Newsletter Update
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Quarterly Newsletter for period April - September 2008 THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGEING Volume 1, Issue 2 WORKING TO PLACE OLDER PERSONS’ CONCERNS ON THE BELIZE NATIONAL AGENDA IN THIS TRIBUTE TO MS. KAMELA PALMA ISSUE Ms. Kamela Palma has been the Chairperson of the National Council on Ageing since February 10th 2003 when, along with 16 member • Tribute Ms. Kamela Palma Pg 1 organizations, she was officially sworn into office at the • From the Editor Commissioning Ceremony, by Dolores Balderamos–Garcia, then Minister of Human Development, Women, Children and Civil ADVOCACY Society. Ms. Palma was chosen to be chair, not only because her previous • The Golden Years Pg 2 experience and skills as a leader had been recognized but also for • VOICE updates her passion and dedication to uphold the rights of older persons in Pg3 Ms. Kamela Palma Belize. On behalf of the Secretariat staff • Mexico– Belize and past and present NCA members, I can say that she has Health Fair Pg 6 been an excellent leader who has guided the organization • P.A.H.O. Workshop: Mental Health in through many stages of developmental to a point where we Disasters Pg 6 readily accept the challenges that will be presented to us when • Elderly and advocating for older people. Disasters Workshop Although we will miss her at the NCA we are also very in the British Virgin proud that she has been appointed Belize’s Ambassador to the Islands Pg 6 United Kingdom and that her skills as a diplomat have once HEALTH again been recognized. We congratulate her and do not need to wish her well Ms. Palma and her 97 • Health Corner Pg 4 in this new post because we all know that she will be an excel- Sugar Free Banana year old father Mr. Cake Recipe lent Ambassador and representative of Belize. Carlton Fairweather Exercise Tips From the Editor RECOGNITON Welcome to the second issue of the National Council • The NCA Pays on Ageing’s newsletter. I am the new Programme Officer for Tribute to Ms. Viola the NCA, having joined the Secretariat office in July this year Miles Pg 3 and editor of this edition of the Newsletter. • Recognizing our It has been sometime since we have produced an Golden Age Heroes Pg 4 & 5 updated newsletter but, as you can see, there has been many events taking place and no shortage of information to ACTIVITIES report on over the past few months. This edition has several • Older Persons articles featuring people who we wish to pay tribute to for Celebrate Earth Day Ix-Chel Poot Pg 7 their service and dedication. Chief among them being Ms. • Student Interns 2008 Kamela Palma who will be leaving us. She will be greatly missed and we wish her every Pg 7 success with her new appointment and of course we plan to always keep in touch. Another person we pay tribute to is Mrs. Viola Myles who died at the age of 105 in March of this year. Also featured in this issue are the nominees for the Golden Age Hero Award. The Golden Age Hero Award is designed to honor persons 60 years and older who, through voluntary service, have contributed to the improvement of their community. Nominations range from entrepreneurs to school teachers and everything in between. The NCA is proud to honor these older persons who have dedicated time and energy to selflessly serving our country. NCA’s Quarterly Newsletter 1 The Golden Years The NCA Pays Tribute to Mrs. Viola Myles Belizean American donates bike to child infected with HIV/AIDS In this issue of the newsletter the NCA The Golden Years programme would like to pay tribute continues to inform and educate to Mrs. Viola Myles who Belizeans on the issues of older persons died in March 2008 at every other Sunday on Love Fm. The impact of the the age of 105 years. radio show was seen when after we aired a show Mrs. Myles was not only on HIV/AIDS. a remarkable woman for Ms. Sandra Peters a Belizean American who having reached the age is an avid listener to “The Golden Years” on line, has of 105 but also for the responded to the call for help from the aunt of a 13 many years of service year old school girl who is HIV positive from birth. that she gave to the Sandra, while listening to the programme “HIV and community in Belize AIDS and how it affects the Older Persons” has Ms. Viola Myles & Dr. Troja City. purchased a bicycle for the child that her aunt had Mrs. Myles was a requested during an interview in Dangriga. This has lifelong Salvationist who came to Belize from her