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AGEING AND DIVERSITY: TOWARDS EMPOWERMENT AND FULFILLMENT. A CELEBRATION OF DEMOCRACY AND AGEING by Monica Ferreira

The organizers of the Third Global Conference of the International Federation on Ageing (IFA), taking place in Durban, South Africa, from October 19-23, 1997, invite all involved or interested in the field of ageing to attend. As conference organizer, Monica Ferreira suggests that the conference will provide an ideal venue in which to discuss how developing countries are coping with increasing num- bers of older people. Attendees will also be able to learn about cut- ting-edge developments in the field of ageing, as well as social, health, economic, educational, political and empowerment programs and projects for seniors. The IFA Conference in Durban will allow pro- fessionals in the field of ageing and advocates to share lessons from their home countries with delegates from around the world.

The Third Global Conference of the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) will be held in Durban, South Africa, from October 19-23, 199Z South Africa is undergoing remarkable change and transformation since the first free elections were held in April 1994, when President Nelson Mandela was voted into power.

A septuagenarian as President and a newly democratic county provide two good reasons for holding a conference on ageing in South Africa. Retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a sexagenarian and a colourful figure who coined the term "rainbow people" to describe South Africa's citizens, will deliver the opening address at the conference. His address will deal with transformation, reconstruction and reconcilia- tion in South Africa.

The conference is, however, concerned not only with age- ing in South Africa but with global ageing. The conference theme, "Ageing and Diversity: Towards Empowerment and Fulfilment," embraces multiculturaIsm in global ageing, and the diversity of older people, and it focuses on opportunities for self-actualization and fulfillment through empowerment.

Retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a sexagenarian .. .will deliver the opening address at the conference.

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The conference's Scientific program committee reasoned that, while the Second Global Conference held in Jerusalem, Is- rael, in 1995, largely focused on services and service delivery to older clients, the content of the Third Global Conference program should be directed at older persons themselves, as full participants and agents of change in their societies and communities. Substantial space has, however, been allocated in the conference program to subthemes and topics dealing with service provision.

Themes and Subthemes

Keeping within the main conference theme, the program com- mittee has looked to Africa for inspiration for themes and subthemes for plenary sessions, workshops, round tables and poster sessions, within which delegates may consider the rel- evance that African lessons and solutions to ageing issues may have for their countries. For example, three plenary ses- sion themes, are "Women, Family and Ageing Bridging the Generations in a Changing World, .... Poverty and Social Se- curity Towards Equitable Economics in an Ageing World" and "Ubuntu: Societal Values of Caring and Sharing in Af- r ica-and Elsewhere." In each case, the themes straddle first and third worlds.

Underpinning the themes and subthemes, and the selec- tion of topics for presentations in the program, will be a pur-

The philosophy and spirit of ubuntu--the African way of life and ethos of

caring and sharing--will be used as a departure point for deliberations

at the IFA Third Global Conference.

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posive attempt to highlight commonalities and differences in ageing as well as the circumstances of older citizens of coun- tries around the globe. A main thrust of the program, for ex- ample, will be to examine how governments in different countries are responding to population ageing.

Worldwide, both developed and developing countries are juggling welfare programs to limit spending, and they are seeking to foster self-sufficiency in older persons who are at risk of becoming dependent on welfare. The concept of ubuntu is an interesting case in point. A solution to an expanding global welfare burden may lie in the support and encourage- ment given to families, so that they may assume greater re- sponsibil i ty for the well-being of older relatives. The philosophy and spirit of ubuntu--the African way of life and ethos of caring and sharing--will be used as a departure point for deliberations at the conference.

Subthemes for workshops, panel discussions, demonstra- tions, round tables and posters, for which proposals for pre- sentations are invited, include: the family, older women, intergenerational relations, health, health promotion, physical activity, economics, long-term residential and community- based care, productive ageing, the impact of urbanization and migration, images of ageing, volunteerism and spirituality and many more. In essence, it is intended that the subthemes should emphasize both the capacity of older persons for productive and interactive ageing and opportunities for late life develop- ment, and that they provide for discourse towards formulat- ing guidelines for policy reform. A balance will be struck in the scientific program between presentations and perspectives on the developed world and developing countries.

Key Speakers

Key speakers have already been invited to give addresses in plenary sessions and have accepted the invitation: • Dr. Nana Araba Apt from the University of Ghana, the president of the African Gerontological Society, will explain the concept of ubuntu to delegates. • Dr. Kevin Kinsella, chief of the Ageing Studies Branch of the Centre for International Research of the U.S. Bureau of the Census, will consider future trends in global ageing and

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Worldwide, both developed and developing countries are juggling welfare programs to limit spending, and they are seeking to foster self-sufficiency in older persons...

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their impact on the economies of countries in different regions. • The Honourable Cheryl Edwardes, Minister for Seniors, Western Australia, will examine the changing family struc- ture and its impact on ageing in Australia. • Dr. Edward Prager from Tel Aviv University, Israel, will examine meaning in life for older persons and will report on his work with older volunteers.

The closing address at the conference will be delivered by Dr. Margaret Dixon, the incumbent president of the Ameri- can Association of Retired Persons (AARP). Dr. Dixon will examine images of ageing and will link them with opportu- nities for empowerment and fulfillment for seniors.

