Caritas Lebanon Opens Center for Senior Citizens

By Mohammed Zaatari, Daily Star

February 8, 2008

Lebanon

Caritas Lebanon's Tyre office announced the opening of "The Grandmother and Grandfather Club" earlier this week, a place where the region's elderly are offered free food, leisure, outings and medical services. The club opens its doors every Monday and Wednesday and offers its visitors the opportunity to meet, interact with each other and enjoy their time.

While some spend the day relating old stories and sharing problems, others enjoy playing backgammon or reading books in the club's library.

A dietician is on hand to advise seniors with an appropriate nutritional program.

A woman identified as Umm Elias Shammas told The Daily Star that she takes pleasure in spending her time at the club.

"I talk with my fellow citizens about the past, hoping to relive our youth," she said, regretfully. "Our past days are much more beautiful than the present ones."

Naamat Shour, another visitor, expressed content to be a member of the club. "The situation here is excellent. We have everything we need to ease our sufferings. And most of all, we have a physician who takes care of our health."

Doris Ghafari, supervisor of the club, said the elderly "have the right to live in psychological and social security."

"We are doing this work since we believe that humans, particularly grandmothers and grandfathers, have the right to live in dignity," she said. "We should provide them with the care they need. The rights of the elderly ought to be sacred."

"We are glad to carry out such a humanitarian mission that responds to our ethical and social values as well as our religious doctrines," she added.

Caritas is a non-profit organization (NGO) that helps the needy. It has 36 centers specialized in helping the elderly, among other projects.

On Monday, Caritas had launched its annual Lent campaign for 2008 under the theme of "generosity."

"This year's campaign is a unique opportunity to heighten public awareness on Caritas' humanitarian and development programs and projects set up to relieve and support needy people, in order to enable them to live in respect and dignity," said a statement issued Monday.

According to the statement, Caritas Lebanon's Lent Campaign is supported by a new media campaign that carries a "special" message: that of "highlighting and working on solving Lebanon's pressing socio-economic crisis."

Caritas has also inaugurated new rehabilitation projects in the Baalbek Valley region and in the South. In cooperation with Caritas Austria, three roads that were damaged during the 2006 war with Israel were rebuilt to increase economic exchange between communities in the Baalbek area.

In Alma al-Shaab, located on the southern border, a water pump was installed and a garden for children and a basket-ball court were built with the help of Caritas USA.

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