Mangaluru: “Selfie With Alfie”- that’s right, rhymes pretty good too. I can’t wait to take a few Selfies with my Grandmas and other Senior Citizens whom I know, and submit it to an online photography contest titled “#GrandSelfie” will be simultaneously going on, with the “Bond with an Elder” campaign that “Vishwas Trust for the Elderly” in association with “Rotary Club of Mangalore” who have aimed to promote the concept of taking responsibility for the elderly in the society.
“The campaign “Bond With An Elder” kick starts on the 3rd October 2015 and will try to elicit firm commitment to senior citizens in our neighbourhoods. We encourage people to step forward and take responsibility of one elderly in their locality by spending time and engaging in activities on a regular basis. Events where the elderly and the younger bond, and where organisations commit to issues that affect the elderly will then take forward this coming together in different locations in Mangalore, all culminating on UN Day, the 24th of October. Beyond the Campaign period of 3rd to 24th , the Bond with an Elder Movement will continue” said Vidya Dinker, a activist who spoke during the press meet held at Mangalore Press Club.
“Students of St Aloysius College will reach out to general public beginning today at 5pm at City Centre Mall,with flash mob and street play performances to promote the theme of “Bond with an Elder” .The campaign publicity designs are by a team of 19 second year post graduate students of Department of mass Communication, St Aloysius College. They have been collectively working on the designing and media element” added Vidya.
She further said, “Students of St Aloysius College will also later execute Flash mob sequences in places where Mangaloreans congregate in the evenings to introduce the campaign to citizens. Meanwhile, students of the MSw from the School of the Social Work, Roshni Nilaya will campaign across the city throughout the duration of the campaign through street play performances on being more sensitive to the needs of the elderly in our homes, neighbourhoods and the city in general”.
Addressing the media persons, Dr Olinda Pereira- Founder of Vishwas Trust for the Elderly, and also the Founder Principal of Roshini Nilaya of Social Work said, “Through its experience with working with the Elderly since 1999, Vishwas Trust firmly believes that a smart city needs to commit itself to the needs of its growing numbers of Senior Citizens. While it well known that frequent, stimulating social interaction helps to prevent older individuals from becoming depressed and developing additional health issues”.
Dr Pereira further said, “Rather than expressing our appreciation to the elderly only one day a year on their birthday or on World Elders Day, we believe that we as individuals could go further and make a more meaningful supportive gesture by committing to their well being in a more lasting manner. This could consist quite simply of a regular Hello, an occasional chat, a leisurely evening walk, shared tea or a board game, replacement of a fused bulb, picking up of medicines, accompanying them to the bank or for medical checkups and the like. We will also work with groups, organisations and the administration to get everyone in Mangalore to be more sensitive to the well being of the elderly”.
When asked by one of the media persons as to how she feels about her ex-students of Roshini Nilaya reaching greater heights and positioned in good jobs nationally and internationally, Dr Pereira replied, ” It does make me proud that as a teacher/principal of these students who have achieved success in their lives to be better persons in the society. I feel proud of my student Vinaya Kumar Sorake, who is now a State minister, who always appreciates what his Alma mater has done to him to be the person whom he is now. The success of our students is the success of the college. I feel proud and blessed of all my past students who have excelled in their academics, and who are better persons in the society. God bless them all”.
Dr Olinda Pereira with a “Selfie with Alfie!”
As part of the campaign, an online photography contest titled #GrandSelfie will be simultaneously going on. Interested participants will be asked to send in selfies with their grandparents or a neighbour elder to promote the bond they share. The Grand Selfie with the maximum likes on Facebook and the Best Grand Selfies will be awarded prizes sponsored by Merger Soda. For more details Contact – 9845323869, 9449035570
Celine Aranha- Trustee at Vishwas Trust, Yatish Baikampady- President, Rotary Club of Mangalore, and Divakar Pai-Secretary of Rotary Club of Mangalore were also present during the press meet.
Connect with Bond with an Elder at: Ph 91-9632890101
www.facebook.com/bondwithanelder; www.twitter.com/bondwithanelder; www.bondwithanelder.blogspot.com; bondwithanelder@gmail.com
Thanks Alfie for your wonderful write-up on “Bond with Elderly”. Nice article at a nice time. We fully agree with all the comments. We are very appreciative of the role played by the College Students as well as by the Rotarians and the Lions. We would like to discuss our future role thru Rotary Club and Lions Club for which we are active members in Texas. Evening Chat, Evening Walk and sharing a cup of tea is an excellent idea. Lets discuss more on our next trip. God bless
Great work by Mr Alfie. Keep it up