Exclusion in transport is one of the causes of poorer quality of life of residents of rural areas, mainly in two groups: lower secondary school and elderly people. This is because they have no transport of their own or no access to public transport, or a driving license. The Government Bus Transport Development Fund has not resolved this problem, and municipal authorities have used only 6% of the allocated funds.
The aim of this project is to reduce transport exclusion of the elderly, ill, and people who are alone, in small towns and villages in two rural municipalities: Żary in the Lubuskie voivodship, and Postomino in the Zachodniopomorskie voivodship.
We will create a transport services center in these two municipalities. We will develop a model for operation of an elderly transport coordination office (needs diagnosis, eligibility policies, recruitment, placing orders for services, reimbursement of fares, and the responsibilities of the center operator). We will conduct a broad awareness and recruitment campaign, and provide training on voluntary work and safe transport for persons to provide those services as volunteers. We will start transport services (three routes are envisaged for each person in need in a month at each center).
We will invite elderly persons who are excluded from transport to training on self-advocacy (forms of social participation, a civic resolution initiative, meetings with authorities) and, working with them, devise a strategy for self-advocacy activities.
Due to this innovative service, we will reduce exclusion from transport for 60 elderly persons in two rural municipalities: Żary and Postomino. 30 elderly people will receive self-advocacy training, and 60 will be included in community activity.
The partner, Postomino Association Better Together, will be in charge of conducting the activities in the Postomino municipality.