“The future belongs to the young: they will shape and mould our world into a new one. It is vital to care for and prepare the new users of public transport.”
Roberto Cavalieri, UITP President
Youth and public transport have been a top priority in the UITP general secretariat agenda since 2005.
The Youth Project leads public transport organisations to consider young people essential for public transport, and to prepare young people to think of public transport as a critical component of their lives.
There are strong and mutual links between public transport and its young users: young people are heavily dependent on public transport, it is often their only way to reach school, working places, sport facilities and any other location where they live and build their future.
On the other hand, public transport organisations rely heavily on young users: they are a large proportion of public transport users today and their views today can predict accurately how public transport organisations will develop. It is a primary concern of public transport organisations to get closer to their young customers, in order to educate, teach them to respect and take responsibility in the usage of public transport facilities.
The role of public transport organisations in young people’s life is primary, as is the presence and trust of youth in public transport organisations.
OUR GOALS
- Educate the youth to valorise public transport
- Make youth’s vision integrated in public transport planning
- Establish communication channels between public transport and youth
Fostering the presence and trust of youth in public transport organisations:
HOW DO WE DO IT?
UITP Youth Project Awards
Workshops and training programmes
Cooperation with international organisations
Youth Parliament
International exchange programme
The UITP Youth Project is articulated in three main steps:
Awareness 2005-2007
In this phase young people became aware that PT organizations take an interest in their vision and culture. The first edition of the International Youth Awards took place and the Youth Parliament held his first meeting.
Desire 2007-2009
The second step is dedicated to foster UITP members commitment to young people; to present the first results of the Youth Project and to spell out positive results of the steps undertaken to create youth oriented public transport organisations.
Consolidation 2009-2011
The Vienna Congress is the main focus of the third phase: the projects will be presented to the 58th World Congress, to enlarge the number of partners, present follow up, analyse which goals have been achieved and consider future challenges.
UITP Youth Project Awards The UITP Youth Project Awards rewards originality and creativity in young managers and draws the world of public transport closer to youth, improving the image of public transport among young people.
For its second edition, on the promotion of best practices in favour of young people as customers, we are expecting groundbreaking projects from all over the world. Winners, chosen among the best projects and the best young managers will be awarded at the 58th UITP World Congress in Vienna. Special prizes will be awarded by UNESCO.
The deadline for the submission of project is 31 August.
Download the brochure to find out more (PDF).
The first edition rewarded ideas on how to involve and engage young people in public transport.
35 projects were submitted from five continents, 15 nominees for Regional Semi-final Awards, 3 winners, 1 special prize from the industry
South Africa, with a website dedicated to informing children about public transport, Holland, The Hague and Germany, Berlin, were selected among participants for the regional awards.
The Singapore Land Transport Authority won the first International UITP Youth Project Award in the category 'Improving Mobility of Young People' (the usage of public transport by young people) with an educational game developed in an immersive 3D environment.
The Awards were presented during the closing ceremony of UITP’s 57th World Congress in Helsinki, June 2007.
Workshops and training programmes
The first workshop dedicated to young people as customers will be held on 21 November in Rome, Italy. The workshop will be articulated in three training sessions, each emphasizing problem-solving and practical demonstrations concerning:
• Marketing and Young people: how to cater effective messages and campaigns to young customers;
• Youth and Security: how to deal with the challenges that youth faces regarding public transport and how to face juvenile problems related to public transport;
• Youth oriented Human Resources: how to attract young quality talents among young managers to public transport organisations.
For more information and to participate please visit our website at http://www.uitp.org/events/workshops.cfm
Cooperation with international organisations
UITP is working in partnership with UNESCO to create joint projects and initiatives, starting with a Memorandum of Understanding to be presented at the Vienna Congress in 2009.
Espacio de Vinculaciòn A. C., a non-profit civil association backed by Televisa and other major Mexican companies are cooperating on common training sessions, events and projects to promote studies and research in public transport, to draw closer the business, intellectual and academic sectors.
Youth Parliament
UITP has set up local ‘Youth Parliaments’ where young people can interact with delegates and decision-makers to address the world of public transport. This gives them the opportunity to voice their ideas, suggestions and dreams on public transport but also on urban, environmental and sustainability issues.
The Youth Parliaments held five international meetings in: Karlsruhe, Johannesburg, Istanbul, Guadalajara, Vancouver. They drafted conclusions and proposals to be handed in to authorities and decision-makers involved in public transport.
Students from all over the world are working very actively on parliaments session reports and conclusions to be inserted in “Youth Views on Public Transport”, a document to be presented at the 58th UITP Congress in Vienna in 2009.
International Exchange Programme
The programme launched as a Pilot Project, will offer the opportunity to young and talented managers to gain international experience in major public transport organisations.
Open to all young people aged between 25 to 35, it will be a true ‘learning service’. Beyond benefiting UITP organisations members, by sharing practices and experiences, young volunteers will develop new skills and, therefore, improve their personal, educational and professional development.
The international Exchange Programme UITP network will provide a valuable opportunity to corporate organisations to attract and engage high quality diverse talent to their organisations. Young managers will have the opportunity to be trained in the UITP Brussels offices before starting their exchange programme in order to facilitate the exchange experience, provide them with long lasting skills and create transnational bonds among young managers involved in public transport worldwide.
To participate in the UITP Youth Project initiatives or for more information please do not hesitate to contact us:
CONTACT: Alessandra Gorini, Youth Project Coordinator, alessandra.gorini@uitp.org
|
