Helpage Belize today celebrated it's 20th year of service to Belizean senior citizens. During those two decades, Helpage has done significant work countrywide in policy and practice to better the lives of older persons. One of the most important missions has been to enhance the profile of older persons; which means letting the community know that they're still present and leading lives of purpose. Today, they took that message directly to the community as they paraded through the city streets to show that they've still got vim, vigor and lust for life:
Maria Elena Sylvester – Chairperson Helpage Belize
"Letting them realize that getting old does not mean that you stop living, that you still can be vital. All these older people walked a good distance. They are still very vital, some of them still working in the community. And you know role models for those little children that you saw looking at us on the road."
"The most important thing is the awareness of the issues of older people that has grown in the wider community. More and more young people are realizing that if you don't take care of your older people you are not a good country."
"People are living longer and that we must look after our older people because if we don't then it doesn't create that harmony and we shouldn't feel that only because you are young you should have a good quality of life. We should instill in the young that they are going towards a destination where living to be old is something beautiful."
Guillermina Conorquie - Senior Citizen
"I enjoy myself at the age of 56. I enjoy myself, thank God for that. God give me strength to keep myself in good health and strength. You see how I was moving up no. At the age of 56."
Evelyn Wagner - Senior Citizen
"I'm feeling good it's very good. Who complains God gets vexed with them cause they treat the elderly good especially the Helpage."
Thelma Miller - Senior Citizen
"I feel like I am getting old now but still you have to try keep up. And I love the Helpage I just joined a couple months ago but I love it. I like to walk and I like to march. I love it."
The organization has representation in every district and offers services to persons in those districts ranging from care to clinics.