Justice and Human Rights Brazil Project #26361

Heliopolis Elderly Center

by ASSOCIACAO DE AMPARO AO IDOSO

Project Report | Jan 16, 2020
Theatre Classes for Senior Citizens

By Barbara Borges | Executive Director

Theatre Classes

At the Heliopolis Elderly Center, our senior theatre provides older adults with a unique opportunity to exhibit their acting and dramatic talents. For some, it's a chance to relive and rescue their skills from bygone days. For others, it's the opportunity of a lifetime to take center stage.

Created specifically for older adults, senior theatre incorporates techniques to accommodate their skills and abilities. Scripts highlight a majority of older characters in situations based on occurrences in seniors' lives. The plays involve a variety of genres, including follies, variety shows, dramas, and comedies.

"I woke up one morning and said, 'I want to teach the Heliopolis Seniors what I know about theatre and acting,'" recalls Milli, class founder, actress and drama teacher. "I have been studying acting and drama in education in Sao Paulo, Brazil, for the past 25 years, and I wanted to bring that to the Heliopolis community. In the first weeks of class, I worked with 12 older people, and I spent the whole week getting their life stories and transferring them into different ideas and drama projects. It was so beautiful and rewarding."

This was evident at our first Christmas play performance on December 18th, 2019 the Heliopolis Elderly center organized a special presentation for all center members called, A Day Back in School! Initially timid, the senior members slowly warmed up to the idea, partaking in not just comedy skits but the reading of scripts...where they had an opportunity to improvise their lines, using their body and voice. "The idea is not to push anybody to take part but give them time to enjoy the experience and the space to engage at their pace and readiness. The end result is always magical," Milli sums it up perfectly. "The kid in us is always there and our aim is to create a space where that kid comes out."

Thanks to these theatre workshops at the Heliopolis Elderly Center, age is no longer a limiting factor for many senior citizens. The golden years unlock many unexplored possibilities for them, and these classes have brought forth talents that have been lying low all these years.

We hope that thanks to your generous donations, more senior citizens experience the magic of theatre and the concept finds as much ground in Brazil as it has in other countries.

Theatre Class Group Photo

Theatre Class Participant

Theatre Class Group Photo

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Oct 23, 2019
Spring Wellness Festival Heliopolis

By Barbara Borges | Volunteer

SPRING DECORATIONS

The seniors from Heliopolis Elderly Center, in Sao Paulo, Brazil were invited to the Spring Wellness Festival luncheon at the Baccarelli Institute (on September 26th, 2019) inside the community of Heliopolis. The Spring Wellness Festival luncheon was meant to spread the festive spirit and warmth of spring to those who might not have the chance to celebrate the coming of spring with loved ones.

Projeto Velho Amigo president, Regina, made a speech and said she hoped that the special early gathering would bring joy and happiness to the Heliopolis Elderly Center community.

Many fun activities took place throughout the morning which was kicked off with a presentation from the Heliopolis Elderly Center choir. Seniors were serenaded by an accordion and a choir of 25 older persons who sang well-known Brazilian songs.

Afterward, the senior ladies presented their dance group by dancing to old folk songs and modern tunes as well. "They were brilliant in their colorful costumes, it was a great day and a great event," said Gabriella, one of the teachers from Projeto Velho Amigo. "We encourage all of our seniors to join the choir and dance classes, it is always fun to give it a try!"

Wellness includes not only physical health, but also intellectual, emotional, and social well-being. The benefits of wellness classes are important at any age but become more dramatic as we age. The event was developed with the hope that seniors acquire information to add life to their years rather than just years to their life. The senior ICT class presented all older persons with booklets on health and well being, with a special focus on medicinal plants and alternative therapies.

After everyone had presented, a lovely pot-luck lunch was served. Many healthy treats and delicious platters were shared by all in a festive and beautiful atmosphere. The festival was organized by volunteers and teachers from the center. All seniors helped to decorate the space with lovely recycled paper flowers and colorful streamers.

"All in all it was a joyful day and an educational event," said Edna, coordinator of the Heliopolis Elderly Center. "We loved seeing all of our seniors participating and learning in a safe and cozy environment."

COLORFUL COSTUMES

SENIORS JOINED TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE SPRING

CARMEN MIRANDA - SPRING COLORS

THE CHOIR

RECYCLED PAPER FLOWERS

THE DANCE GROUP

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Oct 10, 2019
How Singing in a Choir can Improve Lives

By Barbara Borges | Volunteer

Heliopolis Choir

Can singing in a choir impact the quality of life of older adults, particularly those from diverse cultural backgrounds who never sang in a choir? We decided to start a choir in our senior center inside the Heliopolis community. The music institute, Instituto Bacarelli, houses our Senior Center so it was a fun project to create!

The most interesting part about our choir is that the lead teacher is a Senior from the community (look at attached photos). Our choir sings in Portuguese and they love to sing Brazilian folk songs, country songs, oldies, and classical music. “This was tailor-made for me,” says Rachel (the teacher). “I wanted to sing in Portuguese! I already knew a lot of the songs—folk songs, oldies, classics”—songs I loved singing with my mother.

When Rachel asked us about starting the choir we were thrilled about the idea. “This has been fantastic for me,” Rachel told us. She was doing something that she loved and it gave her a reason to get out of the house and make friends. “If someone doesn’t go, we call them: ‘Where were you? What happened?’ We learn a new song every week. I noticed that they all started learning faster after a while. I have them do exercises for breathing and rhythm—it is all very beneficial.” explains Rachel.

She and other choir members loved the choir so much that they started to perform at all our Elderly Center get-togethers! Maria, now 76, sings with the choir she loves it, “I do other things, too. I take classes. I go to concerts and the theatre with people from Projeto Velho Amigo. Singing is an expression of happiness—that also gives you happiness.”

We found that singing in a choir reduced feelings of loneliness and increased interest in life, compared with similar adults who weren’t in a choir. Other research has found that high rates of loneliness, social isolation, and depression among older adults can cause health problems.

Choirs offer a relatively easy way to develop novel approaches to help older adults stay engaged in the community. There are few requirements for joining other than a willingness to try singing. There are no instruments for participants to buy and learn, as with a band or orchestra. Some choir members felt at first that they couldn’t sing, but with patient encouragement from their teacher, “somehow it all works out,” said Rachel.

According to Maria, "They never make anybody feel they’re not doing it right. Their message is: ‘We’re here to enjoy singing, enjoy each other, and strive to be the best that we can be.’

The Heliopolis Elderly Center Choir performs at the senior center and during holiday celebrations.

"I’m grateful that the choir exists for me at this time of my life,” says Maria.

Seniors Singing

Teacher Leading the Choir

The Choir

Singing

Heliopolis Elderly Center Choir

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