The Centre for Healthy Ageing Novo Sarajevo hosted on 30 October an official event to mark the EU year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. The event was initiated and organised by the European Union Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“The European Year for Active Ageing is designed to serve as a framework for raising awareness, for identifying and disseminating good practice and, most importantly, for encouraging policymakers and stakeholders at all levels to promote active ageing”, said Natalia Dianiskova, Head of Operations Section for Social Development, Civil Society and Cross Border Cooperation of the EU Delegation to BiH. Ms Dianiskova added that the impact of demographic ageing within the EU and BiH specifically is likely to be of major importance in the coming decades as the share of older persons in the total population will increase significantly.
According to Adnan Jasika from Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH the state should be more proactive in addressing the problems of an ageing population.
“The Centre for Healthy Ageing is supported by Novo Sarajevo municipality and other international and local partners, and it could be a model for others who would like to open a day-centre for seniors like ours” said the Centre’s manager, Sejdefa Bašić Ćatić. “We will gladly share our experience with anyone from Sarajevo or any other city in BiH.”
Volunteers of all generations who work with the Centre agreed that the work is most rewarding and very much alive in BiH society.
An inspirational interpretation of Santa Lucia and Kad procvatu jabuke by the orchestra and choir of the Centre’s music section introduced one of the fourteen sections operated by the Centre, and the tour through the Centre for Healthy Ageing was an opportunity to see the computer room, drama section and many sports and games facilities. The arts and hand-crafts exhibition hosted by the proud authors, members of the Centre and photo gallery of the Centre’s activities showed the success of this institution.
This event was also attended by representatives of humanitarian organizations dealing with the active ageing issues, Labenevolencia, Merhamet, Dobrotvor, Caritas, Red Cross of Federation of BiH, as well as many NGOs.
For more information on the EU Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations: http://europa.eu/ey2012/
