In Appreciation of Their Lifetime of Giving ... Various Activities on the Occasion of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, observed on June 15 each year, is a global occasion aimed at highlighting the issue of elder abuse in all its forms and raising awareness of the rights and dignity of older persons. It also emphasizes the importance of providing a safe and supportive environment for older adults and encourages individuals and institutions to work together to reduce abuse and neglect, ensuring them a dignified life that preserves their status and role in society.
Based on this humanitarian message, and in an effort to promote awareness of the rights of older persons and reinforce values of respect and appreciation toward them, GOPA-DERD’s team, implemented a set of various activities in several areas.
In rural Damascus, and under the slogan “Respecting them is respecting ourselves, and caring for them is an extension of our humanity,”, GOPA-DERD’s “Beituna” Center’s team in Jaramana, in cooperation with NCA, implemented a set of various activities over three days.
On the first day, with the aim of fostering a sense of belonging and emotional support for the elderly, the team implemented a set of activities in one of the city’s halls, including short audio messages from caregivers to the participants.
The following day, the activities implemented by the team within the Better Life Association for Elderly Care, varied between entertaining and educational segments, where participants enjoyed the segment on popular proverbs. In addition, a number of interactive activities were implemented and provided a space for participants to express their experiences and feelings.
The events concluded on the third day with a set of joint activities that brought together the elderly and their caregivers in one of the area’s parks.
The activities included correcting misconceptions related to aging, along with short theatrical scenes that highlighted different forms of abuse and their psychological and emotional effects, emphasizing the importance of providing a safe and supportive environment that preserves the dignity of the elderly and enhances their quality of life.
GOPA-DERD’s “LIGHTS” center’s team, in cooperation with Filantropia also implemented a set of various activities within the St. Gregory Orthodox Association for the Care of Orphans and the Elderly Damascus.
The activities varied between entertainment and cultural segments, where participants enjoyed the storyteller segment that presented amusing stories in an interesting style, followed by song guessing competitions and shadow puppet theater performances. In addition, a set of interactive activities were carried out and added an atmosphere of joy.
The day concluded with the “Tree of Life” activity, where the elderly expressed their presence and positive impact by placing their colourful handprints, in a symbolic painting that embodied the meanings of participation, unity and belonging.
Under the title “You are our blessing”, GOPA-DERD’s team in Rural Damascus implemented a set of various activities for a number of elderly people in Al-Nashabiyah area, in cooperation with UNHCR..
The activities included an awareness session on the types of elder abuse, providing guidance on physical and mental health care and the importance of social support. In addition, an interactive and recreational activities were carried out to the elderly and allowed them to share their life experiences and valuable memories in an atmosphere of familiarity and appreciation.
In Latakia GOPA-DERD’s Community Center’s team, implemented a series of activities and events, in cooperation with UNHCR.
The activities aimed at raising awareness of the rights of the elderly and the necessity of protecting them from all forms of abuse and neglect. These activities included simple physical activities, educational and awareness sessions focusing on the importance of physical and mental health, as well as traditional artistic performances by a number of young musicians, with the aim of strengthening communication between generations and creating an atmosphere of joy and warmth.
In turn, GOPA-DERD’s “Beituna” Center’s team in Jableh organized a recreational day that brought together elderly and young women in a warm and familial atmosphere.
During the day, they participated in preparing hand-made bread and pastries, followed by various activities that concluded with some of the young women distributing roses to the elderly participants in appreciation of their contributions and rich history. In addition, an awareness session was implemented about the health measures related to chronic diseases among the elderly.
In a related context, GOPA-DERD’s “Beituna” Center’s team in Al-Haffah, Latakia, carried out a set of activities and awareness sessions for a number of young people. These included making some souvenirs and writing thank-you letters to the elderly for their generosity. In addition, an awareness session was carried out for the elderly about the International Day, and concluded with inclusive recreational activities that enhanced the spirit of participation and communication.
The team also implemented field visits to a number of elderly people’s homes, during which gifts were presented to them. This took place in cooperation with NCA.
In turn, GOPA-DERD’s Community Center’s team in Daraa, in cooperation with UNHCR, carried out an awareness and recreational activity for a number of elderly people. The activity included physical and interactive activities, and heritage activities such as the tales of “Ancient Gold” and songs from heritage.
GOPA-DERD’s “Bietuna” Center’s team, also carried out visits to the elderly in their homes to check on their health and living conditions. The visits included conducting vital medical examinations such as measuring blood pressure and checking sugar levels. In addition, the necessary medical advice and guidance were provided to ensure their safety.
The team also held an open dialogue session with the elderly, focusing on the importance of protecting them and the necessity of providing them with a safe and supportive environment that guarantees their psychological and social rights. The session included poetry recitations and musical segments that revived the heritage. This took place in cooperation with NCA.
I a related context, GOPA-DERD’s Community Center’s team in Raqqa, implemented a series of field visits to the homes of a number of elderly people, in cooperation with UNHCR.
These visits included awareness sessions on the rights of the elderly, and the importance of preserving their dignity and respecting their position in society.