In Slovenia, just under half of the population lives outside urban areas. Housing in the countryside is very scattered, and public transportation rarely reaches small isolated villages. Elderly people living alone often have difficulty accessing health services, going to the post office, the bank, or doing their shopping... To help them, the project Sopotniki (co-passenger) was launched ten years ago: volunteers drive them where they need to go and bring social connection into their lives. Since then, the network has expanded throughout the country.
Marko Zevnik moved more than ten years ago to a small village in the southwest of the country, after his studies in Ljubljana. But he still commuted to the capital for work. "Older neighbors quickly asked me if I could take them to Divača, the nearest big city. Sometimes they asked me to bring them something from the pharmacy. Gradually, I realized how difficult it is to live in the countryside without your own car and without public transportation." It was at that moment that he had the idea of Sopotniki and presented it to his friends.
Breaking the isolation of seniors
"Sopotniki was launched with our own resources, without any help. We bought the first vehicle, founded the association, formed the first team of volunteers through our connections, and started providing transportation," remembers Zevnik. "From the beginning, we assumed that if there was a real commercial potential, the transportation would be done by taxi drivers or others. That's why we wanted to create a solidarity model and set up a network of volunteers."
In these rural regions, the population is sparse and the distances are vast, so mobility is a significant issue. The services of Sopotniki are mainly used by the elderly, especially women, who live in these areas and do not have their own car. "It often happens that one of the spouses has a driver's license, usually the husband. When health problems arise, or even death, their widowed wives find themselves cut off from all services," explains Zevnik.
An entire ecosystem involved
After some positive articles in the media, the existence of Sopotniki has become famous throughout the country, and today, 19 other Slovenian cities have adopted this system, mobilizing 305 active volunteers. On their part, municipalities play an important role in the project, covering the costs of cars (maintenance, fuel, tolls) and providing local coordinators whom the elderly can call when they need transportation.
"We did not want to establish a centralized call center, but preferred to be present locally," explains Zevnik. "The coordinator takes the user's call, makes the transport reservation, and hands the car keys to the volunteer on the agreed date and time. They are usually employed by the municipality, the local branch of the Red Cross, or the Social Action Center."
“Elderly beneficiaries sometimes ask volunteers to act on their behalf. For example, to schedule their next medical appointment. In some clinics, they already know that the patient has come through Sopotniki. Before scheduling a new appointment for them, they call us to check if they will be able to be accompanied at that time.”
Preserving social ties at the heart of the project
The caregivers belong to different generations, most of them being young retirees who want to stay active by getting involved in their social environment. Over time, many sponsors have also joined the project, and local restaurants generally offer a free coffee or lunch to volunteers on days when they provide transportation.
At the heart of the Sopotniki project was also the preservation of social ties with the elderly, but in practice, the need for transportation to health services proved more urgent. Nevertheless, the association carefully ensures to also offer transportation for more "informal" things like outings or theater.
At the cultural center Kosovelov domu in Sežana, elderly people are also encouraged to participate in events. If they are interested, transportation is organized. "This is the case with morning cinema outings. We organize these trips to create social connections and allow solitary individuals to brighten their daily lives. Friendships are also formed during the journey. It often happens that a beneficiary calls us to suggest a visit or attending a concert and also recommends calling the lady they traveled with last time," Zevnik rejoices. Elderly people are often confined to their homes in the countryside, finding it difficult to go out. Therefore, we are very happy to invite them for cultural outings and to see them encouraging each other."
