Project duration: April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2028
Program: Interreg Danube
Lead partner: Heart of Slovenia Development Center
Partner countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, Moldova
Total project budget: €2,797,748.00, with approved ERDF funding for DCHS of €227,312.00
What is ELEVATE?
The ELEVATE project is an international project that brings together 17 partners from 11 countries in the Danube region and 13 associated partners. In Bulgaria, we are a main partner. Slovenian partners include the Municipality of Sevnica and the Amabilis Institute for Social Gerontology, while associated partners from Slovenia are the Ministry for a Solidarity Future and ZRC SAZU.
The main objective of the project is to cultivate strong cooperation between the public, private, and civil sectors in order to create more inclusive communities in the respective countries. Particular attention is paid to the active participation of older people and people with disabilities in community life, thereby reducing the pressure on social security systems facing challenges such as ageing, migration and climate change.
As part of the project, together with the partners we will develop solutions for inclusive development through a bottom-up co-creation process with the most affected people – under the motto “nothing about us without us.” Older people and people with disabilities will be actively involved in developing solutions that will improve their access to services and strengthen their participation in society. At the same time, local businesses will contribute to the development of socially responsible programs. The solutions will be piloted in 12 territories in the Danube region, including in Bulgaria in villages that are part of our partner network with Baba Residence.
The project brings together a variety of organizations, companies, and people from vulnerable groups. We will create solutions that will benefit the entire community. Through awareness campaigns and public events, we aim to engage the wider public and encourage inclusive development.
The aim of all partners is to support communities in the Danube region in becoming more sustainable and better prepared for future challenges through the ELEVATE project (multi-level governance for inclusive communities). Creating inclusive and accessible communities is key to a fair transition to a green and digital economy from which no one is excluded.
Project participants will also support the development of sustainable development plans to be used by local communities in the coming years. In this way, we aim to achieve long-term, positive change for all residents of the Danube region.
Contact: Yoana Stoyanova / communicate@ideasfactorybg.org
This project is made possible by the Interreg Danube Region Program and is co-funded by the European Union.
Cover photo by Yoana Shopova / an artist part of our Baba Residence in 2023 and 2024.