Poolse premier opent Intergenerational Days for Promoting Activity conventie in Warschau (en)

The Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk i, inaugurated on September 24th the "Intergenerational Days for Promoting Activity" convention hosted at the Torwar Hall in Warsaw by the Ministry of Labour in the frame of the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations.

“We only discover the opportunities that lie dormant in the elderly citizens”, said the Primer Minister, who stressed that only intergenerational solidarity can guarantee a safe and happy life for all Poles.

The Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, took up this thought recalling Winston Churchill's aphorism: "Pessimism is the prerogative of the young, the elderly do not have the time”, adding that today's young people, using the achievements of intergenerational solidarity, have no right to be pessimistic.

The EY2012 Ambassador Władysław Bartoszewski also participated in the opening event, pointing out that there are many areas in which older people can fulfil themselves. He gave the example of the Universities of the Third Age, which in addition to providing diplomas may be an important factor to keep mentally healthy and understand the modern world.

The three-day convention, accompanied by a new edition of the Active 50+ fair, will put the focus on seniors volunteering as key to keep building a better society with an active elderly population.

The event is the highlight of the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations in Poland and is also framed within the Seniorforce action day encouraged by the EC i on occasion of the International Day of Older Persons (October 1st).