Mangaluru: Old is Gold!-that’s right.We don’t believe age is any more than a mere number. Not with these smooth party “young” ladies and men on the floor. Look at them go! Even in the glorious age of white hair and senior citizen benefits/gooodies, their inner children are not only alive and well, they’re shaking things up too… literally. They are getting with the groove, boogey-ing, dancing well, acting well, singing well, playing music well, and all having some fun and frolic well too. All this and much more talents unleashed by the lovable, cute and enthusiastic young “Seniors” was witnessed by the gathering assembled for the “Bond with An Elder” event held at Forum Fiza Mall on Saturday, 7 November, organized by Vishwas Trust for the Elderly People, in association with Rotary Club-Mangaluru. The Mall atrium simply reverberated!
As they say that “Ageing is not ‘lost youth’, but a new stage of opportunity and strength”- there is no age limit when you are capable of having some fun and want to party- even senior citizens know how to party hard and have fun and frolic. Imagine a few ladies in their 70s and 80s swinging their bodies to a Bollywood tune, and a couple other grandmas lifting their legs and shaking their hips to a Kannada dance hit. Imagine a teeth-less 79 year-old “young damsel” doing her best solo performance on the mouth organ; and few other old timers cracking some jokes- made everyone feel that even older folks have the capacity to rock the world with their talents in their vintage years. These “Young” bunch were proved to be exceptionally talented “Vintage Revellers” ! May God bless these talented old timers, who are an example for the young generation to follow in their footsteps to be healthy and happy.
The campaign “Bond With An Elder” was launched on the 3rd October 2015 at the City Centre Mall- a Campaign trying to elicit firm commitment to senior citizens in our neighbourhoods. The Campaign is aimed in convincing 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 were organized in different locations in Mangaluru. Beyond the Campaign period of 3rd to 24th October 2015 the “Bond with an Elder” Movement will continue, and has been extended until January 2016.
The ‘ Bond with an Elder ‘ Campaign took a notch higher with a fun filled evening for senior citizens at Forum Fiza Mall during the weekend. There was plenty of happy bonding as the young rallied around elders, and encouraged and cheered them on to laugh, sing, dance and have a pleasant experience with friends. Solidarity and commitment to the campaign for the Elderly was visually displayed by Dr Olinda Peirera, nonagenarian Director of Vishwas Trust, first marking her hand with paint on an empty canvas and several of the young and old gathered enthusiastically showing their support for the cause by also joining her to place their own hands on the canvas. Veteran artist Daya then joined in and gave artsy finishing touches to the canvas celebrating ‘Bond with an Elder’.
Yatish Baikampady of Rotary Club of Mangalore assured the campaign continued support and involvement of Rotarians in this noble cause. Thanking everyone for their free flowing and enthusiastic involvement in the evening, Activist Vidya Dinker called upon all to continue to Bond with Elders at home and around them in their communities in small meaningful ways. Poorvi Rao as the charming little host regaled the audience and got Dr. Olinda Peirera to explain to the large gathering of enthusiastic supporters the need and importance of such a drive in Mangaluru at this juncture.
Nonagenarian Dr Olinda Pereira speaking to the audience 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 our City is moving forward in becoming a Smart City it is also imperative that there are initiatives to make it Smart for the elderly persons too. In today’s civilized social structure, it is disturbing to see a trend of senior citizens being deprived of their comforts, particularly by children being indifferent to their aged parents at a time when the parents need parental care most. We need to be in constant tough with the elders, share our joys and news with them, care for them and love them.We need to see that we care for the elders in the family, our neighbour elder or any seniors in the community. Together we can put a smile on the faces of these neglected elders and also bring happiness to them through our bonding and interaction with them”.
Elders and young friends of Vishwas Trust gave group performances, as did individuals, seniors from KMC Navachetana, the team of FM Lobo, Maria Doss and Albert Jossy Rego performed popular numbers, Marie Joan played the mouth organ with verve despite her battle with Alzheimer’s and the audience participation was spontaneous. Compere VJ Nithin from St Aloysius College of Mass Communication reminded all of the ‘GrandSelfie’ contest that is part of the Bond with an Elder Campaign and invited everyone to take selfies with their grandparents or elders in their neighbourhood and express their bonding by posting them on the Bond with an Elder Facebook page.
As part of the campaign, an online photography contest titled “#GrandSelfie” is also simultaneously going on. Interested participants are asked to send in selfies with their grandparents or a neighbour elder to promote the bond they share. TheGrand Selfie with the maximum likes on Facebook and the Best Grand Selfies will be awarded prizes. For more details Contact – 9845323869, 9449035570
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
