To promote equal opportunities for women and men in a changing economy . Recipe n.22 . What The creation of an office for information and advice about the existing legislation in favour of enterprise creation. The creation of an office for information, training and advice and guidance about the existing legislation in favour of enterprise creation. It is a service addressed to women who want to improve their job condition or to create a self-managed enterprise. How much The community initiative program NOW, New Opportunities for Women, has allowed the association to implement this service. The NOW program's aim is to support projects promoted by the member States of the European Union, having as an objective the promotion of Equal Opportunities, professional growth for women and women-managed enterprise creation. How The staff of the "Sportello" is partially made up of some of the experts trained during the first NOW project, which aim was to train 15 unemployed women in order to create a data bank for guidance within the labour market. At the end of their training, the 15 trainees have undergone an examination and obtained a qualification certificate for "development agent", approved by the Sicilian Region. Women approaching the "Sportello" can take an advantage from experts in economics, law and finance, two experts of professional guidance, and they have a multimedia resource centre at their disposition. The "sportello" has a totally "women friendly" approach. Why The Sportello "Eurodonna in Progress" was created in Palermo, on February 1997 by Arcidonna, a women-managed NGO promoting equal opportunities between women and men since 1996. The first experience within the framework of European Programs carryed on by Arcidonna started in 1993-94, when the first NOW project was financed. The aim of this project, having its roots into the ever growing demand for information about the changes within the labour market, the development of an enterprise culture, and the need for concrete actions in favour of women, was the creation of an office (the "Sportello") able to offer information, training, advise and guidance for women. Results From its starting day, the "Sportello Eurodonna" has welcomed more than 2.000 women and has offered expert advise and individual consultation for the creation of 53 women-managed enterprises, mostly in the sector of services to enterprises and to persons, of manufacturing, of commerce. 15 enterprise management courses (100 hours each one) directed to 150 users, were managed in Palermo and surroundings (Camporeale, Godrano) and in Alcamo (TP). Encouraged by the success obtained in Palermo, Arcidonna has opened two other offices in partnership with the Municipalities of Alcamo (1998) and Catania (1999), with the aim of spreading, throughout Sicily, this experience, supporting the professional growth of women. The staff of the two new offices was selected and trained through an activity of mentoring by the "development agents" of Palermo's "Sportello"       References for further informazion: ARCIDONNA - SPORTELLO EURODONNA VIA ALESSIO DI GIOVANNI, 14 90144 PALERMO, ITALIA TEL.: 0039 091 345799/344403 FAX: 0039 091 301650 E-MAIL: speroudo@tin.it WEB SITE: www.arcidonna.it Sportello Eurodonna presso Vigili Urbani via Madonna del Riposo - Alcamo (TP) TEL.: 0039 0924 25286 Sportello Eurodonna presso Ufficio Tempi ed Orari e Pari Opportunità del Comune di Catania Via Santa Maria del Rosario, 18 TEL.: 0039 095 322228 95124 CATANIA