Veterans' Leisure Activities

14/11/20120 views

14 November, Lepel /Own. inf./. An oblast conference "The Role of Elderly People in Modern Society and Conditions for Realising Their Potential" was recently held at the Vitebsk State Medical University. The Vitebsk Oblast Organisation of the Belarusian Red Cross Society has been implementing mini-projects on this topic for several years as part of the "Strengthening of the Sisters of Mercy Service" programme, supported by the Consortium of the Austrian, German and Swiss Red Cross Societies.

Speakers at the conference included not only representatives of the Ministry of Health and the Belarusian Red Cross Society, but also guests from Switzerland. Colleagues from Bulgaria and Bosnia and Herzegovina also shared their experience of working with the elderly during an online broadcast.

The Lepel delegation – Natalia Ivanova, Director of the Territorial Centre for Social Services for the Population, Elena Chuvilina, Head of the "Svetlitsa" 24-hour care unit, and Zinaida Bogdanovich, Chairperson of the Lepel District Red Cross – also prepared a presentation of their project "I Believe in Myself".

"Not instead of, but together" is the motto of the project at the "Svetlitsa" 24-hour care unit. The head of the unit, Elena Chuvilina, has found more than one activity to diversify the leisure time of the elderly – from growing medicinal plants to origami classes. Volunteers have also joined this work with interest. For example, Valentina Gonchar, a former art and craft teacher, teaches the basics of paper art – origami. The staff of "Svetlitsa" – social worker Valentina Semionko and nurse Zhanna Kopylova – do not spare their personal time. Elena Avtukh, a psychologist at the oblast psychiatric hospital, also provides assistance.

Throughout the existence of this project, the Red Cross organisation has allocated about five million Belarusian rubles to "Svietlica" for its implementation. First, the rooms were furnished, and now the necessary materials for creative activities are being purchased – for example, threads, picture frames. And not by chance.

Creative activities are willingly undertaken here. Raisa Khoniak is a master of Christmas tree decorations, while embroidery and knitting are done by Vera Azarenok and Anna Golubovich. Pavel Kalitukha enjoys making figures from paper. Moreover, they do not keep their works in "personal collections" but gift them to the residents of "Svietlica" on birthdays and other holidays. Many people have been delighted by their paintings, napkins, and knitted socks.

Those who are not keen on needlework work on the land to the best of their ability, growing houseplants. In the greenhouse, which was once purchased by one of the project participants specifically for "Svietlica", Egor Gotovko and Grigory Silvanovich enjoy working.

Currently, there are 17 people in "Svietlica". When new residents arrive, the current residents quickly involve them in their activities. All they need to do is choose an occupation. By the way, such leisure activities not only provide an opportunity for the elderly to help each other but also boost their self-esteem: who wouldn't be pleased with a harvested crop or a knitted scarf?

The "I Believe in Myself" project continues, and the territorial centre plans to launch a new project focused on working with people with disabilities in the day care department.

Ekaterina OSOVSKAYA