Global PIONeer Gazette

Shout out for our older selves and all those to follow

As the Pass It On Network (PION) sets out into 2023 and celebrates our 10th year of global expansion, we are thrilled to kick off the year with a new round of electrifying 50/50 conversations!

To start with, PION is a leading advocate for a convention for the rights of older people and we're excited to announce that we'll be joining the upcoming GAROP Global Rally. 

Would you like to showcase any events you may have planned for the rights of older people? This rally will be active during the week of February 27 to March 5, 2023. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a real impact! 

GAROP Global Rally is also calling you to create short, powerful two-minute video statements to be used during and around the 13th session of the UN Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing in 2023. In 2022, 30 out of the 35 videos came from PIONeers from all around the globe. Let's make an even bigger impact this time! Join us and make your voice heard.

Follow the guide on how to make a video (English, French & Spanish).

How to Rally our Voices for a UN Convention 
on Human Rights for Our Older Selves
 

Monday, 13 February 
1pm EST / 6pm GMT / 7pm CET / 8pm SAST
 

 Margaret Young

To find out how we are personally affected and to learn what we can do as individuals, members of organizations and of communities, Pass It On Network has called on our PIONeer from Canada to lead our next 50/50 conversation and answer these questions. Margaret, founder of Age Knowble, is imminently well-placed to do so. Her dedication to the cause is both valuable and inspiring. 

January 50/50 
Celebrating our  10th Anniversary!

If you missed our January 50/50, check it out on our PION YouTube Channel!  We celebrated Pass It On Network's 10th Anniversary and shared plans for an amazing 2023! 

Every month Moira Allan, our co-founder and international coordinator, hosts an Open House for anyone who wants to find out more about our network. We offer a choice of two sessions to accommodate PION’s global outreach.

Americas, Europe, Africa
Tuesday, 14 February
 @ 1 pm EST

Asia, Australasia
Wednesday, 15 February
 @ 7 am CET

Find your local time. View Time Zone Converter here.

Nigeria’s vision - inclusive, dignified, secure, happy and healthy lives for all older people

Emem Omokaro, PhD, was appointed the first Director General (DG) of the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) in January 2022 to implement the first Government Policy on ageing as laid out in the National Senior Citizens Centre Act 2017, domiciled in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development.

In an interview with the Nigerian Daily Trust, she explored the journey.

"This is the first time that Nigeria has a focal agency on aged and older persons anchored in legislation," said Ms. Omokaro, "and this first year has been both exciting and challenging."

Exciting because after many years of constant advocacy calling attention to the plight of older persons, the Nigerian government has understood and now recognizes the increasing number of older people. This has given older people and youths an opportunity to have a center focused on developmental issues concerning them. 

Older people are not beggars, they contribute to and are bona fide members of society. So, the NSCC has to bring a perspective that’ll be a Nigeria perspective to ageing. 

A 10-year Road Map

After the Act was promulgated, we took the necessary time through multi-sectional engagement and consultations to develop a 10-year road map that helped us to clearly identify our vision of a Nigeria that is inclusive, and where older people can live dignified, secure, happy and healthy lives and are given opportunities to practice what they value. When their functional capacity declines, they have a right to comprehensive healthcare wherever they choose to live. Issues of ageing are multidimensional and we now have a way of bringing in all sectors—health, transportation, housing, sport, data generation finance, and management, among others. 

On the other hand, it’s been challenging. Nobody handed us a baton. Therefore, the foundation that we lay now has to be concrete, very solid, and very forthright. Nigeria has to be put on that path that sees ageing in an optimistic way. 

Helping Ukraine
 

Galina Poliakova, PIONeer in Kyiv, Ukraine, runs “Turbota pro Litnih v Ukraini” (Age Concern Ukraine), a not-for-profit non-governmental voluntary organization built on the principles of mutual- and self-help for older people. The organization has 9 branches and, before the Russian invasion, 2,000 volunteers all 60+, dedicated to supporting their seniors. The organization receives not a single hrivna from the budget.

As grinding week by week goes by so the ranks of volunteers are being depleted – often because they have to flee themselves and also often because of stress, moral fatigue, and illness.

25% of the population is over 60; and 60% are women

“Every day is a combat”

In a 30-minute WhatsApp conversation, Galina shared some of what she’s facing.

Desperate for "60+" volunteers 

We desperately need new volunteers and are recruiting. We have no budget to pay salaries. And it is heartening to see that we applicants. Right now, in Ukraine, everyone, in whatever role, is pulling their weight. We have to, if we don’t the alternative is too horrific to contemplate. 

We do our best to support lonely people. We have no money to buy food, so we help where we can by insulating their homes. We do shopping when we can. But we have constant power outages. Right now, I can speak to you because I remembered to charge my mobile, otherwise, I have no power, no electricity, the elevators don't work, and if you live on the 21st floor, what can you do?  With no Internet it is very complicated to organize anything.

We want to set up hotlines in our nine cities so that people can be informed.  There are so many lonely people in the east and in the south where villages and towns are ruined and in ashes, and yet the people don’t want to leave their homes. We try to support providing blankets, torches, and batteries. Many beg for food for their cats. 

We do our best. The situation is desperate. The other day the director of an old age home phoned and asked me for money to buy coffins

Difficult to end a conversation like that.  “What can we do?” The reply: “Unfortunately, no one can do anything. But when we have won the war, you can come and help us to rebuild our country. What we need most is money." 

To donate use PION’s PayPal account and specify UKRAINE. 

27 February - 5 March
GAROP Virtual Global Rally for the rights of older persons

7, 8, 9 March
Strasbourg, France. Commission European hosting REIACTIS - Research from 18 countries on Inclusive & Advanced Society, including citizens discussions. Watch for the link for livestreaming on 7 March.

9, 10, 11 March

Prague, Czech Republic, EURAG Council and Conference on Healthy and Unhealthy Ageing of the Brain

3-6 April
NYC, USA. 13th Session of UN’s Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing, including a PION-sponsored side-event on Social Inclusion

27-30 June 
Bangkok, Thailand. The IFA 16th Global Conference on Ageing 

22 August
Johannesburg, South Africa. PION sponsored Ageing Advocacy in Southern Africa Conference.

23-24 August
Johannesburg, South Africa. Afrolongevity Summit on Improving Geroprotective Policy and Technology.

3-6 September
Israel, EURAG Council on Financial Security in Later Years

15-24 0ctober
Singapore and South Korea. PION/ACAP sponsored International Study Tour on Active Ageing – Best Practices and Innovations for an Aging Society.