Keeping the promise: a forward-looking review to promote an agreed action agenda to achieve the MDG by 2015 Report of the UN Secretary-General

This report, which is issued pursuant to General Assembly resolution 64/184, presents information on progress made in achieving the Millennium Development Goals through a comprehensive review of successes, best practices and lessons learned, obstacles and gaps, and challenges and opportunities, leading to concrete strategies for action. It consists of four main sections. The introduction examines the importance of the Millennium Declaration and how it drives the United Nations development agenda. The second section reviews progress on achieving the Millennium Development Goals, presenting both shortfalls and successes in the global effort and outlines emerging issues. The third section sums up lessons learned to shape new efforts for accelerating progress to meet the Goals and identifies key success factors. The fourth and final section lists specific recommendations for action. The report calls for a new pact to accelerate progress in achieving the Goals in the coming years among all stakeholders, in a commitment towards equitable and sustainable development for all.


I. Introduction

1. The adoption of the Millennium Declaration1 in 2000 by 189 States Members of the United Nations, 147 of which were represented by their Head of State, was a defining moment for global cooperation in the twenty-first century. The Declaration captured previously agreed goals on international development, and gave birth to a set of concrete and measurable development objectives known as the Millennium Development Goals. Spurred by the Declaration, leaders from both developed and developing countries committed to achieve these interwoven goals by 2015.

2. The Millennium Development Goals are the highest profile articulation of the internationally agreed development goals associated with the United Nations development agenda, representing the culmination of numerous important United Nations summits held during the previous decade, including summits on sustainable
development, education, children, food, women, population and social development. They are the world’s quantified, time-bound targets for addressing extreme poverty, hunger and disease, and for promoting gender equality, education and environmental sustainability. They are also an expression of basic human rights: the rights of everyone to good health, education and shelter. The eighth Goal, to build a global partnership for development, includes commitments in the areas of development
assistance, debt relief, trade and access to technologies.

3. During the past decade, the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals have led to unprecedented commitments and partnerships reaffirmed in successive summits and meetings, including the 2002 International Conference on Financing for Development at Monterrey, Mexico, the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, in Johannesburg, South Africa, and the 2005 World Summit in New York. During this same period, the public and their Governments have also had to contend with new unanticipated challenges. Some have been specific to countries or regions, while others have been global, such as the food and economic crises of the last three years.

4. Our challenge today is to agree on an action agenda to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. With five years to go to the target date of 2015, the prospect of falling short of achieving the Goals because of a lack of commitment is very real. This would be an unacceptable failure from both the moral and the practical standpoint. If we fail, the dangers in the world — instability, violence, epidemic diseases, environmental degradation, runaway population growth — will all be multiplied.

5. Achievement of the Millennium Development Goals remains feasible with adequate commitment, policies, resources and effort. The Millennium Declaration represents the most important collective promise ever made to the world’s most vulnerable people. This promise is not based on pity or charity, but on solidarity, justice and the recognition that we are increasingly dependent on one another for our shared prosperity and security.

6. The Millennium Development Goals provide a historic framework for focus and accountability. This fabric of accountability, however, is being tested and will need to be further strengthened to achieve the Goals by 2015. This is all the more important as the Goals are crucial stepping stones towards equitable and sustainable development for all. Meanwhile, the devastating impact of climate change looms large, and the international community is facing the challenge of working together to ensure the end of extreme poverty and sustainable development to save the planet and its people, especially the most vulnerable.

7. This report calls on all stakeholders, including national Governments, donor and other supportive Governments, the business community and civil society at large, to work in concert to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals are met by 2015. The high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly to review the implementation of the Goals in September 2010 will provide a unique opportunity to strengthen collective efforts and partnerships for the push to 2015. The present report assesses achievements and shortfalls thus far, and suggests an action agenda for the period from 2011 to 2015.


