This week sees many special celebrations and acknowledgements of older people taking place across the Commonwealth, and indeed the world.
The International Day of Older Persons is celebrated on 1 October 2015. This year is 25th anniversary and the theme for 2015 is Sustainability and Age Inclusiveness in the Urban Environment.
As well as being Active Ageing Week, an initiative of the International Council on Active Aging based in Canada to celebrate ageing and active living, this week is also Older Persons week in South Africa.
Our CommonAge ambassador in South Africa, Femada Shamam explains:
‘The week of older persons is commemorated annually in South Africa to honour and pay tribute to older people while at the same time raising awareness for issues that affect and impact upon them.
In South Africa, the then Council for the aged (now Age In Action), initiated the National Grandparents Day in 1996. This was meant to recognise the role of older people in the family and to give them due recognition. This day is celebrated on the first Sunday in October.
TAFTA has decided to combine the grandparents day with the International Day of Older Persons with a grand event at the Botanical Gardens in Durban. All older people with their grandchildren, children and friends are invited to attend the TAFTA ‘s Picnic in the Gardens on Thursday the 1st October, from 10am to 2pm.
Image from Durban Botanical Garden website
During the week the various facilities at TAFTA has planned a week-long celebration including some joint activities. A TAFTA concert showcasing the talent of the elderly is planned for the 29th September at Anna Conradie service centre, starting at 8:30am. It is expected that 320 older people will be attending. The annual TAFTA Sports Day is planned for the 30th September (expected attendance 350 people) at Growth Point Stadium (outer field), starting at 9:00am. It is expected that 1000 people will attend the Picnic in the Gardens.’
We’re very much looking forward to seeing the pictures from these events which we’ll share across our social media pages.
And in South Australia, on 1 October the ‘Every Generation Festival and Awards’ kicks off. Now in its 48th year, the COTA SA Every Generation Festival (EGF) is one of Australia’s longest running, annual arts and community festivals regularly attracting over 100,000 participants across the state.