I. Metshin: "It is very important that people not only lived long, but had a saturated life"

(KZN.RU, November 28, Mikhail Chentsov). Free network of clubs “Zhiznelub” (Rus. “joyous”) for interests, covering all areas of the city, is being created for Kazan pensioners. “I hope it will be a bright, content page of the “Good Kazan” project”, Ilsur Metshin praised this initiative. Azat Abzalov, the head of the Department of Culture, spoke about the project, developed on behalf of the Mayor of Kazan, at today's Business Monday.

According to A. Abzalov, the issue of modernizing the club work for the elderly in Kazan has been brewing for a long time: 88 functioning clubs for the older generation is not enough to cover all pensioners of the city. They cover only 1% of the Kazan pensioners. Monitoring of requests among the elderly of Kazan was conducted to determine the most popular cultural services. The monitoring revealed that many pensioners would like to dance, learn to photograph, and engage in art and physical education.

“Based on this analysis, we decided to create a network of clubs on interests for older Kazan citizens and called the club “Zhiznelub”. I think this name accurately reflects the nature of our older generation and provides motivation for our target audience”, said A. Abzalov.

The House of Culture in Derbyshki, the HoC “Lenin”, the HoC “Yunost”, the Cultural Center “Moskovsky”, the HoC “Zalesny”, the HoC “Mirny”, the library branch №15 and library on the Zakiev Street will take part in the project. “We proceeded from the fact that the territorial proximity is an essential factor for this age group”, he said.

A. Abzalov also said that for today, Houses and Centers of Culture are ready to offer the elderly citizens lessons on photography, cooking, floral design, textured decor, physical therapy, respiratory gymnastics, Nordic walking and Pilates. In addition, discussions about literature, music, meetings with poets and musicians, and various lectures on consumer literacy and others will be offered in the lecture halls.

“We want to separate the gardening, for many among pensioners are passionate about it, as well as a mobile educational program that will allow seniors to keep up with the times and learn the skills of using smart phones and various gadgets”, emphasized the speaker.

Personnel department of culture institutions, lecturers of leading universities, as well as representatives of the Union of Artists of the RT will be involved as managers of club destinations.

“In the case of a high demand for clubs, we are ready to expand this network. I want to emphasize that the classes will be free for everyone”, said A. Abzalov.

Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, was of the opinion that the intended prospects for pensioners are breathtaking, but it is important to express all this in concrete work. “It was better to do it yesterday, but, in any case, the best day to start something new is today, and without delay”, said the Mayor.

I. Metshin reminded that the Center of Culture and Sport “Moskovsky” (former HoC Uritsky) will be overhauled in the next year on the instructions of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan. “Last week, we went to the HoC Uritsky. 119 million rubles were allocated by President for the overhaul for the first time in 30 years”, said the Mayor. That amount is spent annually for the maintenance of all city recreation centers.

“We are growing life duration and it is important that people are not only lived long, but had a saturated life. I hope it will be a bright, content page of the “Good Kazan” project”, concluded the Mayor of the Tatarstan’s capital.