II. Progress so far

8. A number of countries have achieved major successes in combating extreme poverty and hunger, improving school enrolment and child health, expanding access to clean water and access to HIV treatment and controlling malaria, tuberculosis and neglected tropical diseases. This has happened in some of the poorest countries, demonstrating that the Millennium Development Goals are indeed achievable with the right policies, adequate levels of investment, and international support. Considering their historical experience, some poor countries and even whole regions have made remarkable progress. For example, sub-Saharan Africa has made huge improvements in child health and in primary school enrolment over the past two decades. Between 1999 and 2004, sub-Saharan Africa achieved one of the largest ever reductions in deaths from measles worldwide.

9. Nevertheless, progress has been uneven and, without additional efforts, several of the Millennium Development Goals are likely to be missed in many countries. The challenges are most severe in the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, some small island developing States and countries that are vulnerable to natural hazards and recurring lapses into armed violence. Countries in or emerging from conflict are more likely to be poor and face greater constraints, because basic infrastructure, institutions and adequate human resources are often absent and lack of security hampers economic development.

10. Later this year, the Millennium Development Goals Report 2010 and MDG Gap Task Force report will assess progress on achieving the Goals. The latest update of the 60 official Millennium Development Goal indicators will be presented in an addendum to the present report, to be issued later this spring. The following section of the report assesses successes, obstacles and gaps in order to draw lessons on actions needed to achieve the Goals.

Read Detail Report
: http://social.un.org/index/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=kJ8pR8oW7vo%3d&tabid=337

Care Giver Tips: Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s? – Don’t forget to care for yourself too!

“Alzheimer’s is not a sprint. It’s a marathon.” This was what the memory care center manager told us during our first care conference. It took a while for this to sink in fully. She was encouraging our family to find a balance between caring for our loved one who has Alzheimer’s and still maintaining a life for ourselves. A sprinter focuses on speed for a short distance but soon runs out of strength. Just as a marathon runner trains for endurance, an Alzheimer’s caregiver must approach this disease with the long run in mind.

When we first became responsible for an aunt with Alzheimer’s, our lives drastically changed. It often felt as if our lives were spinning out of control. There was little time for anything or anyone other than Aunt Betty. We finally realized that it would be impossible to continue at the same pace. If we failed to take care of ourselves, we might not be able to continue caring for her. Alzheimer’s can be a long, slow process. It is essential that Alzheimer’s caregivers take care of themselves, too.

An often-neglected area for us has been diet and exercise. Weight control has always been a losing battle in our family. Unfortunately, our first response to stress is to eat. The result has been not only weight gain, but increased cholesterol levels. A poor diet leaves you feeling tired and sluggish. Exercise is not an option when you feel so exhausted. That further complicates the health risks. A healthy diet and exercise will help a caregiver finish the marathon called Alzheimer’s disease.

Another area we’ve struggled with involves relaxation time. In order to adequately tend to Aunt Betty’s needs, we have to allow ourselves time away from the demands of Alzheimer’s care. Time away should not be accompanied with guilt. Ask other family members or friends to take your place as caregiver to allow you some time for yourself. Sometimes time away may be only a few minutes.

Mood swings and aggression are typical for the person suffering from Alzheimer’s. Trying to deal with these moods can be exhausting, too. In the beginning of our journey with my aunt’s illness, we tried to reason with her when she became irritable. Sometimes she said very hurtful things to us. Learning to walk away during those episodes was a huge step toward maintaining our sanity and well-being. It’s necessary to do that sometimes.

Remember that people with Alzheimer’s may have already lost the ability to reason. Attempting to reason with them may create more frustration for both of you. Your health may depend on walking away for a few minutes, too.

Find Alzheimer’s help in support groups whenever possible. The advantage of such a group is that you can learn from the experiences of others who are further along in the journey. You can learn what to expect and get advice on how to face the challenges ahead. We’ve learned so many things by trial and error. If we’d been involved in an Alzheimer’s support group, we might have found the road a little less bumpy.

Alzheimer’s support groups are usually available at churches, community centers, facilities specializing in memory care, and nursing homes. Check your local yellow pages for groups in your area. If you’re not comfortable in a group setting, you can contact counselor or NGO/ARDSI/Silver Inning Foundation could prove helpful.

