1st October – UN International Day of Older Persons
Madam Kongseng Souvannaphong retired from WHO Lao Country Office in October 2014 after 30 years in service. She still fondly remembers her days as an accounts staff and recounts how she has seen WHO office grow from 20 staff to its current 48 staff including international and local staff.
Madam Kongseng said “I really missed the staff when I first retired, but now I have more time to take care of my family, especially my granddaughter, Thepthida and spend more quality time caring and cooking for them.” Thepthida simply adores her grandmother; and they have more time with each other, to read and do her homework.
Since her retirement, Madam Kongseng has more time for another one of her hobbies; and we discovered that she has “green fingers.” She was showing off the beautiful orchids in full bloom to her husband.
Between the years 2015 to 2050, the proportion of the world's population over 60 years will nearly double from 12% to 22%; with many individuals like Madam Kongseng retiring from the workforce. People are now living longer and the additional years provide an opportunity for them to pursue a new hobby, learning a new skill or make contributions back to their society.
Staying healthy is important to Madam Kongseng; she takes daily morning walks to the nearby temple where she does merit-making by giving alms, preparing food and cleaning up after the meal for the monks. We invited Madam Kongseng to visit us in the office whenever she has time and we hope that she will continue to stay healthy and enjoy her golden years.