Sopotniki - Cotravellers

Sopotniki is an organisation for intergenerational solidarity operating as a non-profit private body, registered in Slovenia's register of voluntary organisations, which has the goal of offering free transport to rural elderly and thereby help them get involved in an active social life. The free transport service enables elders to attend cultural events, visit friends, go to the doctor, go shopping, etc. In this way they can run their errands independently and carefree as well as make new acquaintances and keep social contacts with the wider environment, which would otherwise be out of reach. The volunteer drivers of different ages and occupations have adapted their work and study obligations in such way that they can in turn provide the service six days a week, from morning and until the last passenger arrives home safely. This service covers small villages and towns outside Ljubljana Urban Region (in the municipalities of Hrpelje-Kozina, Divača, Sežana, Sevnica, Brežice, Krško, Kočevje, Postojna, Pivka, Ajdovščina and Ankaran-Ancarano). The service is considered an innovative approach towards the mobility of rural elders which will soon expand to many other parts of Slovenia. The relations between volunteers and users are considered as added value. They are based on trust, a sense of security and respect.
The main stakeholders involved are volunteer drivers; rural population and elders; and the main beneficiaries are elder people living in rural areas.