Finally, make it a priority to have relationships with others who have no connection with Alzheimer’s. Everything in your life does not have to be about the disease. For your own mental, physical, and emotional health, develop friendships with people who can provide an escape.

Having traveled the road herself, Lisa W. Smith is an expert at helping Alzheimer’s caregivers cope with the emotional, financial, and legal stress of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. She has created an electrifying report, “An Alzheimer’s Horror Story: Killing Her Slowly!” which highlights part of this journey.

Source: http://free-alzheimers-support.com/wordpress/2011/01/while-caring-for-alzheimers-dont-forget-to-care-for-yourself/

Dementia & Alzheimer's SIF presentation in English & Marathi 2011.mp4

Dementia is a progressive brain dysfunction which results in memory loss and a restriction of daily activities and in most cases leads in the long term to the need for care. Dementia is one of the major causes of disability in late-life. Many diseases can result in dementia, the most common one being Alzheimer's disease. It mainly affects older people ; about 2% of cases start at the age of 60 years. After this, the prevalence doubles every five years. Dementia affects each person and family differently. As dementia progress, there are notable changes in memory, thinking, language, behavior and function — all of which require different skills and strategies. Very few of us have a natural born knack for care giving. The challenge posed by dementia as a health and social issue is of a scale we can no longer ignore. Despite the magnitude, there is gross ignorance, neglect and scarce services for people with dementia and their families. This Presentation is prepared by Silver Inning Foundation in association with ARDSI Greater Mumbai Chapter for Information and awareness. June 2011 . Contact : silverinnings@gmail.com . Website: www.silverinnings.com

India Geriatric Experience of US Medical Student 2011

India is big, crowded, and changing faster economically and socially than it can seem to keep up with. The largest democracy in the world with over one billion people, it is completely overwhelming and exhilarating, but there is also a prevalent warmth and hospitality within the people wherever you go. India’s history is as rich and colorful as you can get, with hundreds of different conquerors and border changes, the famous story of independence led by Mahatma Gandhi, and evidence of it all remaining in the temples, statues, and preservations of countless historical sites. The culture is heavily influenced by religion and their daily rituals influence almost every part of the lives of the Hindu people I interacted with. Muslims and Christians, along with Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Jews, and Zorastrians also are seen openly practicing their religions, and all living in relative peace and sybiosis with each other.

The changes that the country is experiencing are palpable. A brand new office building next to a rusty corrugated metal capped slum in Mumbai, a polished SUV on the road next too a cow, and of course the technology boom bringing western modernity into the developing world that is trying to keep up, are some of the obvious sites showcasing the new vs. the old. Health issues are changing too- there is improvement in some public health measures, but there is still a long way to go; you’d be very adventurous to drink the tap water. And with the large amount of people moving into the cities and greater availability of unhealthy foods, rates of diabetes and hypertension are on a dangerous incline. But when talking to the locals about what is changing, especially from the elderly generation, you hear about the huge social changes taking place. The breakdown of the Indian family model, which used to be comprised of a large household with all generations, is now becoming nuclear and leaving many from the silver generation without a home.

My rotation focused on the health and social issues of the elderly population in India. I worked with a multi-faceted medical NGO in Bangalore, The Nightingale Trust, whose realm includes home medical care, an inpatient dementia care unit, adult day care, and rural medical visits amongst other things. I also worked with a newer NGO in Mumbai known as Silver Inning Foundation which uses social networking and media to help address multiple human rights issues and needs of the elderly. My goals in this rotation were to learn about the health and human rights issues involving the elderly in India and compare them to the USA’s, share my knowledge and ideas with the Indian people I work with, and use my connections and what I learned in the future in some way to help address these and similar problems.

Before leaving, I had some grasp on the issues affecting the elderly. I had heard that there were rising amounts of elderly people due to increasing life expectancy, and little infrastructure to support them. Also I knew rates of diabetes were on the rise. I wanted to explore the issues from a medical and human rights perspective, as are my interests. When arriving, I found that these things were true, and more. Again and again I heard the stories of children abandoning their parents, or moving away to the US. There was no government support to help them finance their daily life. Rates of depression have increased in the elderly as an outcome of the changing family structure too.

