „I was told the official address of the project so I showed people how to go to the site and get information on their own”, the RECL manager says.

Now that they learned, at PAPI, about the benefits of cultivating medicinal plants, locals in Ștefan cel Mare are seriously thinking to start their own businesses in organic farming. „Through these two projects we hope to increase the numbers of local entrepreneurs, as well as to diversify their fields of activity. Future productive investments will lead to an increase in production capacity, more diverse products and services for the market as well as new jobs for the members of our community”, RECL manager Gina Vasilescu sums up.

Online resources:

“FAR -Women Entrepreneurs in the Countryside”, a successful project of the Letca Nouă Community

PAPI Ştefan cel Mare teaches how to grow medicinal plants