Project title:
Pécs Városi Civil Keret 2024/Pécs City Civil Financial Framework 2024
Project duration:
01.06.2024.– 30.11.2024.
Supporter:
Local Government of Pécs
Project summary:
We will continue what we started last year. With the support of the City of Pécs, we will add 5 more truly accessible sites in Pécs and around Pécs to our Accessible Pécs Database.
The database has set an example for the city of Pécs. Its maintenance should be part of the city’s marketing, as its tourism marketing power is significant. There are only few areas of social problems that can connect so many target groups as accessibility.
Accessible places and programmes are a basic need for people with disabilities, and equally important for elderly people and parents with prams. But the temporarily disabled, and people with suitcases or shopping bags, also a great help. And EVERYONE is more comfortable in a barrier-free environment!
There is no list or map of accessible locations in Hungary. For people with disabilities, however, predictability is essential.
Therefore, in 2018, our association was the only one in the country to create a free Pécs city database of accessible locations in and around Pécs. In recent years, we have developed this from small grants, mostly from our own resources, into a professional one.
The aim is to provide urban populations with detailed and reliable information on accessible locations. Information is available in 12 categories, free of charge, in Hungarian and English, illustrated with many own photos, map display and contact information.
It also aims to develop barrier-free tourism in Hungary, to attract and inform tourists visiting Pécs (this is why it is also available in English). Since then, there has been no similar urban barrier-free database in the country.
The Barrier-free Pécs Database is available free of charge on our website in Hungarian and English: https://peoplefirst.hu/en/barrier-free-pecs/
Goal:
Training for the professional team of disabled people exploring the sites of the Barrier-free Pécs Database.
Exploration of 5 additional sites in Pécs and around Pécs during the project period.
Work is ongoing to strengthen existing cooperation with the town hall and to expand partnership building with other organisations.
Based on our measurements and domestic and international feedback, the citizens of Pécs and visitors feel a serious need for the Barrier-free Pécs Database and are happy to use it. We have recently taken steps to make this even more so in the future. Experts have helped us to optimise the website and database for Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), i.e. to reach as many users as possible.
The social sensitization effect of the database is extremely important for both disabled and able-bodied society! Therefore, the Barrier-free Pécs Database and the Hidden City Tor-Tour are closely complementary activities.
Target groups:
Our basic target group is people with disabilities. We do not focus on one group, since the membership of our association is also made up of people with all types of disabilities.
Our wider target group is the entire urban population and visitors. And EVERYONE who needs accessibility or is more comfortable living without barriers.
How does the project work?
In June 2024, an exploration team will be set up with professionally qualified participants with disabilities. We will conduct a preparatory training and create a detailed schedule and task list.
Between June and October 2024, 5 completely new barrier-free sites will be explored and recorded in Hungarian and English in the database.We will work in teams of 3 people, with disabled, visually impaired and assisting association members, including a hearing impaired member as needed.
Meanwhile, the IT maintenance and repair of the database is ongoing.
In November 2024, we will evaluate the results of the project and prepare for future tasks and funding opportunities.
Results and impact of the project:
People with disabilities do this work, as they are the best experts in their field/problems. They receive continuous professional training in the project. For them, this is a significant social inclusion opportunity: new skills, useful activities, earning money, learning, inclusion, empowerment, community building.
More sites are added to the Barrier-free Pécs Database. This is a great contribution to making Pécs more attractive and to the development of accessible tourism in Hungary.
Project sustainability:
In cooperation with the city, our database is part of the https://pecs.hu/en/ website.
We would be glad if the city administration, the city companies, and the city residents would be proud that such an initiative exists in Pécs, and more and more people would use and recommend it.