The NGOs I worked with were helping to address these issues. Nightingale Trust was providing home care to people in the cities and the rural areas that once had no access. They also help underfunded people with adult daycare, abuse help lines, and sliding scale payments. Silver Inning foundation was using social networking and media to connect elderly people with each other and with the help they needed. They put poor people in touch with affordable old age homes, provided an elder abuse hotline, visited men’s and women’s group and provided them with information and ideas, and were constantly promoting awareness with innovative networking. I was a part of these NGOs as an observer and short-term worker. I think my presence benefitted the people I interacted with by sharing my knowledge of how the elderly are treated in America and by showing my support of the activities and the people in need.

I think the greatest benefit of students’ involvement in global health is the impact is has on the student herself. I would not be the person or doctor that I am if it wasn’t for my community service and global health experiences. My experience in India humbled me and took my breath away several times. The family that I stayed with told me that instead of selling their printing company, they just gave it to their employers as a sign of gratitude for years of hard work. Both NGOs I worked with were started by individuals who used all self-funding for years to keep them alive. The fact that everything seems to work out so well in the face of so much constant chaos in India, I can only attribute to the amazing way everyone is constantly helping their fellow man. As my rotation had a large focus on human rights, I think this observation of hospitality, selflessness, and charity made the largest impression on me.

In terms of my professional career, experiences like this rotation benefit me greatly. I am entering into a residency in Internal Medicine that focuses on helping a diverse and underserved population, and the more experience I get with other cultures and pathologies, the better I can treat each individual. It also shapes my goals and reiterates my desires to help all people, regardless of class, race, and borders. I will be more of an advocate for the elderly after interviewing and assisting so many in India. And I will be much more mindful of human rights issues with the elderly such as abuse, lack of support and a home, depression and loneliness. Also, I made a lot of connections with doctors and activists in India, and I have no doubts that we can continue to work together in the future.

In my time in India I worked in two large cities, visited rural sites surrounding them both, and traveled to 5 cities total. I aimed to get as much possible out of my short time there and I think I succeeded. The NGOs I worked with showed me a comprehensive view of the health and human rights issues affecting the elderly in India. Most of the medical problems were similar to what we see here. Diabetes is on the rise, mostly due to the influx of people into urban areas, and the availability of food, unhealthy food, in the cities. Also with urbanization come many sedentary jobs leading to lack of exercise and obesity. Other common things are common, such as hypertension, asthma, COPD, dementia, depression, and cancer. Dementia is receiving growing attention, and the prevalence is increasing due to the increase in life expectancy and increase in awareness.

When I explored the Indian people’s perception of health care in their country I was surprised at how little people complained, which was much less than I feel we do here in America. I found myself looking for problems, asking leading questions to get to the bottom of it. What I found is that most people say they get medical care when they need it, and at not too high of a cost. Very few people have insurance, and there is no Medicaid or Medicare equivalent for the destitute and elderly. However with the lower cost of health care due partly to the lack of insurance companies, most people get what they need. I asked, “What if you get cancer? What if you have diabetes? What if you’re the poorest poor?” Most of the responses were basically that if you have chronic diseases there are schemes available to help, and that there are good government hospitals that are free to the poor. But when I got to the bottom of it I noticed that people were not getting the primary care they needed. Indians would rather treat themselves at home, with naturopathic or Aruvedic medicine or an antibiotic they picked up at a pharmacy without a prescription, than go to a doctor. With this pattern comes many late presentations of disease. This problem is sure to get worse with the increasing levels of diabetes, and this does not seem to be being addressed as of now.

