Golden Years Community Foundation

We propose to continue activities on our six themes created from our needs assessment via an annual survey of members. These are: (1) Digitization/ Digital Literacy and Inclusion; (2) Social and Relationship Building (overcoming social isolation); (3) Promoting awareness of wellness and positive aging; (4) Experience Exchange: Golden Years' Members Share Skills & Hobbies Training (online); (5) Older Adults' Care; (6) Income Generation and Economic Inclusion.
(Theme 1). Activities will include digital literacy training in the use of Facebook (we have over 50,000 users), WeChat, Zoom, and apps useful for older adults' needs; we will provide training videos and one-on-one coaching for older adults in IT use. Many of our activities began during COVID, when online was to only way to overcome seniors' isolation; we continue to do a lot of organizational communication with members online. 96% of Egypt's adult population has online access.
(Theme 2). Activities will include monthly field trips; two book clubs in different areas of Cairo, featuring writers over Age 60; monthly breakfasts; monthly Zoom organization meetings for members' input and feedback; monthly birthday parties; the Golden Years' Choir with three concerts each year; plus quarterly Farfasha (women's dance parties).
(Theme 3). Activities to include: an Annual Walk Rally (3,000+ persons) to promote senior wellness; quarterly mini-walks to promote fitness; we have a YouTube video channel with 26 videos on health topics with new episodes added monthly; we continue to create a video series on art, handicrafts, yoga, breathing exercises, financial health for retirement, legal information for older adults, positive thinking; we will hold monthly parties at nursing homes, both public and private, with entertainment and donations for residents; we will continue making online cooking shows; we will conduct an annual awareness survey about caregiver needs; continues online support groups; will provide training sessions in elder care to corporations, schools, and conferences; and give many media interviews.
(Theme 4) We continue to ask members to share skills, including member-created videos on macrame (series of 14), crafts, painting, and Photoshop; members' writings, e.g., another member wrote two guides for caretakers, posted on our webpage.
(Theme 5). We will provide updated information on services available for older adults in Egypt; continue a program of volunteers to foster inter-generational empathy, to pair youth with elders are mentors; provide special sessions for caregivers with advice from a gerontologist.
(Theme 6). The main activity will be to hold 6 craft bazaars annually in different locations in Cairo and Alexandria, featuring members' hand-made items. Craft groups will meet monthly.