BoostBal: Boosting Gender Equality in Work/Life Balance

ongoing

Gender-based discrimination intersects with the challenges faced by women after maternity. BoostBalance is a multifaceted initiative aimed at promoting gender equality in work-life balance by addressing gender stereotypes together with companies and individuals, empowering men to take on caregiving responsibilities, encouraging women to undertake a work-life balance path for their future professional careers, and advocating for policy changes in workplace laws and regulations. The common tool that ties all these actions together is pro bono (skills-based volunteering), as a social innovation tool to encourage the society to get involved in this societal challenge. With a European perspective, we focus on Bulgaria, France, and Spain. The project's background underscores the need to confront discrimination experienced by women after maternity, despite existing legal protections. Various studies confirm the relevance of this issue and the imperative for an empowering project. BoostBalance fosters interaction and collaboration among all target audiences, including women in care, parents, businesses, NGOs, and the wider community. We recognize that addressing the gender gap in care requires the active participation of multiple stakeholders and the creation of a collaborative environment where gender equality is promoted and entrenched gender stereotypes are challenged. By engaging stakeholders, including policymakers, enterprises, men, and the general public, the project seeks to build momentum towards a more equitable and supportive environment for all individuals to thrive personally and professionally. Our organizations possess extensive experience in managing volunteers and pro bono specialists, as well as established relationships with NGOs. As we expand the project's reach, we aim to create a broader impact, promoting gender equality and addressing gender discrimination across Europe.