Having soaked in the sites, sounds, smells, and tastes of a country as large and busy as India gives me a great perspective on the rest of the world. Almost 1/6th of the world’s people are on the subcontinent, and I have gained confidence after living how that huge chunk of the world lives. Like any time I leave the USA, I am reminded of the incredible luxuries that we have here. Potable water, roads that aren’t littered with garbage, potholes, cows, and unbelievably bad traffic, and decent access to health care. Also my freedom as a woman and as an American are something I take for granted. I was disappointed to see women not usually being treated as equals, and I constantly heard about the corruption of the government with attitudes of hopelessness to change. But I will never forget the kindness I and incredible selflessness I witnessed by my mentors, my hosts, and even strangers in India. Also there is great beauty in everything in India, from the temples, the delicious food, and the smells of jasmine and incense burning. This global health experience has enriched my education in medicine and human rights, and also personally enriched my life.


By Robin Reister
Medical Student
MEDI 7003 Reflective Essay
UTHSCSA

Transnational Caregiving Pilot project :Understanding needs of Elders and Childrens

Transnational caregiving refers to the exchange of care and support across national boundaries.

This pilot project sought to examine transnational caregiving among Asian Indian elderly residing in India whose children resided outside India. A subgroup of Asian Indian elders whose children resided exclusively in India also participated in this study. This primarily helped define how similar or different the caregiving experience was based on whether children resided in India or outside India.

With the assistance of Silver Innings in Mumbai and Non‐Resident Indian Parents Association (NRIPA) in Bangalore, a total of 70 adults participated in this pilot project in Bangalore and Mumbai during 2010.
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Individuals participated in either a focus group meeting, completed a survey, or an extended phone interview to capture some of their transnational caregiving experiences.

Initial analysis of the findings suggests the following:
1) Transnational caregiving involves reciprocal caregiving between Asian Indian adult children and parents. Such reciprocal caregiving also is evident among those whose children reside in India.

2) Caregiving by seniors involves frequent contact between generations, advice when sought by adult children, babysitting grandchildren, occasional financial assistance from parent to adult child.

3) Caregiving by adult children includes frequent contact initiated to parents, periodic visits, emergency crisis care, and support during bereavement. In this group that largely represented an educated group of middle‐class or higher seniors, remittances made by adult children to parents were negligible.

4) Transnational caregiving is complex as it involves many challenges such as time, money, health,work schedules, marital status, travel costs, visa limitations, competing familial obligations, etc. Caregiving by children within India also involved many of the same challenges, except visa limitations and travel costs.

5) Communication technology has enhanced intergenerational contact as evidenced by the use of Skype, email, webcams, etc.

6) Majority of the senior participants whose children resided outside India were living independently in their own homes, were educated, middle‐income category or higher, socially active, enjoyed good health, and preferred to keep 'intimacy at a distance' with their children. They themselves were not keen to live in multi‐generation households.

7) Whether children resided in or outside India, it was clear that many of them lived in small‐sized households with or without their spouse. Paid help was frequently used to address some of the daily household tasks.

In today's global economy, despite the separation caused by national borders and geographic distance, a great deal of emotional support, communication, exchange, and caregiving takes place between adults and their elderly parents. Day to day dependence on adult children (whether they lived in India or outside India) appeared to be limited. As one participant said, "Whether our children live in Kengeri , Tumkur, or USA, it really makes no difference in everyday living."

[The author gratefully acknowledges the generous assistance of Mr. M.R. Mahadevan (NRIPA, Bangalore) and Mr. Sailesh Mishra (Silver Innings, Mumbai) with the data collection process for this project]

A Pan India project will be done in near future.

By Jyotsna M. Kalavar, Ph.D. (Author)
Associate Professor, Human Development & Family Studies
Penn State University (New Kensington campus), USA

WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY (WEAAD) 15th June 2011 : India Programme

May 20th to June 20th 2011

On the occasion of 6th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) 15th June 2011 Silver Inning Foundation(SIF) a NGO working with senior citizens and their family members in association with INPEA (International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse) Indian Chapter through Development, Welfare and Research Foundation (DWARF) and 'Little Things Matter Initiatives' (LTMI), SSS Global, FESCOM (Mumbai), ‘1298’ Senior Citizens Helpline, Mumbai, AISCCON , Harmony for Silvers Foundation & ALFRESCO FC will be commemorating Elder Abuse Awareness Day from on May 20th to June 20th 2011 . SIF through its networking and social media has taken the initiative to host various events pan India to create awareness and sensitize the Government and the Civil Society to eliminate/prevent elder abuse at both micro and macro level.

