A senior is a bridge that links our past to our present, through whom we can foresee our future. Older persons have accomplished their duty to society. That is why we felt it our duty to honor them, by offering them the appreciation and love they needed so much. For this reason, SSSD, in cooperation with the UNHCR, held in Rural Damascus on November 1-2, 2018 an Old but Gold celebration event on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons at the Peace Center for Development (Hameh) and the Butterfly Effect & Beit al-Wiam (Jaramana) community centers.
390 elderly persons from the Old-But-Gold Program participated. The event included various recreational activities: popular linked poetry (zajal); competitions and games; a medical awareness activity about the methods to prevent some diseases to which older persons are particularly prone, the importance of exercise, healthy food and regular tests; traditional songs; the “discover a talent” activity; songs performed by children; comic drama sketches performed by SSSD volunteers; poetry; as well as an exhibition of products made by the Old-But-Gold ladies. The event was concluded by offering sweets to all and a small present for each beneficiary.
The older people participated in the activity with sheer joy in their hearts and broad smiles on their faces. They were deeply moved by the SSSD gesture, overwhelmed by a sense of gratitude and appreciation they longed for. We sensed that in their simple words: “It had been so long since we last met with friends from whom we were separated by circumstances.”
For all of the above reasons, we will never hesitate to resnew such meetings with them.