Gold Community Club
The Inspiration
Two students at Beaconhouse Bahria Town, who recently relocated from the UK to Pakistan with their parents to care for their grandparents, observed that their grandparents led monotonous lives at home, solely dependent on their family for their basic needs and emotional/social well-being. They also recognized that ""Old Homes"" in Pakistan and our Eastern society are considered taboo due to religious and social obligations. Moreover, they discovered that there are very few government or welfare organizations running ""Old Homes"" in Pakistan, which have a controversial reputation for not providing satisfactory levels of comfort and care to senior citizens, who constitute over 5% of the population. However, the students strongly felt the need to engage their grandparents in productive activities, as they were lonely and relied solely on love, sympathy, and care from their families. In light of the recent legislation by the President of Pakistan regarding the ""Bill for Senior Citizens,"" the students shared their concerns and ideas with their peers and teachers. Together, they devised a plan to establish an exclusive club for seniors aged 60+ at their school, with the motto ""Seniors of 60+ Near Me,"" aimed at providing engaging activities and support for senior citizens.
The Journey
After discussing their concerns and aspirations with the school management, teachers, friends, and parents, the students received immense encouragement and support for their initiative to engage elderly citizens constructively. The school administration played a crucial role in assisting the students with planning and providing necessary resources. They facilitated access to grandparents of fellow students, arranged visits to ""Old Homes,"" and supported fundraising activities and interviews. With the collective efforts of all stakeholders, an action plan was devised and regularly reviewed to ensure a successful launch of ""The Gold Club"" in October 2022. However, the initial response was below expectations, with only two members, namely the grandparents of the students, registering for the club. To improve outreach, the students recognized the importance of face-to-face interactions and implemented online strategies by creating a Facebook Page. They motivated their schoolmates to encourage their grandparents to subscribe and engage with the interesting content being posted. Furthermore, the students actively involved grandparents in various school activities, emphasizing the significance of their mental, social, emotional, and physical well-being to encourage them to join the club. They coined the slogan, ""Don't Old people are the real GOLD,"" highlighting the value, wisdom, and emotional connection provided by older individuals. Over time, their efforts yielded positive results as more seniors gradually registered for the club. The students continued to organize and promote exciting and enjoyable activities, effectively popularizing the ""The Gold Club"" for individuals aged 60 and above.
Key Learnings
Initially, there were doubts regarding the feasibility of the project, with concerns surrounding financing, establishing connections, persuading elderly individuals to participate, ensuring meeting attendance, and managing time effectively. However, as the project progressed, its operational aspects demonstrated its effectiveness. Numerous opportunities arose during the course of the project, including the unwavering support from the school and the broader community. The founding members of the Gold Club exhibited a strong commitment to the project, while the school management showed great enthusiasm and shared the same vision and goals. The core committee and founder members played a vital role in garnering support and increasing membership in the club. Additionally, the project gained a larger following on social media, with an increased number of subscribers on the Facebook page. Although the extreme winter weather limited the number of events held for the elderly citizens, the Gold Community Club successfully organized interactive indoor sessions. These sessions allowed the school community to benefit from the wealth of knowledge and experiences shared by the club members.
The Impact
Apart from acquiring skills in planning, persuasion, and engaging the elderly population, the ""Gold Community Club"" project has instilled important values and interpersonal skills in the participating students. They have learned the significance of... mutual cooperation, respect for authority, loyalty to family, friends, and fellow citizens, as well as a sense of responsibility towards society and the environment. The most significant achievement of the project is the spread of happiness among its stakeholders, particularly the elderly members, including the students' grandparents and their new acquaintances. These individuals now look forward to the club's upcoming activities, which provide them with a sense of independence and engagement in day-to-day affairs. The club has greatly contributed to their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Furthermore, the project has created an exceptional platform for valuable experiences, human bonding, and emotional connections for the grandparents. The students, in return, benefit from spending quality time with their grandparents and learning from their wealth of experiences. The local community has also played a significant role by offering discounts on dental healthcare and other services to support the initiative. The project has garnered support from notable personalities, including celebrities, actors, poets, writers, scholars, and directors, such as Firdous Jamal, Tajdar Alam, Khalil ur Rehman Qamar, and Dr. Javed Iqbal. They have expressed their validation and appreciation for the project, either online or in person, thus promoting empathy and compassion among younger generations.
Way Forward
The next stage includes planning and implementing strategies to offer financial support for healthcare if needed, along with providing free routine medical check-ups for the members of the Gold Community Club. The aim is to ensure recognition for the club by spreading its message worldwide, and efforts have been made to request airtime on PTV for this purpose. The club also plans to expand its member base by organizing exciting and fun-filled activities with attractive and useful benefits specifically tailored for individuals aged 60 and above. This approach aims to empower them and highlight their value, fostering a sense of respect, love, and happiness within the community. By staying active members of society, they will experience contentment, happiness, and pride.