World over 15th June is marked as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by INPEA.INPEA is an organization, founded in 1997, which is dedicated to the global dissemination of information as part of its commitment to the world-wide prevention of the abuse of older people. The United Nations International Plan of Action adopted by all countries in Madrid, April 2002, clearly recognizes the importance of addressing and preventing abuse and neglect of older adults and puts it in the framework of the Universal Human Rights. INPEA is dedicated to supporting the plan of action.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day month long programme aims to increase society's ability, through various programmes, to recognize and respond to the mistreatment of older people in whatever setting it occurs, so that the latter years of life will be free from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Objective:
• To create awareness in elderly people themselves regarding what comes under elder abuse.
• To sensitize young people regarding elder abuse and to bridge the intergenerational gap between elderly and young people.
• To create awareness in media and civil society at large regarding elder abuse.


World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Month long Tentative Programme: from May 20th to June 20th 2011
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1. Host Essay Competition – http://silverinnings.blogspot.com/2011/05/4th-national-annual-essay-competition.html . Essay of maximum 2000 words on the following topics are invited from May 20th to June 20th 2011:
a) For all age groups:
Can Elder abuse be prevented, if not eliminated? If yes how? If no why not?

b) For School Students - Class 5th to class 10th:
Grandparents are the best Friends

c) For Students - 1st year College to Post Graduation:
Youth are important link towards Elderly friendly society http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

BlogAdda.com is Exclusive Blogging Partners for the event 4th National Annual Essay Competition 2011 for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) 2011



2. Online Elder Abuse Survey 2011: Elder Abuse, Magnitude & Intervention – from May 20th to June 20th 2011: http://silverinnings.blogspot.com/2011/05/online-elder-abuse-survey-2011-elder.html

3. 4th June Talk on ‘Women Empowerment’ by Adv Nausheen of Majlis at Ladies club annual get together at Sangeeta Complex ,Bhayandar west , Near Mumbai

4. 5th June ‘Elder Abuse’ Sensitization talk at FESCOM Capacity Building programme for office bearers of FESCOM Senior Citizens State Federation at Harmony Center ,Mumbai

5. 15th June “Foot D Ball to Stop Elder Abuse” friendly football match between Youth and Staff and Elder Resident of Rajpuria Vaprashtashram(Old Age Home) Uttan , Bhayandar west , near Mumbai in association with ALFRESCO FC, Mumbai MDFA 3rd Division Team (2010). We at Silver Inning Foundation (SIF) are promoting the cause of Elderly through unique and well tried ‘Sport for Development’ (S4D) concept through our Pilot project “Foot D Ball to Stop Elder Abuse “.This intergeneration activity with S4D concept through Football is tried for first ever time in this part of the world (might bhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gife first time in world) for promoting Elder Cause and to create awareness about Elder Abuse in civil society. Youth will Tie ‘Purple Security Band’ to Elders : http://silverinnings.blogspot.com/2011/05/young-chagemakers-to-use-football-as.html

6. 17th June ‘Intergenerational Programme’ in association with Apne Aap Women’s Collective - AAWC (NGO working for Children’s of marginalized mothers) & Harmony for Silvers Foundation at Harmony Day Center ,Mumbai. Children’s will Tie ‘Purple Security Band’ to Elders

7. 20th June ‘Talk on Dementia & Alzheimer’s and Abuse’ at Senior Citizens Association of Shri Krishna Nagar, Borivali East ,Mumbai . SIF staff will Tie ‘Purple Security Band’ to Elders

8. Senior Citizens group at Visakhapatnam will be conducting an awareness meeting on "Elders Abuse" on 15th. June 2011, jointly by [1] Vintage Visakha a Forum for Elderly and Senior Citizens ND [2] Sneha Sandhya (Welfare Society for Senior Citizens)

9. SSS Global in association with Senior Citizens groups, Hyderabad plan to conduct Talk on Elder Abuse based on their personal experience / knowledge.

