Since the first wave of immigration from Brazilians in the 1990’s, many of those who first arrived have naturally gotten older, and there are few households that do not boast 3rd generation grandchildren these days! As such, we wanted to hold a session for matters of the mind, a natural and healthy way for people to age – a workshop on “Challenges facing the Elderly in the 21st Century”. The workshop was held on November 12 (Sunday) in Vila Brasil, a Brazilian restaurant (Takaoka Nishi, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu).
The presenter and teacher on the day was Brazilian psychologist, Mr. Davide Vander Luis. In one speech he stated, “There is a strong connection between the body and mind. If one is out of shape, the other will follow”. Both participants and the presenter enjoyed lively discussions throughout the session.
It is well known that as you age, you will face many changes to your body and mind. For example, you face losing the ones you hold dearest, and decreasing functionality of your own mind and body. As you reach these life stages, you may notice these changes happening, and your mental stability may take a tumble as a result.
Overall, around 20 participants took part in the session, of which many stated that, “This class will stand as a very strong reference point for me, how I will continue to live my life and for the relationships I have in the future”.
Similarly, another class on the topic of pensions in Japan, “Special Consultations for Pensions” was held on November 24 (Thursday) jointly by the East and West Pension Offices and the Hamamatsu Intercultural Centre. Approximately 10 participants came for consultations, each with varying topics and questions, such as: applications for tax exemptions national pensions, amounts receivable from pensions, what happens to the money you have accrued until now via pension if you return home etc.
HICE plans to continue holding projects and initiatives for aging foreign residents and their futures. There were 3 presenters overall, they managed everything from reception to MCeeing. They maintained good eye contact and spoke at a comfortable speed that the presentations felt caring.
