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Kaprun is a small cozy mountain village in the north of Austria, not far from the German border. Three years ago, a local car salesman, Markus Kaufmann, founded the Mobil 60+ association with his wife Iris and created a social project of the same name: the elderly voluntarily transport other elderly people in an electric car for shopping, to the doctor, to meet friends. to meet – wherever they want or need to go.
Thus, people who are still full of strength and mobile help the more weak. And what is important: this does not irritate them, which is characteristic of most young people, because they already know a lot about the condition of the elderly, in addition, they have enough time, most often they are pensioners. Well, it is also important to feel your need and demand, it gives strength in old age.
“Our project has been warmly welcomed by the elderly, because they remain mobile, do not feel forgotten and can maintain their social contacts,” assures Markus Kaufmann.
He is no longer a young man himself, but still full of strength and energy. And who, if not he, understands how important what he is doing.
More than 4,500 trips have been made in the area since the service started and 13 volunteer drivers currently plow the roads of Kaprun Monday through Friday from 8am to noon and 1pm to 5pm. The social project received financial support from the federal government, local authorities, the EU and sponsors. Passengers pay only one euro per journey and a fee of 10 euros per year for membership of the association.
Markus Kaufmann tested the project in his village and now wants to expand it to the whole of Austria. “Over the past three years we have gathered a lot of know-how, which we have included in the starter package with start-up instructions and administrative software. Now we want to pass them on to other communities, organizations to help the elderly in Austria,” he says.
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