Doña Vicky is the coordinator of a group called «Renacer con el Divino Niño» which significates a party that consists of 25 senior citizens who meet up every Wednesday in the «salon comunal». Regarding the activities, there is not much difference to other groups. They play Bingo, go on field trips, pray and also dance. What sets them apart from other groups is the fact that they are not economically supported by other institutions.
According to Doña Vicky, this is the big problem they face at the moment: «The ones who are not achieving retirement do often not have money for the bus to get to the meetings.»Her personal reason for the dedication she puts into the project is basically the enjoyment she gets by working with older adults. «Because they are the people who know more» and for that reason she has been working voluntarily since 1999. Back in the year when they founded this group, a lot of the elder population stayed in their houses for the entire day and did not communicate with others in their age range.
She says that there are still a lot of senior citizens, especially widows who do not dare to come to the meetings. She likes it a lot when they are coming, but for the majority it is a problem to overcome their husband’s death and amuse themselves.
We asked her how she has to treat the senior citizens and she responded that the most important thing is to respect their experiences. And this practically significates to pay attention, love them, listen to them and besides that to make them laugh. This is something that anyone can do at the wednesday-meetings.
We also talked to some of the participants and they noted that they are enyoing it a lot to be in this group.
By Werner Jacobs
Translated by Lena Kessel
