The Family Development Foundation has implemented a number of interactive workshops targeted at senior citizens, as part of its ‘Barakat Al Dar’ club forums, to foster the mental health and well-being of senior citizens and residents. The workshops aimed to offer a safe and secure environment for them, enhancing their participation as well as guaranteeing psychosocial, cultural and health support for them.
Khawla Al Kaabi, Head of Social Welfare for Senior Citizens at Family Development Foundation, said: “The Foundation recognises the valuable role of senior citizens and residents, offering requisite psychosocial support and other assistance. It is geared towards their better social integration and strengthening their capacities through several interactive activities, as well as awareness and educational workshops offered through the Barakat Al Dar Club forums.”
Al Kaabi added: “The club provides several forums, including Health Forum, Family Forum, Educational Forum, Happiness Forum, Entrepreneurs Forum, Retirement Preparation Forum, as well as Social Support Forum. These are aimed at offering and ensuring a healthy lifestyle for senior citizens and residents. Furthermore, it seeks to provide them with social support as well as enable them to exchange knowledge and experiences between their children and grandchildren. Promote their projects, filling their leisure time and raising their quality of life through events that foster their mental health and positive thinking, as well as providing an integrated program for retirement preparation and getting ready for it to ensure a better quality of life.”
The workshops presented in the forums included – those about debt management, investment, organisation of monthly expenditure, preparation of business plan, entrepreneurship, generating ideas, goodness in your hands, memorising the Holy Quran, reading workshop, forever fitness, revitalising memory, positive competition, nurturing them with love for their protection, as well as the workshop of joy of our adults.