International Day of Older Persons was celebrated in all infrastructures of Mission Armenia NGO. Approximately for a period of one month a number of cultural events, entertainment activities, parties and gatherings have been developed and fulfilled with success in various community centers and Day Care Centers of the organization.
Mission Armenia’s staff had attempted to celebrate this international day like a holiday underlining the perennial contribution of the elderly people, which they had done for the society. The organization has also provided financial resources to various Day Care and Community Centers in order to implement these activities at a high level. Representatives of Caritas Sweden, on behalf of Charles Camara and Stjepan Biletic have also supported to the organization of events devoted to the day of elderly. In addition, individual companies, entrepreneurs, government officials have also maintained a comprehensive implementation of the holiday: both the beneficiaries and the organization are expressing their deep appreciation for this support.
Starting from October the 1st, in many marz infrastructures of the organization, as well as in the Day Care Centers of the capital, holiday events were launched. On that day menu of Soup Kitchens, from which beneficiaries were benefiting, was rather enriched, specifically, the presence of celebratory cake in several centers showed the uniqueness and importance of the event. During the event organized in the Soup Kitchen of Masis, representatives of Masis City Hall were adopted; they welcomed everybody and warmly wished good luck.
Celebrations of 1st October also continued in the following days of the month. During the event organized in the community center of Kapan employees of City Hall were present and they read Mayor Mr. Arthur Atayan's message that said, “Man is happy when he enjoys a serene old age after adolescence and complicated youth. We must proclaim that today we are unable to meet fully our debt to the older generation, but we try to be close to them through our respect and attention.” In addition, the Mayor had forwarded gift packages to the beneficiaries, as well as the representative of the company Sladkoff brought packages of sweets.
Later on, on October 8th Hrazdan Mayor Aram Danielyan took part in the event organized at Hrazdan community center; Gagik Sahakyan -the Mayor of Spitak took part in another event, organized in Spitak day care center. Hospitality for the beneficiaries of Spitak Soup Kitchen was organized by the resources of Arkadi Hambardzumyan, MP.
Additionally, message of Mission Armenia’s president Mrs. Kirakosyan was read during the event organized at Nor Nork Community center. Here is an excerpt from her message, “Childhood, adolescence, youth, and old age, ageing… The sweetness of life warmly relates to these five age groups. If in any of these periods man is isolated or abandoned he will feel unhappy, particularly, the aged and helpless people. To that end, I direct my words to youth: we all have much to learn from adults and we are responsible for their dignified life.”
Except for the official messages and visits, gifts and celebratory hospitality, which was organized for the beneficiaries, interesting cultural events, songs, dances and toasts, were anticipated to be as well; in short, it was a real celebration.
For instance, during the event held at Nor Nork community center Ofelya Xachatryan, singer of folk and ashug songs, laureate of many prizes, was invited by the staff of the center; she was accompanied by Aida Mnatcakanyan, a pianist, who is a beneficiary of Avan Soup Kitchen. Other beneficiaries kept pace with the professionals. In other Day Care centers within the cultural celebrations various dancing groups, singers, theatrical groups, talented children and teenagers appeared for beneficiaries.
Satisfaction of beneficiaries was obvious: for each human being the sense of respect, love, and honored attention, particularly for old people were the most significant in terms of evaluation of life cycle, what they had done and had not done, and definition of self esteem. This was evidenced by thankful toasts and words of gratitude of beneficiaries to Mission Armenia’s staff, particularly to H. Kirakosyan. “We are grateful that our country has a structure, which for many years takes care of the elderly concerns, recognizing the needs of each person through their caring and conscientious staff. Such structure can be guided only by real Christian as Hripsime Kirakosyan.” These were the words of Serob Badalyan - the beneficiary of Ajapnyak Day Care center.
Today, the smiling grandparents, who more or less felt happy, congratulated each other and recognized that for a long time they had not had so much fun, and had not received such positive emotions. Central Office of the Mission Armenia NGO has also prepared a surprise: lots of beneficiaries from Shengavit community were invited to Shant TV to the concert of Project “Folk Ten”, which had been aired only a month and already attracted an audience of aged beneficiaries, becoming the favorite and cordial method for their recreational and spiritual-cultural life.
Finally, the events, dedicated to the day of elderly people, were summarized in Mission Armenia’s all infrastructures, that operate almost over the entire territory of the Republic of Armenia, however the various projects and services that organization renders to the vulnerable aged people were not terminated. The implementation of the latter is only possible through our partners, our joint efforts and long-lasting cooperation. Mission Armenia is grateful to all those structures, individuals, benefactors and loyal individuals who made this celebration come true and gave smile and celebration to the lonely and vulnerable aged people. Today the worship of them is the key to our dignified aging.