Light of Love: Spring Outing Activity with the Elderly

The Light of Love Public Welfare Development Center is located in Nanjing, China. It is dedicated to the development of rural education and community public welfare. 

One of the main purposes of several public welfare organizations is to train, promote young volunteers to team up with the elderly to enrich their lives and, in the meantime, to help our young volunteers as well.   These elderly people with empty nest quite often need company.  Need someone to talk to, share their feelings, and doing something fun together to enjoy their lives.  At the same time, our young volunteers can learn from the elderly from their life long experience and seeking for their advice as needed. 

In the morning of 04/13/2013, several public welfare organizations, including “Young & Old Connection” and “The Light of Love Public Welfare Development Center”, held an event in the city of Nanking to “Embrace the Sunshine of Spring, Stroll Excursion with the Elderly”.  This event received broad support from various organizations, college students, union members, etc.  Local radio and TV stations and media companies were also invited to report this event. 

First, the elderly and our volunteers roamed through a beautiful park in the pleasant sunny weather of April.  They carried on conversations, laughed a lot while walking in the nature.  Later on, they watched talent show by our young volunteers.  Some of the elderly also performed their own talent show.  The atmosphere really got warmed up and felt like they had known each other for a long time and got more attached.   When we looked at the scene, it was like grandparents with their own grandkids having a great time together.  What a blessed group of people they are and full of warm feeling.

This spring outing activity with the elderly let’s experience the joy of bringing happiness to the elderly, the genuine caring love among us.  This allows us to realize the need and essence of public welfare.  Together, we should all “Serve the elderly with our heart.  Accompany their lives with our love.”

Original article written by Xianwei Dai, translated by Joe Hsu and edited by Yanyan Zhang

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