Setting up a mobility department - Emmaüs International

Key areas

Education

Region/country

THE CONTEXT OF YOUR INITIATIVE

In 2007, the Emmaus friends’ committee in Ruffec, France, set up a ‘Solidarity Mob’. Over the past few years, this project has enabled us to acquire some ten scooters and a buggy that doesn’t require the driver to have a licence.

These vehicles are rented to users who are referred by the town’s social services. They enable them to take up a job or training course, and also breaks their isolation.

In 2016, the project was completed when a solidarity driving school was set up so that users with learning, social or financial problems can obtain a driving licence: they learn the rules of the road, take driving lessons with personal support and other arrangements are made for them that would not be possible in a traditional driving school.

THE ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT AS PART OF YOUR INITIATIVE

• ‘Solidarity Mob’ – when the project was launched, a repairs workshop was set up. It’s now run by a member of the organisation’s staff. This rental service benefits some 60 people of all ages (from 16 to 54 years old) every year.

• ‘Solidarity driving school’ – this recently-opened school (3 January 2017) currently offers lessons on the rules of the road to 8 people and driving lessons to 1 person.

WHO IS INVOLVED FROM OUR GROUP?

Under the remit of the board and committee:

• Ilham Bouhadjar : Chair
• Julien Gendreau: Director
• Yves Gillet: Director of Education
• Christine Poiret: Teacher
• Charlotte Gallard: Future job

WHICH PARTNERS ARE YOU WORKING WITH ON THIS INITIATIVE?

Photos

2007: the ‘Solidarity Mob’ fleet was set up

•t2014: acquisition of a buggy that doesn’t require a permit rn•t2016: engineering work made it possible to set up the solidarity driving schoolrn•t3 January 2017: the driving school opened for its first pupils

16 February 2017: Emmaus R￬’s solidarity driving school was inaugurated. At the time, it offered classes on the rules of the road to 8 people.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

These two projects have enabled numerous people to get back into employment or training, or look for a job. It has also often enabled people to pass their driving test so they now have a means of moving around.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANY INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR INITIATIVE?

WHAT ARE YOUR PROSPECTS?

The mobility department created by Emmaus Ruffec is a response to the difficulty in moving around in the local area. There’s barely any public transport:
Only one bus travels to the main town Angouleme 3 times a day,
In a few months’ time, the high-speed trains to Bordeaux and Paris may no longer stop at Ruffec.
Facilitating mobility in the area of North Charente is important because it is very hard to get around.