10. Bulk SMS will be send to more than 10,000 people

11. Bulk Email will be send to more than 25,000 people

12. Creation of Open Group on Face Book ‘World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) 15th June’

13. Month long activity on Social Media sites

14. ‘Friendly Football Matches’ at other places including schools


Together, we have the power to prevent elder abuse



My World, Your World, Our World, Free of Elder Abuse


This World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) 2011 program is organized by Silver Inning Foundation and supported by INPEA (International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse) Indian Chapter throuhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifgh Development, Welfare and Research Foundation (DWARF) and 'Little Things Matter Initiatives' (LTMI), SSS Global; FESCOM (Mumbai), 1298 Senior Citizens Helpline, Mumbai; AISCCON ,iCONGO ; Harmony for Silvers Foundation & Alfresco FC –Mumbai.



Contact for more info: silverinnings@gmail.com

Young Chagemakers to use Football as a catalyst for Elder Friendly World: WEAAD 2011

During this World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 15th June 2011 programme, we at Silver Inning Foundation (SIF) are promoting the cause of Elderly through unique and well tried ‘Sport for Development’ (S4D) concept. This year we are launching our Pilot project “Foot D Ball to Stop Elder Abuse”in association with ALFRESCO FC, Mumbai MDFA 3rd Division Team (2010).

Fusion and Synergy between Youth & Elders will help us to achieve our vision of creating elder friendly world where ageing becomes a positive and rewarding experience. This intergeneration activity with S4D concept through Football is tried for first ever time in this part of the world ( might be first time in world)for promoting Elder Cause and to create awareness about Elder Abuse in civil society.

Sports programme promotes social inclusive and serve as effective tool for social mobilization. Access to and participation in sport is a human right and essential for individuals of all ages to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

Sport and physical activity are essential for improving health and well being. Appropriate forms of sport and physical activity can play a significant role to prevent as well as help cure many of the world's leading noncommunicable diseases. Evidence shows that regular participation in physical activity programmes provides all people with a wide range of physical, social and mental health benefits. Such active participation also interacts positively with strategies to improve diet, discourage the use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs and enhance functional capacity. Consequently, physical activity is an effective method of disease prevention for the individual and, for nations, a cost-effective way to improve public health.

Sport, recreation and play are a fun way to learn values and lessons that will last a life time. They promote friendship and fair play. They teach team work, discipline, respect, and the coping skills necessary to ensure that children develop into caring individuals. They help prepare young people to meet the challenges they will face and to take leadership roles within their communities. Sport and recreation programs are creating environments that are safe and promote stable relationships between children and adults, and among children themselves. Sport as a development instrument becomes even more interesting if it is durably embedded in the local society.

Sport and play are important to UNICEF because they are vital elements in the health, happiness and well-being of children and young people. Research shows that participation by young people in structured recreation contributes to their physical and psychosocial development and can teach basic values and life skills - hard work, discipline, teamwork, fairness and respect for others - that shape individuals' behaviour and help them to pursue their goals and respond appropriately to events in their own lives and in those of others.

UNICEF's Sport for Development (S4D) work is grounded in its mission to ensure that every child has the right to recreation and play in a safe and healthy environment - a right founded in Article 31 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child - as well as the right to sport, which is specifically contained in other international treaties. It also recognizes sport-based initiatives as a programme strategy to achieve specific development objectives, including, most notably, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Football is one of the most patronized sports around the world. All around the globe, organisations driven by local social entrepreneurs, use the power of the beautiful game to positively transform their communities. Development through Football is becoming an important issue within the development cooperation and social work sectors.