Other key speakers representing all continents and regions have been invited, and at the time of this writing, their re- plies are awaited.

Other Program Events

Other sessions and events have also been planned within the scientific program. Associations and organizations are being encouraged to hold symposiums over one or two workshop sessions on a topic relating to the main conference theme. Associational or organizational workshops may be followed by business meetings.

Another event will be the film festival for the screening of recent film and video productions related to ageing. The film festival was introduced at the conference in Jerusalem, and it was so successful that the festival has been made an ongoing event at future IFA conferences. It is hoped that a large num- ber of delegates will be screening films or videos at this year's conference in Durban.

For the last day of the conference, full-day professional visits have been arranged to sites where several types of com- munity services are offered to people in different cultural groups in the greater Durban area, including luncheon dubs, service centres, homes for the aged and assisted living units. The majority of these services are run by nongovernmental welfare organizations. These visits will especially appeal to overseas delegates and delegates from African countries out- side South Africa. Participants in these visits will have an

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opportunity to learn about specific projects and activities, and to discuss programs and issues with the service providers.

The social events program will include a welcome cocktail reception, a South African barbecue, a local hospitality evening-- when delegates and accompanying persons will be hosted for dinner in the homes of delegates who reside in the Durban area-- and a farewell dinner with cultural entertainment.

Optional sightseeing tours have been arranged to view city highlights; to visit an inland game and natural reserve (where leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros and giraffe may be seen); to see the famed Valley of a Thousand Hills, where lunch will be served in a traditional Zulu kraal; and to a township that is typical of areas in which the majority of South Africa's people live. Participants in the township tour will be able to meet the induna (chief) of the neighbourhood, who will take them on a "walkabout" and introduce them to aspects of township life. They may also meet a sangoma (traditional healer) for a private consultation.

About Durban

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Durban is situated on the east coast of South Africa. The larg- est city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban is one of the country's top holiday destinations because of its tourist amenities, cultural places of interest, balmy subtropical cli- mate, and the warm water of the Indian Ocean. Durban boasts the largest and busiest port of the African continent. The

Durban's Indian market provides opportunities to bargain for spices, artifacts and souvenirs.

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harbour, originally a lagoon, compliments the city and is a mere block from the central business district. The city is sur- rounded by rolling hills and sugar and banana plantations.

Durban is a vibrant, bustling, cosmopolitan metropolis, where first and third worlds co-exist in new harmony, and people of different cultures mingle. With a large resident In- dian population, the city offers culinary delights for those who like spiced foods and curries. The fascinating Indian market provides opportunities to bargain for spices, artifacts and souvenirs, while African curios are sold in informal stalls along the Marine Parade (where several of the conference hotels are located).

Invitation

The Conference Program Committee warmly invites you to come to Durban for this important conference--and to join delegates in celebrating ageing and democracy. Come to Af- rica to experience the spirit of ubuntu. Come to the confer- ence to learn how developing countries are coping with increasing numbers of older people, and to learn about cut- ting-edge developments in the field of ageing, as well as social, health, economic, educational, political and empowerment programs and projects for seniors. Finally, come to share les- sons from your country with delegates from around the world, and take advantage of a wonderful opportunity for valuable networking as well as for gaining inspiration and self-renewal.

Register now to attend IFA's Third Global Conference on Ageing in Durban, South Africa, from October 19-23, 1997. The registration package may be obtained from the Confer- ence Secretariat, 18 Rapson Road, Morningside, Durban 4001, South Africa. Tel: +27-31-23-3494; Fax: +27-31-23-2405; E-mail: ci@neptune.infolink.co.za

A provisional conference program, which lists speakers and the themes and topics of sessions, etc., will be available in early June 1997. Early-bird registration doses on August 15, 1997.

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About the author: Dr. Monica Ferreira is chair of the Scientific Program Committee as well as vice chair of the International Program Planning Committee for the IFA Third Global Conference. She is also director of the HSRC/UCT Centre for Gerontology, UCT Medical School, in South Africa.

The managing editor would like to thank the High Commission of South Africa for the photographs of Durban used to illustrate this article.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

The Stein Crerontological Institute is seeking experienced Principal Investigators to prepare and submit proposals to secure research funding for geriatric studies at the Miami Jewish Home and Hospital for the Aged. MJHHA provides long term care, hospital, sub-acute care, independent and assisted living, and mental health services in Dade and Broward counties, Florida. The proposals may make use of the longitudinal databases which MJHHA currently maintains, be for prospective studies, use MJHHA residents as comparison groups for established studies or in some other way relate to the elder-care mission of MJHHA. Proposals may be in areas of applied behavioral science, nursing, geropsychiatry, social work, human factors, neurobiology, rehabilitation, pharmacology/drug trials, etc.

The maximum amount of an award to develop a research proposal wilt be $5,000. It is expected that these funds will be used for travel to MJHHA, communication with MJHHA during the proposal development process, communication with specific funding sources, and proposal preparation/submission expenses. Additional information on databases which are available, services which are provided by MJHHA, or information on applying for these awards may be obtained from:

Stein Gerontological Institute (S.G.I.) Dr. Setil B. Goldsmith, Director 5200 NE 2ndAvenue, Miami, Florida 33137 Phone: (305) 756-0669 Fax: (305) 795-1300 E-mail: sgi@netrunner.net Web Page: http://www.netrunner.net/~sgi