The People First Association co-organized an international Peer-AcT conference.

The midterm conference was organised on 04.09.2020 in Orfű/Hungary, and due the Corona-situation we also broadcasted it online.  5 countries participated in the conference on accessible tourism and the results of the Peer-AcT project so far. ((More on Peer-AcT project here in the Projects menu on the website)

Several members of the People First Association played a leading role in it, very good and actively. Thanks especially Vida Ágota and Hildegard Kerekes!

We attended the first review meeting of the Local Equality Program 2018-2023 at the Town Hall in Pécs today.

The purpose of the review is to update the data, analyse the situation, track the achievement of the objectives and deadlines, if necessary amendments.

The former working groups are still alive, and the People First Association will continue to work with our disability team.

On 10-11-12th August 2020 we participated in a meeting in three German cities, where we presented the activities of the association and discussed our participation in the Social Inclusion Action Day in September.

In Bad Salzungen, Merseburg and Erfurt our German partners listened with great interest to what the People First Association was working on, especially social sensitisation and accessibility.

Our main topic was the presentation of our Hidden City Tor-Tour, which they would like to learn from us, and in September we will help them try something similar in several German cities. To do this, we will travel to Germany with some members of the association  from 21th to 27th September.

For more information about the Hidden City Tor-Tour, see the Projects menu on the website.

We have previously reported that the People First Association is calling for an investigation into serious breaches of disability in the Covid-19 outbreak.

In mid-July, we sent our submission to the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of Dr. Kozma Ákos.

It gives particular topicality to the submission, we are preparing for the second wave and that the institutions continue to have strange restrictive measures towards our members.

In a request, supported by TASZ with facts and data, we asked the Ombudsman to initiate an own-matter inquiry and to make appropriate recommendations before a possible second wave of epidemics.

We’ll cover the developments, follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeopleFirstHun/

We held a ‘Peer-counselor in accessible tourism’ 2-day online and 3-day personal training in our Peer-AcT international project for 10 people with disabilities in the days in Pécs.

Participants can work as consultants by tourism organisations, decision-makers, municipalities, tourist websites, or even expanding their existing job as consultants on accessible tourism.

If you would like to take their first-hand experience and useful knowledge of the international project, tell us: pfpecs@gmail.com

Now that all our team members have been released from quarantine detention, we’re back at full speed to the sticker project to explore the barrier-free locations of Pécs!

We discovered two Spar shops recently, both of which we have a very responsive attitude. Thank you Spar Hungary!

We kept working, found new cafes, restaurants, sports facilities. In fact, we have visited two large surgery institute and are exploring new accessible tourist trails.

You can read about this all the time on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PeopleFirstHun/

or more in the Accessibility Pécs menu on our website in English too: http://peoplefirst.hu/en/akadalymentes-pecs/

We are very happy with your comment, your opinion, your own experience!

With the help of members of our association an inclusive play will be realized on 5th of September on the IV. Barrier-free Tourism Day in Orfű!

Heni Szekeres is the inspirational one with his emotional writings, Marci Kopa is one of the main characters, Roland Balogh is the consultant and Zsuzsa Szabó is the director. We’re excited, we’re rooting for you, and we’re really looking forward to the premiere!!!

Our association also participates in the organization of the event.
Follow the Akadálymentes Turizmus Napja Facebook page for details!

The organising committee met on 29 of May 2020. and decided how to start organize again after the epidemic the IV. Barrier-free Tourism Day.

We’re going to announce that we plan to have the big day on 5th of September!

Our website will be launched in a few day and you will find all sorts of exciting info soon – in English too: https://akadalymentesnap.hu/!

We will also begin the preparations with our volunteers, and we will sensitise the tourist operators in Orfű.

Between 15-17 of June we will decide the detailed programme in a workshop with our partners with disabilities.

Follow us diligently, we will often give you more and more news from now on. You can find the event’s Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/turizmus.akadalymentes/

Members of the organising committee from left to right: Tibor Gonda, Zita Füziné Kajdy, Zsuzsa Szabó, Veronika Pataki, Evelin Almádi, sitting in front Gergő Berkes, messing with the camera Zoltán Murányi 🙂

Workshop on participating in accessible tourism

The first multiplication workshop of the international project that focuses on accessible tourism has been recently held for people living with disabilities in Pécs. Participants of the workshop gained insight into the project’s goals, its outcomes, and were informed about the application process for the free training, the knowledge and qualifications they would gain, as well as future employment opportunities in accessible tourism.

The Hungarian partner in the project is Zöld-Aktív Szociális Szövetkezet, co-partner is People First Association. What makes the topic of the workshop special is the fact that accessible tourism is a brand new player in the economy, not only in Hungary, but all over Europe. From an economical point of view, its emergence is inevitable, as people living with disabilities want to participate in the tourism sector both as service users, and as part of the work force. The latter is the main goal of Peer-AcT Erasmus+ international project, which gives the opportunity to people with special needs and disabilities to train as Peer Councillors, with inclusion and equal opportunities in its focus. The methodology is developed by adult educators, prospective trainers living with disabilities, as well as tourism professionals. At the end of the training, combining personal experience and professional knowledge, participants will be able to give advice and provide training in all fields of accessible tourism: transportation, accommodation, gastronomy, leisure activities, guided tours and city planning. In the future, they will work as trainers and consultants both in the tourism industry, and for decision-making bodies.

Participating partners in the project are Germany, Italy, Spain, Croatia and Hungary. Duration of project: 01.11.2018.- 30.04.2021.

The Hungarian partner is in charge of developing the methodology, i.e., how peer-mentoring is organised in the field of accessible tourism. As a part of this task, we have carried out a survey in 5 countries. With the professional leadership of the Department of Marketing and Tourism, University of Pécs, we are carrying out an in-depth analysis of the potentials of accessible tourism.  Members of People First Association, a partner of Zöld-Aktív Szociális Szövetkezet, are actively helping the project with their expertise and personal experience; they participate in developing the  peer-mentor training, and pilot trainings for service providers in the tourist industry.  Members of the association are the prospective trainers.

In the near future, we are going to organise a similar workshop for tourism service providers. 

For more on the project: http://peeract.eu/

and in the “Projects” menu on this website.

We held a general meeting yesterday to evaluate the year 2019 and start 2020.

Great ideas and plan have been made. It is good to see that more and more members are actively and enthusiastically involved in our local, national and international programmes.

We have new members, who hope to have the same fun as we.

We continue believe that we are stronger together, so we work with other NGOs as much as possible. Follow us here or on our website http://peoplefirst.hu/, or in Instagram: peoplefirstpecs in English too.

We promise it will always be exciting what we do!