First Lady Erdoğan attends launch of the “Our Elders, Our Values Project”

First Lady Emine Erdoğan attended the launch of the "Our Elders, Our Values Project" carried out by the Vefahane Life Center in Bağcılar, İstanbul.

Stating that they consider it one of the most essential duties of the state to ensure that elderly citizens can continue to actively participate in social life without being separated from their social environment, Mrs. Erdoğan said: "Our elders are the strongest bond between us and the wisdom and knowledge of the past."

"OUR ELDERS' EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE ENLIGHTENS OUR PATH"

Noting that our elders ensure the continuity of cultural memory and the preservation of national and spiritual existence, First Lady Erdoğan said: "Our elders pass on to us many wisdoms distilled from hundreds of years of experience. In our understanding, those who have reached the age of maturity are considered the pioneers of society. Their words are deemed credible. Their experience and knowledge enlightens our path. We find peace in the shadow of the wisdom of our elders. As the first teachers we encounter in life, the elders of our family have an exceptional place in the upbringing of each of us."

Pointing out that there is an elder in everyone's life who has shaped their perspective, the way they do business, their morals and their relationship with people since childhood, Mrs. Erdoğan said: "As members of a culture that is at peace with all stages of life, we know that living with our elders means inviting wisdom into our household and our lives. Unfortunately, today we live in a time when our ties with the past are getting weaker and weaker. Our homes where people of all generations, from 7 to 70, live together in peace are becoming fewer and fewer. However, maintaining intergenerational communication strengthens us against the challenges in life, regardless of whether we are adults or children, and ensures that our souls are fermented with wisdom."

Stating that as the energy of the youth is blended with the experience and determination of the past, society becomes immune to all attempts of turmoil spreading around the world, First Lady Erdoğan emphasized that societies that learn from their elders and welcome their elders into their hearts move forward to the future with more confidence. "Societies that fail to connect with their elders lose their identities and values, and lose their social peace irrevocably."

"The Ministry of Family and Social Services provides a wide range of comprehensive care services for the elderly. Within the scope of the At-Home Care Service, 140 thousand elderly individuals receive services in the company of their families. The model aims to strengthen the traditional family structure and improve the psychosocial well-being of the elderly. On the other hand, hosting elders in a safe institution during the day facilitates the participation of other family members in work and social life," First Lady Erdoğan said.