The Center for Empowerment and Care of the Elderly, Ehsan has organised the Senior Citizens Forum for its members, coinciding with the Arab Day for Older Persons.

Ehsan is one of the centers which are operating under the umbrella of the Qatar Foundation for Social Work affiliated with the Ministry of Social Development and Family (MSDF).

Held under the patronage of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, the forum was attended by Minister of Social Development and Family H E Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad and a number of Their Excellencies Ministers and senior officials.

The Arab League General Secretariat, in 42nd session of the Arab Social Affairs Council, had approved Arab Day for Older Persons, based on the proposal of Qatar to designate October 10 of each year as an Arab Day for Older Persons, starting in 2023.

The day aims at celebrating the elderly in the Arab world and empowering them in Arab societies.

On this occasion, Minister of Social Development and Family H E Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, expressed her great appreciation for the elderly people, saying: “Our most respected fathers and mothers are our true wealth. You are the generation that laid the foundations of our modern renaissance.”

She added: “And the good seedling was planted, and today it has sprouted and ripened in prosperity and stability, thanks to your upbringing of us on the foundations of good morals and Islamic teaching. So we have made the world hear about the achievements of our country and its value among nations, and this is thanks to Allah and then thanks to your upbringing of successive generations of Qatar.”

The Minister stressed commitment to continue providing support to the elderly people and meeting their needs, adding: “Our fulfillment of all your orders is the least we can offer, as you are the people of virtue, and it is righteousness to meet your needs, listen to your requests, and strive with all our efforts to achieve them. 

“We are committed to improving the quality of services provided to you, and we are always working to review everything related to facilitating your lives for betterment.”

For her part, Executive Director of the Ehsan Center Manal Al Mannai, said that the elderly people enjoy a distinguished place at wise leadership which is clearly demonstrated in the enactment of legislation and laws to safeguard their rights.

Al Mannai said that these laws also help them overcome the challenges of their age group and in appreciation from the state for their role and efforts that contributed to achieving comprehensive development in Qatar.

She praised the great respect that senior citizens enjoy by all segments of Qatari society, which is considered an essential and authentic part of the culture of Qatari society, which stems from Islamic and Arab values ​​that encourage being dutiful to parents and caring for the elderly.

Al Mannai stressed that the Ehsan Center, based on its responsibilities in caring for and empowering the elderly in Qatar, works according to a distinguished future vision to achieve the hopes and aspirations of fathers and mothers in the Qatari society.

She said that the center has recently advanced and launched a number of services and programs specifically designed to build the capabilities and enhance the skills of senior citizens in line with the requirements of the current era.

Al Mannai said that Ehsan center is also spreading awareness about their requirements and needs in all fields.

The ceremony included showing a video of the center’s members, in which they shared their stories, feelings, and experiences in joining the Ehsan Day Clubs. They also sent messages of thanks and appreciation to the wise leadership of Qatar, and everyone who contributed to supporting and caring for them.

The event also included an activity “From Generation to Generation,” which addressed messages of appreciation and respect from the young to the elderly, and also addressed the cognitive and life experiences that the new generation of adults acquires.

In a gesture of thanks, appreciation and gratitude for his clear efforts in serving the nation, one of the mothers affiliated with the Ehsan Center presented a note of thanks to the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the members of the Ehsan Clubs.