Jamaica Celebrates Senior Citizens Week

KINGSTON — The National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) has been observing Senior Citizens Week, September 25 to October 1, under the theme "Seniors Using Their Resourcefulness for Survival”. 

The week long activities commenced with a Thanksgiving Service, at the St. Andrew Parish Church on Sunday, September 25. They continued with outreach projects, at the Jamaica Christian Boy’s Home, Kingston, by the St. Andrew Senior Citizens, on Wednesday September 28 and at the Delacree Park Basic School.

On Friday (September 30), the Council will focus on educating seniors about acquiring additional income to support their basic needs. The seniors will be engaged in intergenerational activities, such as backyard and containerised gardening on the grounds of the NCSC.

The activities will continue with the observance of International Day of Older Persons, on Saturday October 1 (a United Nations designated day), and conclude on Tuesday (October 4), with islandwide parish awards ceremonies.

Executive Director of the NCSC, Beverly Hall- Taylor, said that the Council remains committed to sensitizing the public to its work.

"What we want to achieve is for more persons to know about the work of the National Council for Senior Citizens, and to come on board and assist us in what we have to do,” she said.

Mrs. Hall-Taylor pointed out that acquiring financial support has been a major challenge for the Council, which is funded by The Ministry of Finance, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. The Council also receives support from service clubs, churches, the Mona Ageing and Wellness Centre and the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ).

By Jeneva Gordon, JIS Reporter