Fuelling positive social change through Football has become a fundamental pillar in and carries a significant responsibility for the society as a whole. Due to its values, popularity, universal nature and appeal, football -in all its forms- can be seen as the ideal instrument for achieving social and human development targets and tackling many of the major challenges faced by society today. Football has a positive effect on those who play it, both in terms of health (physical activity) and life skills (the values of team sport).

The success story remarkably have been made in the Development through Football sector since the beginning of the 21st century, while more limited activity on the field can be tracked down already back in the late 1980’s. It is only during the last 5-6 years, however, that more and more social development and donor organisations recognise the positive impact of sports and especially football as a way to foster social and human development. The universal fascination of football thanks to its simple but exciting playing rules, along with its low equipment costs and team-building characteristics, makes this sport a favourite in the Development through Sport field.

A perfect analogy to life ,The principles and values of street- or simply informal football played within Development through Football programmes include fair play, team spirit, tolerance, inclusion, and understanding, both of oneself but also of the others, regardless of their status as opponents or team mates.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup which was staged in Africa for the first time ever has strengthen the connection between football and social development even more and thus offer a great chance to showcase the full potential of football.

"Linking football with development programmes, can help make a difference to the lives of millions of children," said Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel.

In India organsiation like Dream A Dream has training module “The Dream Way of Working with Children” highlights values like respect for children, progressive ways of getting children to follow instructions, and making learning for children fun, interesting and participatory.

Also Magic Bus India works for change through football ,finds the potential and abilities within each child, empowering them to build strong and aware communities free of religious and caste prejudice and gender divides. It believes in the child’s right to a positive future in which they make their own choices and take responsibility for change.

The SIF pilot project “Foot D Ball to Stop Elder Abuse” recognizes the potential that football and other sports can unleash when systematically included in processes of social change. Football especially has the power to unite people and cultures all over the world. As a team sport it promotes fairness and tolerance, leapfrogs gender boundaries and fosters mutual understanding, thereby contributing to the positive development of personality and character.

With this Pilot project SIF wishes to engage youths, empowering them with skills to positively develop their personality and character, thus increasing opportunities to tackle their life and enhancing a strong civil society. SIF will utilize skill and wisdom of our Elder and use a holistic approach to promote ‘Sports for Development’ through Football.

Vinay Sangwan , the Alfresco FC manager say’s ‘ I have been playing football for last four years just for my passion for the sport and to carry on the work of my father. It’s exciting that we are associated with SIF for this unique programme to support the cause of our Elders. Yes I agree there lack of awareness about Elder Abuse in Indian society and we are happy that through game of football we would bring the issue in mainstream and seek justice for our Elders’.

Sailesh Mishra, Founder President Silver Inning Foundation believes that while sport would not be a cure for all social ills, sport and specially game of football can perfectly be a catalyst for development and the promotion of peace.

Sailesh further say’s added to this is the broad consensus that regular physical activity is essential for the physical, mental, psychological and social development of children and people of all ages. The tool of sport through football will help our youngsters and elders to Age Gracefully and lead to Healthy Ageing.

We call upon members of Civil Society , Youth Clubs , Sports Club , UN Agencies, Educational Institutions , Corporate , Media ,Senior Citizens Organization’s and Senior Citizens to come ahead and support our unique pilot project “Foot D Ball to Stop Elder Abuse” by Participating , Organizing matches , Capacity building training , Train the Trainer , Media promotion and most important by Funding and Sponsoring.
Together, we have the power to prevent elder abuse; let’s make My World, Your World, Our World, Free of Elder Abuse .

This World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) 2011 program is organized by Silver Inning Foundation and supported by INPEA (International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse) Indian Chapter through Development, Welfare and Research Founhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifdation (DWARF) and 'Little Things http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifMatter Initiatives' (LTMI), SSS Globalhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif; FESCOM (Mumbai), 1298 Senior Citizens Helpline, Mumbai; AISCCON ,iCONGO , Harmony for Silvers Foundation & Alfresco FC –Mumbai.


Contact: silverinnings@gmail.com ; info@silverinnings.com
Website: www.silverinningfoundation.org