Description
In Romania the need of raising the civic participation of older persons through volunteering stimulation for this age category is a priority in the public strategies targeting older persons, but the initiatives in community are lacking . Following the objectives of raising the degree of participation for 75 seniors in volunteering activities through their training in volunteering and placing them as volunteers in community, raising the information and awareness level regarding the importance of development volunteering activities among seniors through the creation of a volunteering network in Bucharest and the improvement of public policies in this field, this project is addressing seniors, NGOs, public authorities and community, with the aim of creating a good practice model. The Norwegian partner contributes with expertise to the creation, functioning and management of the seniors volunteers network , transferring experience and know-how from Norway to the Romanian civil society.
Summary of project results
Aiming at responding to the need of raising the civic engagement of older people by promoting volunteering among seniors, the project was addressed to seniors, NGOs, public authorities and the community at large, and created a good practice model in promoting volunteering among seniors. 75 seniors were trained in the field of volunteering and activated as volunteers in 15 social institutions subordinated to Social Assistance and Child Protection Directorates (DGASPC) of districts 1, 3 and respectively 5 of Bucharest and an association working directly with the elderly (CARP Omenia). Through the project, the first Senior Volunteers' Network was created in Bucharest, with a total of 100 members. Volunteering was also stimulated by proposing improvements to public policies in the field – a local strategy to sustain volunteering among seniors was developed and will further be sustained by DGASMB (Social Assistance and Child Protection Directorate of Bucharest), in order to be adopted by Council Resolution at Bucharest level. Also, volunteering for seniors was included as a priority in the Development Strategy 2015-2020 of DGASPC district 3. At least 20 institutions (NGOs and public authorities) and 5,000 persons have been sensitized regarding the importance of volunteering at third age, through project activities.
Summary of bilateral results
The Norwegian partner, CBNRM Networking, provided their know-how and a comparative analysis (Norway-Romania) about networks of senior volunteers and volunteering in general. The intervention of CBNRM Network allowed an exchange of experience between Norwegian and Romanian institutions, contributing to the consolidation of bilateral relations. The senior volunteers’ network in Bucharest was build having as a starting point this exchange. Based on the indications offered by the Norwegian partner, the online platform
www.voluntariseniori.ro was created. The Norwegian partner attended the Senior Volunteers Network presentation seminar to local authorities, NGOs and elderly people's associations. In this context, Mr. Lars Soeftestad presented civil society and volunteering in Norway. This presentation has been of great interest for the participating organizations, and there were debates and comments on the comparative analysis of civil society and NGOs situation in Norway and Romania. Based on the good cooperation between Asociatia Habilitas and CBNRM Networking, a new project was developed and submitted for funding within the Bilateral Relations Fund of the NGO Fund - “The Senior Volunteers Network in Action: Exchange of Experience Romania – Norway”. In the framework of this bilateral exchange, a study visit in Norway has been organized with 4 Romanian participants, and thus the cooperation and exchange of good practices were further developed between entities from the two countries. A long term impact of this partnership is envisaged, as the project promoter intends to continue the collaboration with CBNRM Networking in other projects in this field in the future.