EMPOWERED SENIOR CITIZENS PROIECT CO-FINANȚAT PRINTR-UN GRANT DIN PARTEA ELVEȚIEI PRIN INTERMEDIUL CONTRIBUȚIEI
PROJECT CO-FINANCED BY A GRANT FROM SWITZERLAND THROUGH ELVEȚIENE PENTRU UNIUNEA EUROPEANĂ EXTINSĂ THE SWISS CONTRIBUTION TO THE ENLARGED EUROPEAN UNION. www.institution.ro www.caritasromania.ro
INITIATORS
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FUNDER
The Thematic Fund for Civil Society Participation - NGO Block Grant – Co-financed amount: 74.999,60 CHF Total budget: 84.619,60 CHF
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TARGET General objective
Empowered Senior Citizens project, aims at increasing the capacity of elderly to actively participate in influencing decisions making process and public policies in order to create more favorable conditions for active ageing.
1. Developing the neccesary competencies and abilities in lobby and advocacy for 30 representatives of NGOs/informal groups of elderly
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2. A worthy image of elderly by promoting an active and dignified ageing
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First 12 months in numbers…
8 Seniors Cafes Events 262 participants from which:
211 active seniors, 41 representatives of local authorities, national and local media 2
Training sessions in lobby and advocacy for seniors (32 participants)
1 Flasmob moment that promoted the solidarity between generations – in Sun Plaza Mall, Bucharest, on 1st of October, 2016 – on the occasion of the International Day of Senior Citizens.
56 mentions in national&local Mass-Media channels www.institution.ro www.caritasromania.ro
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8 seniors cafés – local debates
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What are the conclusions...
The socio-economic problems have a common denominator: • Income/pensions are insufficient (therefore, at least 2 million pensioners cannot cover their expenses only with their income/pension) • Age related health problems • Lack of social and medical services (for exemple: in Copsa Mica (Romanian small industrial city) there is no hospital, the closest one being in Medias. In Cluj-Napoca (3d Romanian biggest city), the doctors assigned to public hospitals are sending the elederly pacients to private clinics to whom they collaborate, forcing the pacients to spend money from their own pocket, although they have a free health insurance, assured by the state’s tax system) • Lack of recreational and socializing spaces • A big gap between generations that causes a unwieldy communication, or even a lack of it, betwen seniors and young people, and vice versa.
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Seniors’ message
All these reflects: • Violating the rights of the elderly • The social exclusion of the elderly – they are socially marginalized, feeling useless and invisible.
Seniors message was firm: It’s important for the central and local authorities to include the needs and to use the potential of the elderly into the social services management and involve them in the the public decisions process.
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2 training sessions in lobby and advocacy
BUCHAREST June 2016
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CLUJ-NAPOCA July 2016
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Objectives of the Advocacy&Lobby sessions for active seniors • 32 seniors trained in advocacy and lobby fields – resource persons for creating the Seniors’ Parliament; • Developing skills in advocacy and lobby for better public policies that can contribute to an increase in the elderly participation to: needs assesment on local level, establishing priorities, developing strategies and local/national action plans. • A more efficient communication with the central authorities representatives (the Romanian Parliament, Line Ministries) • Prioritizing the needs and solutions to create the framework for a dignified and active aging • Identification of the 8 members of the Seniors’ Parliament www.institution.ro www.caritasromania.ro
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An unique Flashmob moment – seniors and youngsters dance together to promote the solidarity between generations
You can watch the video that promotes the flashmob by accessing the link below: http://caritasromania.ro/flashmob-intergenerational-impresionant-trei-generatii-danseaza-impreuna/ www.institution.ro www.caritasromania.ro
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3 photo exhibitions - Lights and shadows in the lives of elderly -
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Purpose of the exhibitions
The purpose of the exhibition is to rise awareness about the poverty and social exclusion of the elderly and also to draw the attention of the targeted audience on the third age generation potential through identifying and promoting positive examples of civic participation at older age. We want the photo exhibition to urge the viewers to reflect and to change the current perception and attitudes towards the elderly.
Target: Mass-Media, the academic environment, public authorities, students, NGOs’, general public.
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The SENIORS’ FORUM – on 25th of April, 2017
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The SENIORS’ PARLIAMENT establishment, an unique initiative in Romania REPUBLIC OF IRELAND – THE FIRST COUNTRY IN EUROPE THAT HAS A SENIORS CITIZENS’ PARLIAMENT
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ROMANIA – COULD BE THE SECOND
COUNTRY IN EUROPE THAT HAS A SENIORS CITIZENS’ PARLIAMENT
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THE SENIORS PARLIAMENT ROMANIA – created in November 2016 and will be officially launched in April 2017
8 members At national level that will represent all regions
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At local and global level, it is important to be an unique voice! And...
‌to add life to years...and not years to life
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Senior Citizens’ Parliament ROMANIA
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Thank you!
Maria Crângașu Project Manager
Cristina Petian Project Asistant
maria.crangasu@caritasromania.ro www.caritasromania.ro
caritas@caritasromania.ro www.caritasromania.ro
Ionuț Ardeleanu PR&Communication Specialist
ionut.ardealeanu@caritasromania.ro www.caritasromania.ro www.caritasromania.ro www.institution.ro
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