With the financial support of the delegation of the European Commission in Ukraine, the public association "Volyn Perspectives" in 2004 will implement the project "Reducing the level of female unemployment in the villages of Kivertsivskyi district of Volyn oblast." This was reported at a press conference held on February 11, 2004. This project will operate within the framework of the program "Development of Civil Society in Selected Regions of Ukraine." In her speech, the project manager, Nina PakhomTiuk, outlined the directions of action, implementation time, and project measures. It provides for the selection by questionnaire of 50 unemployed women, their free training at workshops on the basics of running their own business, the development of business plans by them, and the creation of agro-estates. During the project's duration, a mobile advisory center will operate in Kivertsivskyi district. Lawyers, psychologists, marketers, and other specialists will be involved in its work. Local residents will be able to use the services of such a center. The project's working group, after completing special training, will create a strategic development plan for Kivertsivskyi district. In addition, a Center for the Development of Rural Green Tourism will be opened in Volyn. It will continue to operate after the project ends. Summarizing the results of the project implementation will take place in December 2004 at the Local Development Forum. Project coordinator Olena Kobrina informed those present about the phased plan for project implementation. In particular, she said: "We hope that the implementation of our project will give confidence in their own capabilities to women who have lost hope of finding work in the countryside, and the created agro-estates will become a training base for all who dream of starting their own business in the field of rural green tourism." Ruslana BovhyriaKashyna informed those present that the project "Reducing the level of female unemployment in the villages of Kivertsivskyi district of Volyn oblast" will be implemented within the framework of the European Commission's program in Ukraine, as well as about the sponsoring organization and possible ways of future cooperation. The deputy head of the Kivertsivska district state administration, Kuts Oleh, also took part in the press conference. He noted that participation in the project will bring significant improvement in the district's economic situation, will become a real school of business and will open new horizons for the development of green tourism and entrepreneurship in the countryside, and will contribute to the creation of new jobs and the employment of the population. In addition to solving the main problem of reducing female unemployment in Kivertsivskyi district, the project addresses such important issues as improving the ecological condition in the region and reviving folk crafts.