YOUTH & COMMUTE - A structured approach for increasing the mobility of marginalized youth

<< Background >>We applied for this project because we live in a time where chronic diseases, air pollution, and climate change, exacerbated by car-centric cities, are growing concerns. The biggest killers, such as ischemic heart disease and cancer, disproportionately affect economically disadvantaged and socially excluded groups, and sedentary lifestyles contribute significantly to these issues. Numerous studies have shown that regular physical activity, such as cycling, reduces cardiovascular disease risk, making cycling a critical component of healthier, more sustainable lifestyles. The European Union’s policies, including the European Green Deal, prioritize green transport, making this an ideal time to promote cycling.However, bicycle use remains low in some regions, particularly among migrants and refugees, with women from these backgrounds cycling even less. This project addresses the lack of mobility, road safety literacy, and social inclusion for these marginalized groups. By providing knowledge and skills for safe cycling, we can enhance their mobility, reduce social exclusion, and offer new employment opportunities in the growing cycling sector, contributing to green transport and economic inclusion.<< Objectives >>The main aim of the project was to increase access to bicycles by providing marginalized youth with the skills, knowledge, and motivation to become daily bike commuters. Through research, we identified the barriers preventing these groups from cycling and developed a program to address these gaps.By implementing the project, we achieved the following:1. Youth workers and social professionals gained the ability to create tailored approaches for improving road safety literacy, particularly for vulnerable groups. They joined a transnational network of professionals offering innovative solutions and promoted green transport for better health and environmental outcomes.2. Young migrants, refugees, and marginalized youth benefited from access to cycling information and support for safe road behavior. They improved road safety literacy, learned the benefits of green transport, enhanced their health, acquired bike maintenance skills, and acted as ambassadors for green mobility.3. Partner organizations established lasting cooperation by setting up an NGO to serve economically marginalized communities beyond the project’s timeline.<< Implementation >>In the project, we implemented several key activities to ensure its success:a) Transnational Meetings: We held 3 transnational meetings to ensure clear communication, task delegation, and the integration of diverse perspectives from all partners. These meetings established mechanisms for remote collaboration, continuous monitoring, evaluation, and conflict resolution, guided by partner agreements and Erasmus+ regulations.b) Local Working Groups: We formed Local Working Groups to carry out activities at the local level, contributing to the development of project results and increasing project visibility within communities.c) Tangible Project Results: We developed the following project outcomes:-The Fix & Ride Toolkit of Resources with 30 videos and 20 info-graphics available in 10 languages,-The Equip & Empower In-Service Training Programme, a handbook ob 192 pages-Two Online Portals,-And the establishment of an NGO.d) Learning, Teaching, and Training Activities: a Training for staff and youth workers and a Mobility of Young People: We organized a training event where youth workers received transnational hands-on training, and a youth exchange where target group members shared experiences and participated in an awareness campaign during European Mobility Week.e) Ongoing Dissemination: We promoted the project through local and international dissemination activities, including face-to-face meetings, online conferences, and a social media campaign.<< Results >>1) Innovative user-friendly Fix & Ride Toolkit of Resources (Project Result 1) to increase the mobility of marginalized youth by equipping them with knowledge, skills and attitudes, with which they are able to have access to low cost mobility and opportunities for social inclusion. 2) Equip & empower Training Programme - a comprehensive handbook targeted to youth workers, social work specialists and non-formal educators.3) Two User-friendly Online Portals to provide a multilingual and online interactive platform to enable the fullaccess to the educational resources developed for youth workers and young people.4) A non formal entity which is intended to function as part of the regular activities of the participating organizations, thus having its own sustainability, but also building its own potential for future development.