Written by Anna Maria Vouzouneraki
 Employability Officer, SolidarityNow

As an employability counselor in the “Bridging the Gap” program, I often ask myself who truly bridges the gap between women from vulnerable social groups and the labor market?

The reality is that employment opportunities are not the same for everyone, especially when certain perceived vulnerabilities based on social and labor realities, such as economic precarity or, unfortunately, gender come into play.

Despite systemic challenges and obstacles though, the answer seems to always lead back to the same place: the woman itself. She is the one who builds the bridge.

She is the one who recognizes that she needs support and dares to ask for it. She is the one who courageously shares her journey, both its bright and dark moments. She is the one who acknowledges the skills she has already acquired and seeks to enrich them by attending courses, training programs, and career days.

With every effort and guided by her own determination, she constructs the bridge she will cross. With the guidance and encouragement of her counselor, she prepares for interviews, regains confidence in her abilities, and takes the first step toward professional empowerment.

Every woman considering counseling should remember: the strength to bridge the gap lies within herself.

*This program is implemented with the support of Alpha Bank.