provided the child with a necessary means of birth home of Jamaica when she was a young transportation to school as she lives quite a distance woman to work as a missionary with the Salvation away. The distance had made it difficult for her to Army in Belize. She never returned and spent the travel to and from school especially in the rest of her life in the home she came to love. afternoons. Sandra had wired one hundred dollars Sister Myles was known throughout Belize US to NCA’s previous Programme Officer – Raphael City and many citizens will have seen her each year Martinez. The bicycle was bought in Belize City and around the months leading up to Christmas on was picked up by Nurse Estella Humphreys - Health Albert Street with a bell in one hand and a kettle in Educator and Chairperson of the HIV and AIDS the other, collecting donations for the Salvation Society in Dangriga on Saturday 5 April 2008. Nurse Army Xmas appeal for the poor and needy. In fact Humphreys has been working with the child and her Mrs. Myles spent most of her time working with the family for the past 3 years. The NCA is grateful for poor and needy and was well known for her the assistance rendered by Ms. Sandra Peters. generosity. The Golden Years is broadcasted live every Mrs. Myles other Sunday with our hosts Mrs. Gwen Gillett and was actively involved Ix-Chel Poot (NCA Programme Officer). If you would in other organizations like to be a part of the Golden Years, you can apart from her church contact us at 822-1546/822-3978 or call in during a and supported the broadcast at 203-2098. YWCA and HelpAge Belize. She entered and won the Miss Y Pageant at the age of 95 and was still dancing at her 100 year birthday party, as seen in the picture. The NCA will always remember Mrs. Viola Myles as a fine and spirited lady. Ms. Viola Myles & Ms. Palma celebrate NCA’s Quarterly Newsletter 2 VOICE The Representative Organization of Older HEALTH CORNER Persons in Belize SUGAR-FREE BANANA CAKE The inception of VOICE saw the creation of a 2/3 c. banana, mashed new type of organization working for older persons. 1/2 c. butter, softened VOICE is the medium through which older persons 3 lg. eggs advocate for their rights and equal access to 3/4 c. water services. VOICE empowers older persons instead of 2 c. Whole wheat flour serving them. VOICE 2 tsp. baking powder members are advocates 1 tsp. baking soda and through their 1 tsp. cinnamon advocacy they serve Optional: 1 c. chopped walnuts OR 1/2 c. chopped their country and other walnuts & 1/2 c. raisins older persons. It has taken the Grease and flour a 9 x 13 inch pan. Beat together VOICE groups across mashed banana and soft butter until creamy. Beat in the country some time water. In a separate bowl, beat eggs until very to adapt to their new foamy. Beat into mixture. Blend in flour, baking role as advocates. powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Beat until Some of the groups smooth. Stir in walnuts or walnuts and raisins, if de- h a v e n e e d e d sired. Spread batter evenly in pan. Bake at 350 de- restructuring while grees for 20 minutes or until a knife inserted comes others simply needed out clean. Cool. Serves 8-10 a gentle push in the Mr. Israel Alpuche, E N J O Y ! right direction. VOICE Chairman Mr. Evan Dakers, the NCA consultant, has been working with the VOICE groups over the past WALL PUSH-UPS months to ensure that the VOICE movement will not loose momentum and will continue making strides in VOICE two day workshop in Belmopan the right direction Recognizing that they needed to increase their management skills, a two-day training workshop was organized by Mr. Dakers and sponsored by United Nations Population Fund 1. Place hands flat against the wall. (UNFPA) and the NCA. A total of 23 VOICE members 2. Slowly lower body to the wall. Push body away participated in the workshop which focused on from wall to return to starting position. “Setting and Achieving Goals.” The workshop was facilitated by Belize Institute of Management (BIM). NCA’s Quarterly Newsletter 3 Mrs. Rose Groutsche, 69, migrated to Belize in 1967 with her husband Claude Groutsche. A proud mother of three Belizean born daughters, Ms. Rose began her volunteer work in 1969 when she joined Saint John’s Ambulance Brigade. She joined the Girl Guides Association in 1975 and worked with the guides on many different projects. This early work with young women has Mr. Antonio Vega Sr. and his wife Mrs. Lidia Vega inspired much of her work with young people.