On November 4 and 5, grandfathers and grandmothers in Mumbai will participate in a unique festival presented by Dignity Foundation, an organisation devoted to improving the lifestyle of senior citizens. A fun fair and job fair combined, this festival will offer senior citizens abundant opportunities by opening new career and learning options for them. They can appear for job interviews, binge on good food, play games, dance to dandiya numbers, indulge in their favourite hobbies, send free e-mails and even engage in a video conference with their loved ones abroad.

What is more - one can line up for selection by prospective employers, be part of a group discussion, participate in income generating workshops and even walk out with their own dream project report. Theme stalls will address their favorite hobbies and interests. If you want to know - how to start a small business, write a top class post-retirement resume, choose a second career and get a psychographic profile or even how to run a computer business from home, this is just the place for you. There are also numerous career opportunities such as how to make money in the stock market, run an events marketing business, and grow mushrooms .

The other attractions for senior citizens are: Grievances Cell (MTNL, UTI, Finance), information on hotels, fitness, travel, modern medicine, alternative medicine, Reikhi, ayurvedic herbs, numerology, astrology, Gita, Bible and Jain studies. The young at heart can surf the Internet and enjoy the Netbuzz, send free e-mails, participate in MTNL's video conferencing and watch your grandchildren talk from anywhere in the world!

Dignity Foundation stresses on optimistic development in the fields of Geriatry and Gerontology under the guidance of Sheilu Sreenivasan. The current programme of Dignity Foundation includes 'Dignity Dialogue', a monthly magazine that fulfills a threefold function: information, motivation and inspiration.

Dignity Help: The telephone service (3898 078) responds instantly with crisis counselling to distress calls from senior citizens who are faced with problems of different kinds . Dignity Companionship seeks to dispel the feeling of loneliness and helplessness that overcome a number of senior citizens. Dignity Second Careers is intended to relaunch senior citizens into remunerative employment, which fits in with their time constraints and professional experience. The Foundation also encourages senior citizens to become computer literate and provides basic computer literacy training to senior citizens at a concessional rate.

Atlast grandmas and grandpas have more to look forward to than just baby sitting their grand children.

Festival Date: November 4 and 5, Time: 10 am to 7 pm

Entrance Fee: Adult - Rs 20, Children below 12 - Rs 10

Organisers: Dignity Foundation & Rotaract Clubs,
Address: BMC School Building, Topiwala Lane, Mumbai - 400 007,
Phone: 389 8078 / 79 / 82

e-mail: dignity@vsnl.com

By Anupama Vinayak