MSDFS awards #Halo competition participants

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MSDFS awards #Halo competition participants

“I encourage you to engage in small, consistent activities with your parents, grandparents or even the widower down the street, so that a culture of inclusivity becomes a natural element in your households and communities” said Minister of Social Development and Family Services, Senator the Honourable Donna Cox during a Prize Giving Ceremony for the Ministry’s #HALO Competition – Honouring Appreciating Loving Older Persons.

In her brief remarks, Minister Cox indicated that she was very enthused to see that citizens of all ages and walks of life were eager to participate and commended the Division of Ageing for the initiative indicating that it is her hope that the entire society will soon engender a culture of inclusivity, which takes into account the competencies, prudence and experiences of our senior citizens.

The #HALO Competition which ended on November 16th, 2020 was launched as part of the Ministry’s commemoration of the United Nations’ International Day of Older Persons on October 1st under the theme, Pandemics: Do they Change how we address Age and Ageing. In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the activities were predicated on the use of information and communication technology to safely engage the national community and highlight the inherent value of older persons and their positive contributions to society.

Participants were asked to submit a one-minute video demonstrating how they safely Honoured, Appreciated &/or Loved an Older Person using any creative means including a monologue, poem, song, dance or other expression whilst wearing white and/or grey. They were also asked to nominate an older person or relative for the grand prize of a tablet.

The “Older Generation” was the title of the winning piece won by 21-year-old Kayla-Jordan Parris. Placing second was the Keeping Families Together K.F.T.L Nursing Home and Activity Centre with a dance tribute to the viral hit song “Jerusalema”. Ms Natalie Duntin-Bartley, her daughter Keyara Bartley and Mr Aaron Ricardo Koon Koon also received rewards for their contributions.

Prizes included a tablet device contributed by Minister Cox and hampers courtesy the National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO), National Flour Mills and the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited.

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