Closing event for the research phase of the “Safe Journeys to School” project

The event marking the completion of the research phase in the “Safe Journeys to School” project represents an important moment of reflection and dialogue among partners, teachers, authorities, and the local community. This research phase has contributed to identifying challenges and generating relevant and sustainable solutions regarding students’ safety on their daily journeys to and from school. The event provides an opportunity to present the findings, recommendations, and best practices that emerged, while highlighting the importance of multisectoral collaboration and active community involvement in promoting a safe environment for students.

Event Program

The event brings together two complementary components designed to combine practical education for students with dialogue and the exchange of best practices among stakeholders. In the first part, activities dedicated to children offer interactive and educational experiences that promote road safety and sustainable mobility. In the second part, the discussion panel brings together experts, authorities, and community representatives to analyze challenges, assess the current state of infrastructure, and outline concrete solutions for safer school routes.

Part I: Educational  Activities for Students

Location: Courtyard of “Gheorghe Șincai” National College, Cluj-Napoca
Time: 10:00 – 16:00
Description: Students will take part in 6-8 types of interactive activities designed to familiarize them with traffic rules, safe routes for pedestrians and cyclists, and responsible behavior on the road. The activities include games, simulations, and practical exercises that help children understand the importance of road safety, develop skills for independent travel, and embrace sustainable mobility as a priority. This first stage of the event allows students to play an active role in identifying and understanding the risks around their school.

Part II: Discussion Panel with Decision-Makers

Location: 13-15 Avram Iancu Street, Cluj-Napoca
Time: 13:00 – 15:00
Description: The objective of the event is to improve children’s mobility on their way to school by developing concrete sets of measures and recommendations that prioritize walking, cycling, and other forms of sustainable mobility. During this meeting, we will discuss recently documented challenges related to children’s safety on their way to school, assess the current state of infrastructure and road signage using the iRAP methodology, and review practical examples from existing road safety initiatives.

This session provides a framework for constructive dialogue between authorities, schools, experts, and the community to identify concrete steps that can contribute to ensuring students’ safety on their home-to-school routes.
Estimated number of participants: 50.

Panel Guests:

• Deputy Mayor Dan Ștefan Tarcea – Urban Planning, Land Management, and Environmental Protection Committee
• Prof. Marinela Marc – General School Inspector, Cluj County School Inspectorate
• ​​Prof. Amalia Gurzău, School Inspector for Media Relations, Cluj County School Inspectorate
• Chief Police Commissioner Gina Ioana Ștefania Pop – Head of the Crime Analysis and Prevention Bureau, Cluj County Police Inspectorate
• Dr. Diana Dulf – Lecturer, Department of Public Health, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca
• Adriana Pitea – Străzi pentru Oameni (“Streets for People”) Association, Bucharest
• Alexandru Luchiian – Our School’s Air Project, Cluj-Napoca

Moderator: Ana Măiță – White Cross Foundation, Bucharest (Coordinator of the Safe Journeys to School Project)

Project Context and Impact

“Safe Journeys to School” is a project dedicated to ensuring children’s safety on their way to and from school. It aims to develop a better understanding of how students perceive road safety by actively involving them in the process of creating a safer environment around schools in Cluj-Napoca. The project is funded by the FIA Foundation as part of the Child Health Initiatives and has as its main partners: the Cluj-Napoca City Hall, Babeș-Bolyai University / Department of Public Health, the Cluj County Police Inspectorate, the Cluj County School Inspectorate, and InIm Institute.

We aim for the event to serve as a reference point for the community – an opportunity for sharing experiences and shaping sustainable solutions to improve active mobility.