November
2009
Jeevan Raj Lohani
of C3A Nepal reports:
A meeting of members of Council of Third Age Nepal with Members of Parliament
took place under the auspices of Nepal's Research and Development Agency
to consider Education Policy for Rural areas. The 'Role of Elders and
Lifelong Learning' was considered important enough to be on the agenda,
and WorldU3A Secretary-General Tom Holloway gave a presentation on the
part played by U3As in other countries.
BHAVANA
U3A LUCKNOW--EVENTS REPORT
INTERNATIONAL
ELDERS DAY was celebrated on 1st oct'09 in association with HELPAGE INDIA.
A seminar was held on SeniorCitizens act of 1999. Various suggestions
emerged to improve the social, economic &Legal status of Elders.
Recommendations were
formulated & a memorandum has been submitted to U.P. Govt.
A K Malhotra, Secretary.
An
extract found in the bright yellow curry spice turmeric can kill off cancer
cells, scientists have shown.
The chemical - curcumin - has long been thought to have healing powers and is already being tested as a treatment for arthritis and even dementia.
Now tests by a team
at the Cork Cancer Research Centre show it can destroy gullet cancer cells
in the lab. For more details click on http://www.ccrc.ie/news-and-awards/140?task=view
NEW
DELHI: Senior citizens and homeless children will share space in an integrated
home in Dwarka which is being set up by the Delhi government on an experimental
basis. Through this innovative and commendable initiative it is hoped
that the children will get some "parental guidance'' while the elderly
will not feel lonely. The home is likely to be opened soon.
The model project
proposes to begin by providing accommodation to 30 elderly and 30 children
of up to Class III. The integrated home is being seen as a pilot project
in which both children and senior citizens will reside in the same premises.
According to officials, this would enable children receive love from the
elderly and fulfil their need for parental guidance. Similarly, the senior
citizens would be able to cope with their loneliness when they see children
in the same campus, said officials. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Elderly-homeless-kids-to-share-space-in-govt-home/articleshow/5158066.cms
A
very interesting 8-minute video clip of the many activities of a typical
UK U3A group can be seen on Youtube. Music, fitness, history, poetry,
theatre visits, art, yoga, cooking, dancing, politics, word games, computing,
creative writing, walking, something for everyone.
This is strongly recommended viewing. Just click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkF-kZORqs4&feature=related
WorldU3A
Conference News
The Delhi
Welcome Committee has now been formed and all foreign delegates will be
met on arrival at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The Committee are (back row from left)....
Commander
Jaggi Malhotra - Chairman of Welcome Committee
Jitin Batra - Manager of Dreamz Travel - info@dreamztravel.net
J R Gupta - President of Delhi U3A Seniors
L R Garg - Delhi U3A - Managing Hosting scheme - garglr@yahoo.com
(Front left) Devika Marchanda - Director of Dreamz Travel
Jayashree Manglik - ISU3A Communications - jayumanglik@gmail.com
The
U3A Climate Study Group reports on Gujarat State's Solar Power Project
at http://u3aclimatestudy.pbworks.com/Worlds-Largest-Solar-Station-in-India
The website brings together hundreds of authoritative articles on renewable energy and technologies, plus important background reading. It an be used for local U3A Groups set up to study the environment.
SURAT: For these senior citizens, life begins at 60. They have started living life king size after retirement. They have formed a mandal and meet in a garden every day for party and to gossip. They ask, "Why should young have all the fun?" They follow the principal of social dating and never miss their date.
A group of women sing bhajan's loudly and offer prasad of chocolates to every one around. Some elderly people make it a point to visit the Swami Vivekananda Garden on Bhatar Road just to have the sweets. Someone from a group of about 50 men and women bring snacks from home and it is party every day. They share food, laugh and pray together although they don't even know everyone in the group by name.
Shashikant Jariwala, 71, a retired businessman living in Sant Tukaram Society, says, "We have our men's party twice or three times a month. We arrange for drinks and enjoy." He adds, "I think government should relax prohibition for us." Bhupendra Prajapati, 76, another retired businessman of Jamnanagar, says, "We enjoy our parties and share the expenses." Retired policemen Kashinath Kalal, 79, and Maniram Pendale, 74, who draw a monthly pension of nearly Rs 5,000, add, "For us, these three hours are wonderful. We forget all our worries." Kala Patel, 65, a former school teacher, who has been a regular visitor to the garden since last 10 years, says, " This place is like heaven for us as there is no one to disturb us here. We can sing our bhajans and even party." Savita Patel, 62, another retired school teacher, says, "We come here daily as we can't pass time sitting home."
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