Not content with simply being a world class public transit service provider, RATP Dev USA has gone the extra mile to make a difference with its WE MOVE PEOPLE initiative, a local community outreach program. It encourages corporate and agency employees to participate in community efforts, enabling the company to become part of the fabric of the communities it serves. 

WE MOVE PEOPLE is just one of the programmes inspired by The RATP Group Foundation, which has supported more than 1,240 projects and helped over one million people throughout the world over the past 20 years. The foundation’s main objective is to develop and foster links with the local community in which its subsidiaries operate. This involves supporting local charity projects with a particular focus on access to jobs, entrepreneurship, education and culture. The Foundation’s North American Program - organised by RATP Dev USA - takes many forms, but has three main focus areas: community beautification, corporate sponsorship, and charitable giving. 

A transit body providing access to culture and supporting those in need

A whole host of projects intended to enrich the local community and empower its inhabitants have been implemented since the launch of the WE MOVE PEOPLE outreach programme. These include supporting non-profit low income fare subsidies, academic scholarships and the creation of safe-houses and shelter homes for vulnerable individuals, all initiatives that aim to improve the lives of those living in the communities served by RATP Dev USA.  Children living in particularly disadvantaged areas have benefitted from actions such as Stuff-A-Bus and the Feed a Family Homeless Prevention Programme, initiated by the Executive Leadership Team.  

Promoting equal opportunities and mobility 

A large number of partnerships have been established with charitable organisations and transit-related non-profit organisations, the most notable of which is Horton’s Kids, whose mission is to empower children living in one of  Washington DC’s most under-resourced communities, Wellington in the city’s Ward 8. The charity provides educational opportunities and comprehensive youth development programmes to enable the district’s youngsters to graduate from high school and be ready for success in college, career and life.  In 2017, a $10,000  RATP Group Foundation grant enabled Horton’s Kids to organise seven enriching field trips and reward children with high attendance rates and good behaviour. One such excursion involved exploring the cheery red DC Streetcar, which runs through the Ward 8 section of the city. The children were able to sit in the driver’s seat, learn about transportation safety and get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the 2.4-mile streetcar network. 

Moving people and warming hearts

Over the past few months, We Move People has engaged in a host of other innovative projects throughout the US. RATP Dev USA partnered with Trinity Metro’s Habitat TEXRail Build 2018, to provide a new and affordable home for a local family in the Fort Worth area. A collaboration with SAFE Alliance - a charity dedicated to helping individuals, families, and communities affected by abuse – saw RATP Dev USA employees host activities with a group of pre-schoolers to teach them about buses, their community and even help them paint their very own bus! 

Transforming transportation

Together, these initiatives have enabled RATP Dev USA to demonstrate how transportation is crucial to a meaningful life, making it possible to connect people to employment, supermarkets, healthcare, culture … and other people. The ultimate goal of We Move People is to work together with local communities to improve lives. As Sandy Freeman, Vice President, Innovation & Product Delivery, RATP Dev USA says, “Public transportation revitalizes neighbourhoods by building ties within communities and providing access to transit for passengers moving throughout their day. Through We Move People, RATP Dev USA is proud to partner with the transit agencies we serve, to positively impact the lives of our passengers. We Move People empowers the community with sponsorship for under privileged riders, community beautification efforts, and service hours spent with some of the most vulnerable in the community.  I am proud to work for an organization that prioritizes the quality of life for its employees and customers.”