1) Description of the Belarussian organization: NGO Modem.
Adress: Gorki Street 80-203
              Grodno, 230015
              Belarus Contact person: Valentina Suvorina Phone +375-152-313257
                                                         E-mail:vsuvor@oic.unibel.by

NGO Modem has branches in 3 other Belarussian towns: Volkovysk, Slonim, Lida. Modem was first registered in May 1998, registered in August 1999 and registered as a regional NGO in April 2002.

The goals of "Modem" are
a) To spread Internet technology and provide Internet training and access to general public
b) To build human networks through Internet based projects
c) To support inter-cultural projects promoting better understanding between cultures.

The organization has 63 female members and 76 male members. The board consists of 2 women and 10 men.

2) Project period
November 1^st 2003 - October 31^st 2004

Background
Grodno is situated close to the Polish border. This western part of Belarus belongs to the Baltic Sea Region which means that many views and many contacts exist with other countries in Europe. Many funds eg Interreg III B BSR( Baltic Sea Region) include Western parts of Belarus in the eligible area.
From experiences in the BalticStates and Poland we can see how important it is to know English and IT to get contacts with people and NGO:s in foreign countries.

3) Goals for project
To inform about Sweden and the EU to people visiting the Internet cafés in Western Belarus.
To educate women in English and IT and leadership to help them to be agent of changes in the society.
To establish networks between women´s NGOs in Belarus and networks in other parts of the BalticSea region.
To establish

4) Project activities
a) To build up a centre with information about Sweden at the centre in Grodno. This centre shall have information sheets and books about Sweden in Russian language and in English language. Videos with the same type of information and a computer with information of web-based info about Sweden in English and Russian
b) To spread information about Sweden at the other places of the organization in Volkovysk, Slonim and Lida.
c) To use Internet technology to spread information in networks.
d) To arrange courses in English, IT , computer basics for women.
e) To establish an electronic network, to send a Newletter.

2. FEM- Female Entrepreneurs´ Meetings in the Baltic Sea Region. Application to the Interreg III B/BSR 2004-02-27.

The FEM-project will use the experiences from networks and bilateral projects supporting women´s entrepreneurship.
Experiences will be transferred between the W-BSR-countries and E-BSR-countries and build upp strong transnational network between institutions and organizations and give the common structure. The BSR will profit by using "best practices" from the participating countries, thereby more women are encouraged and supported to become enrepreneurs.

In the project transnational networks of advicers and resource-centre leaders shall be built up. The resource centres for women will be a structure with the aim to support local and regional development by means of promoting the integration of women in the economic, social and political life with an "empowerment" methodology. The network of centres will be a consultancy and activating framework, a counselling and mentoring service, a tool for increasing knowledge and design capacity of women promoting Equal Opportunities policies.

The support of women´s entrepreneurship will include menthorship programmes and financial solutions especially for as network crediting for entrepreneurs. Another aim is to promote internationalization of businesses for the entrepreneurs joining the project e.g through e-commerce. The web-site and portal will be the key element and the core of dissemination of the FEM-project. The project will give changes in the social and istitutional structure to promote women´s entrepreneurship and maintain viable entreprises.