1. EMPOWERED SENIOR CITIZENS
PROJECT CO-FINANCED BY A GRANT FROM SWITZERLAND THROUGH THE SWISS CONTRIBUTION TO THE ENLARGED EUROPEAN UNION.

2. INITIATORS

3. Co-financed amount: 74.999,60 CHF
FUNDER
The Thematic Fund for Civil Society Participation
NGO Block Grant –
Co-financed amount: ,60 CHF
Total budget: ,60 CHF

4. TARGET
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.
General objective
1. Developing the neccesary competencies and abilities in lobby and advocacy for 30 representatives of NGOs/informal groups of elderly
2. A worthy image of elderly by promoting an active and dignified ageing

5. 56 mentions in national&local Mass-Media channels
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

6. 8 seniors cafés – local debates

7. 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.

8. Seniors’ message All these reflects: Seniors message was firm:
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.

9. 2 training sessions in lobby and advocacy
BUCHAREST
June 2016
CLUJ-NAPOCA
July 2016

10. 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

11. 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:

12. - Lights and shadows in the lives of elderly -
3 photo exhibitions
- Lights and shadows in the lives of elderly -

13. 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.

14. The SENIORS’ FORUM – on 25th of April, 2017

15. The SENIORS’ PARLIAMENT establishment, an unique initiative in Romania
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND – THE FIRST COUNTRY IN EUROPE THAT HAS A SENIORS CITIZENS’ PARLIAMENT
ROMANIA – COULD BE THE SECOND COUNTRY IN EUROPE THAT HAS A SENIORS CITIZENS’ PARLIAMENT

16. At national level that will represent all regions
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

17. …to add life to years...and not years to life
At local and global level, it is important
to be an unique voice! And...
…to add life to years...and not years to life

18. Senior Citizens’ Parliament
ROMANIA

19. Thank you! Maria Crângașu Cristina Petian Ionuț Ardeleanu
Project Manager
Cristina Petian
Project Asistant
Ionuț Ardeleanu
PR&Communication Specialist