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Abandoning unemployment lists and setting up your own business motivate its 36 beneficiaries |

"It is not easy, but it is possible and we should not lose hope", with these words has encouraged this midday Juan Angel Pastor, director of the School of Telecommunication of the Polytechnic University of Cartagena, the 36 women who have started the program of technological enterprise Girl Power, sponsored by Cloud Incubator HUB, the business accelerator of the UPCT.

"It is an opportunity to meet people with qualities different from mine to be able to develop, collaborating among all, a joint business project", explains Teresa García, an engineer in industrial design and a master's degree in automotive that has registered in this initiative after " seven years without finding a job of mine.

Only sporadic jobs like free lance, "he says.

The majority of Girl Power enrollees have technical studies and business experience, aiming to create their own business.

"My goal is to be able to develop a technical tool that allows me to work from home," says naval engineer Francisca Angel, who had to leave his job for the care of his children.

"Self-employment to not have to rely on the approval of others" is the purpose of Mari Carmen Roca, who plans to set up a pet business.

"An impulse to get me" is what awaits Raquel Santos, secretary of foreign trade in long-term unemployment.

Cloud Incubator Hub has designed a comprehensive program for women with initiative and entrepreneurship, giving access to mentors and investors, networking days, business workshops and other activities that will enhance the success of entrepreneurs participating in the creation of their startups.

"I think I can do well to help in family business and to start my professional career," says UPCT's recently graduated architect Lola Jódar.

Business Proposals

Among the ideas to be developed are several projects related to electronic commerce in the field of crafts, clothing and natural cosmetics.

One of the ideas is to create a virtual forum dedicated to teaching so that teachers as well as parents can share from didactic contents to doubts related to the teaching of their children.

Another project is to create an online counseling service for clients from a traditional law firm.

One of the entrepreneurs proposes to set up a "Facebook for weddings" in which the guests can interact before the link, send pictures of the bride and groom, prepare the activities prior to the wedding and, once celebrated the event, share the experiences.

A language services agency is another proposal of one of these women entrepreneurs that with this program can participate in workshops to generate business ideas and specific courses to learn how to use applications with which to start their business.

Against the gender gap

Girl Power aims to help reduce the disparity between the number of entrepreneurs and technology professionals and their opposite sex partners.

"It is very difficult to find work.

If you have children, because they assume that it will be up to you to take care of them, and if you do not have them because they are afraid you will have them.

It does not matter if you know English, they do not call you, "complains Teresa Garcia.

"I have opportunities abroad, but my husband is not going to move," he adds.

"Being a woman and also a mother is a great impediment to being hired," confirms Francisca Angel.

"However, in some sectors, such as navigation, they begin to realize that we are more efficient and responsible," says Ana Lóez.

The program, which in its first edition will be developed until next March, has a service of expert mentors in several areas so that entrepreneurs can solve their doubts at any time.

Also, entrepreneurs will have access to funding sources and business angels that are part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the Cloud Incubator Hub.

Girl Power Murcia has the support of the INCYDE Foundation and is co-financed by the European Social Fund, with the collaboration of the Regional Service of Employment and Training of Murcia and the Agency of Local Development and Employment of the City of Cartagena.

Source: UPCT