International Day of Older Persons in Serbia Highlights Intergenerational Solidarity Through Poems, Stories, and Photography

On the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons, the United Nations Population Fund in Serbia once again, in cooperation with  partners, held two events: the photo exhibition "Beauty of Aging #3" organized by the citizens' association "Strength of Friendship - Amity” and Photo Association of Serbia, as well as the publication "Bridge of Understanding - Intergenerational Solidarity," organized by the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality.

The exhibition aims to show older people as creative, diverse, witty, and the beauty of aging full of life. These photos evoke the joy of life; they reflect the contributions of older people, their work and their participation in the community's life, together with the youth. By promoting these experiences and the importance of older people in our society and opening spaces for intergenerational dialogues, we create new narratives and break stereotypes about aging.

This year's competition received 388 photos from 71 authors, and the expert jury for the exhibition received 74 works from 46 authors.

The exhibition, which will be open until October 12, 2023, in UK Parobrod, is organized to commemorate 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with a vision to respect human rights "Through all generations."

On Monday, the second of October, the International Day of Older Persons was solemnly marked at the Day Center and Club for Older People "Igor Holkodokov" in Belgrade, with the awarding of prizes and an exhibition of the best children's works submitted to the competition of the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality "Bridge of Understanding - Intergenerational Solidarity."

In addition to Commissioner Janković, Minister of Education - Slavica Đukić Dejanović, Head of the Office of the United Nations Population Fund for Serbia - Borka Jeremić and Director of the Gerontological Center Belgrade - Srđan Dimitrijević, spoke at the ceremony. Friends of the event provided the prizes, Uni Credit Bank and the publishing house "Laguna," and a bilingual collection of the best children's works, "The Bridge of Understanding - Intergenerational Solidarity," was presented.