"Lift for Life”, an initiative for dignity, accessibility, respect and economic development

The Vice President of the Senate, Robert Cazanciuc, launched, at the Parliament, the National Program "Lift for Life”, a large-scale project aimed at installing elevators in 3- and 4-story blocks of flats built before the 1990s. The aim of the initiative is to support the elderly, those with disabilities and families with reduced mobility, who today live isolated in their own homes due to the lack of easy access to public spaces. The event brought together dozens of participants from the political, business, civil society and media circles. During the debate, the current situation, possible technical and legislative solutions, as well as sources of financing for the program were analyzed. All those present welcomed the initiative and stressed its importance, comparing it to national programs for thermal rehabilitation of apartment buildings. "A modern society is not measured only in numbers and investments, but in the way it takes care of its people. The elderly, the disabled, the parents who carry their children up the stairs, day after day,” said Robert Cazanciuc, emphasizing the social and moral dimension of the project. Cazanciuc also stated: "We launched in the Senate, in debate, the National Program "Lift for Life”, a large-scale, ambitious project, which aims to install elevators in 3- and 4-story apartment buildings in Romania, where mobility is a daily challenge. For the elderly, for the disabled, for the parents who carry their children up the stairs, day after day. Today, we spoke about a real social need, about technical and financial solutions, alongside dozens of participants, whom I thank for their involvement and for their desire to help almost 4 million Romanians living in almost 100,000 disadvantaged blocks - the President of the Senate, Mircea Abrudean, the Executive Vice President for Social Rights, the European Commissioner Roxana Mînzatu, the Federation of Construction Employers, the Technical University of Construction, as partners of the project, senators, representatives of line ministries, regional development agencies, elevator companies, homeowners' associations, people with disabilities and pensioners, as well as representatives of the media, with an overwhelming role in promoting this initiative and in raising awareness of the importance of such a national project. And I was happy to see from everyone a lot of enthusiasm and a genuine desire to implement and carry out such a program, of equal importance to the thermal rehabilitation of apartment buildings. All that remains is to have a united and coherent political will, so that, through this program, we can assume a simple but essential duty: that of leaving no one behind”.

The "Lift for Life” program is based on three major objectives: restoring the dignity and independence of people with reduced mobility; supporting families facing daily challenges; strengthening an inclusive and modern society, aligned with European standards on accessibility. In addition to the social impact, the project has the potential to stimulate the economy, by creating new jobs, developing companies in the construction and maintenance fields, but also by modernizing urban infrastructure. "We don't build elevators just to go up floors. We build elevators to lift people. To raise hope, dignity and respect", added the vice-president of the Senate. According to him, through "Elevator for Life", the Romanian state aims to assume a moral and social duty, that of offering freedom of movement and the chance for a normal life to all citizens. "For some, an elevator may seem like a technical detail. For others, it means freedom, dignity and the chance to live normally", emphasized Robert Cazanciuc, summarizing the essence of the program.