Trans Rights Now? Funding available for national campaignsOn Thursday 21 March, 2013, the EU launched the second round of its Sustainable Urban Mobility Campaign called 'Do the Right Mix.' It seeks to promote the advantages of combining different modes of transport by co-funding (to the tune of Eur 7,000) campaign initiatives taking place between between 1 July 2013 and 30 June 2014. The target groups for these funds are national and local stakeholders in 31 countries, which includes NGOs, public administrations, schools, besides individuals and commercial entities too. The focus of the call is broad: namely "fostering positive change in attitudes and behaviour." While only one initiative per country per call will be selected for funding, the total amount available over three years worth of separate calls amounts to Eur 500,000! The deadline for the submission of applications is 31 May via: www.dotherightmix.eu, where further information about the call is also available (see http://dotherightmix.eu/action/about). In spring 2012, TGEU published a "Statement on Social Inclusion through Sustainable Transport." Within its recommendations, the document contained plenty of ideas for future actions in the field (including diversity trainings for public transport staff, awareness raising campaigns for passengers, security measures etc). It also did a good job of highlighting the challenges faced by the transgender commmunity with respect to different modes of transport (walking, cycling, car and public transport use) through 40 plus case studies. This means the community has in its hands a firm basis not only to engage in constructive dialogue with those active and even responsible for mobility at the national and local level, but also to put some practical ideas on the table in realising “sustainable mobility for all.” Further inspiration may also be gathered here. Within the abovementioned call for proposals, the EU particularly seeks to achieve national impact, which implies linking actions that take place in diverse towns and cities across a country. Uniting with the relevant organisations within a single proposal (also considering the limited funds available) would therefore seem to be the right way to go about this. If you or your NGO has a small-scale campaign in mind that would link social inclusion to sustainable mobility, then as a starting point Inésita[1] recommends approaching the national European Mobility Week coordinator in your country to see how your ideas could fit into a larger campaign proposal. You can find a list of coordinators here. To involve TGEU and its members, visit their website and/or contact them here. [1] Inesita's male persona is involved in organising the European Mobility Week, which takes place every year between 16-22 September |