The Inspiration
Two students at Beaconhouse Bahria Town, who recently relocated from the UK to Pakistan with their parents to care for their grandparents, observed that their grandparents led monotonous lives at home, solely dependent on their family for their basic needs and emotional/social well-being. They also recognized that ""Old Homes"" in Pakistan and our Eastern society are considered taboo due to religious and social obligations. Moreover, they discovered that there are very few government or welfare organizations running ""Old Homes"" in Pakistan, which have a controversial reputation for not providing satisfactory levels of comfort and care to senior citizens, who constitute over 5% of the population. However, the students strongly felt the need to engage their grandparents in productive activities, as they were lonely and relied solely on love, sympathy, and care from their families. In light of the recent legislation by the President of Pakistan regarding the ""Bill for Senior Citizens,"" the students shared their concerns and ideas with their peers and teachers. Together, they devised a plan to establish an exclusive club for seniors aged 60+ at their school, with the motto ""Seniors of 60+ Near Me,"" aimed at providing engaging activities and support for senior citizens.
The Journey
After discussing their concerns and aspirations with the school management, teachers, friends, and parents, the students received immense encouragement and support for their initiative to engage elderly citizens constructively. The school administration played a crucial role in assisting the students with planning and providing necessary resources. They facilitated access to grandparents of fellow students, arranged visits to ""Old Homes,"" and supported fundraising activities and interviews. With the collective efforts of all stakeholders, an action plan was devised and regularly reviewed to ensure a successful launch of ""The Gold Club"" in October 2022. However, the initial response was below expectations, with only two members, namely the grandparents of the students, registering for the club. To improve outreach, the students recognized the importance of face-to-face interactions and implemented online strategies by creating a Facebook Page. They motivated their schoolmates to encourage their grandparents to subscribe and engage with the interesting content being posted. Furthermore, the students actively involved grandparents in various school activities, emphasizing the significance of their mental, social, emotional, and physical well-being to encourage them to join the club. They coined the slogan, ""Don't Old people are the real GOLD,"" highlighting the value, wisdom, and emotional connection provided by older individuals. Over time, their efforts yielded positive results as more seniors gradually registered for the club. The students continued to organize and promote exciting and enjoyable activities, effectively popularizing the ""The Gold Club"" for individuals aged 60 and above.
Key Learnings
Initially, there were doubts regarding the feasibility of the project, with concerns surrounding financing, establishing connections, persuading elderly individuals to participate, ensuring meeting attendance, and managing time effectively. However, as the project progressed, its operational aspects demonstrated its effectiveness. Numerous opportunities arose during the course of the project, including the unwavering support from the school and the broader community. The founding members of the Gold Club exhibited a strong commitment to the project, while the school management showed great enthusiasm and shared the same vision and goals. The core committee and founder members played a vital role in garnering support and increasing membership in the club. Additionally, the project gained a larger following on social media, with an increased number of subscribers on the Facebook page. Although the extreme winter weather limited the number of events held for the elderly citizens, the Gold Community Club successfully organized interactive indoor sessions. These sessions allowed the school community to benefit from the wealth of knowledge and experiences shared by the club members.
The Impact
Apart from acquiring skills in planning, persuasion, and engaging the elderly population, the ""Gold Community Club"" project has instilled important values and interpersonal skills in the participating students. They have learned the significance of... mutual cooperation, respect for authority, loyalty to family, friends, and fellow citizens, as well as a sense of responsibility towards society and the environment. The most significant achievement of the project is the spread of happiness among its stakeholders, particularly the elderly members, including the students' grandparents and their new acquaintances. These individuals now look forward to the club's upcoming activities, which provide them with a sense of independence and engagement in day-to-day affairs. The club has greatly contributed to their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Furthermore, the project has created an exceptional platform for valuable experiences, human bonding, and emotional connections for the grandparents. The students, in return, benefit from spending quality time with their grandparents and learning from their wealth of experiences. The local community has also played a significant role by offering discounts on dental healthcare and other services to support the initiative. The project has garnered support from notable personalities, including celebrities, actors, poets, writers, scholars, and directors, such as Firdous Jamal, Tajdar Alam, Khalil ur Rehman Qamar, and Dr. Javed Iqbal. They have expressed their validation and appreciation for the project, either online or in person, thus promoting empathy and compassion among younger generations.
Way Forward
The next stage includes planning and implementing strategies to offer financial support for healthcare if needed, along with providing free routine medical check-ups for the members of the Gold Community Club. The aim is to ensure recognition for the club by spreading its message worldwide, and efforts have been made to request airtime on PTV for this purpose. The club also plans to expand its member base by organizing exciting and fun-filled activities with attractive and useful benefits specifically tailored for individuals aged 60 and above. This approach aims to empower them and highlight their value, fostering a sense of respect, love, and happiness within the community. By staying active members of society, they will experience contentment, happiness, and pride.
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