The annual Active Ageing Festival returned last weekend bigger and better than before, with events aimed at encouraging seniors and future seniors to stay active and meaningfully engaged. And this year, the Festival  featured more activities aimed at strengthening the “glue” between generations. 

Organised by the Council for Third Age, an independent organisation that promotes active ageing in Singapore, the Festival kicked off last Saturday and Sunday at the Suntec City Mall from 11am to 9pm.

Spanning six locations within Suntec City, this was the first time the Carnival was being held indoors. Each location is themed around the six dimensions of wellness – Spiritual, Emotional, Social, Physical, Vocational and Intellectual.

“Our guiding principle is to give seniors choices, and the Festival is a great platform for all the interest groups out there to showcase the options that are available to seniors and future seniors to age actively. Here at the Carnival, they have the chance to try out these activities first hand, so that they can experience things that they may not have known existed but which they may enjoy, or try things they may have an interest in but did not know where to go to take part,” said Mr Gerard Ee, Chairman, Council for Third Age.

Seniors enjoyed a variety of activities that show seniors how to age actively, including:
• Segway Personal Transporters
• Bartending
• Aikido
• Fashion parades
• Herbs planting and hydroponics demonstrations 
• Health management and free health screenings
• Financial planning and games by POSB and CPF respectively

There was also a Night Disco on the first day - 20 June - featuring seasoned stars, such as Rahimah Rahim, Vernon Cornelius, Matthew and the Mandarins, and L Vijayandran.

Just ahead of the Active Ageing Festival’s official launch by Minister in Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Lim Boon Heng, at the Suntec City Mall’s Fountain of Wealth, some 1,720 seniors and families from various organisations of the People’s Association (PA) participated in a mass brisk walk.

“An active lifestyle should start from young and be sustained throughout one’s life. It is never too late to start, so we encourage our residents to start as soon as possible – join in our activities and form interest groups to build strong social and mutual support networks, and lead active lives,” said Mr Tan Boon Huat, Chief Executive Director, People’s Association.

The walk flagged off at Suntec Galleria Square and the participants will walk 1.7km to the Fountain of Wealth to join in the launch.

Beyond the bigger, better Carnival, a number of other activities are lined up for the next five months to promote active ageing including several firsts, like the first Active Agers Celebrations. The Council for Third Age aims to rope in interest groups to organise events under the AAF umbrella to enhance the outreach of this Festival.

The Active Ageing Festival at a glance:

Active Agers Awards
Award Presentation Ceremony on October 11
Nominations start 20 June and closes 17 August
The Active Agers Awards recognise ordinary seniors who lead extraordinary lives, seniors who are passionate and enthusiastic about what they do and can act as role models and sources of inspiration for active ageing for their peers. Nominations start on June 20 and close on August 17, and the winners will be announced in October.

Nomination forms are available on www.activeageingfestival.com.sg/awards from June 20 and at the Active Ageing Carnival.

Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore will present the Active Agers – Infocomm Champion Award 2009. This is the second time this award is being presented.

Active Ageing Roadshows
Dates to be confirmed
Held in collaboration with the five Community Development Councils (CDCs), the Roadshows, which were part of the Festival for the first time last year, aim to bring the active ageing message to heartlanders. More details on the roadshows will be announced at a later date.

Active Ageing Celebrations
Dates to be confirmed
Singapore is home to a plethora of interest groups, serving members bound together with common interests and needs. The Celebrations is a means for interest groups to organise activities under the Active Ageing Festival umbrella. Besides reaching out to more people, C3A hopes the Celebrations will also engage interest groups to take ownership over the promotion of active ageing. More details will be announced at a later date.

Grandparents’ Day
November 22
Grandparents’ Day is a special day for grandchildren to show their appreciation to their grandparents and honour them for their contribution to family and society. This year, C3A will celebrate this special day with a walk from the Chinese Gardens to Singapore Science Centre, where participants will enjoy free entry. The Council is also working with attractions in the vicinity to offer concessions to participants in the walk.

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