I. Metshin: “The Day of Zhiznelub is an opportunity to show that life is beautiful even at the elder age”

(KZN.RU, May 14, Alsu Safina). Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, set the task of holding the Day of Zhiznelub on May 26 as widely as possible. On this day, 10 sites will work in the park “Krylya Sovetov”, which provide different activities for elderly citizens.

Almost a thousand Kazan citizens at the age of 55 years are engaged in weekly activities at various venues of the project “Zhiznelub”. From the beginning of the year, 18 431 visits to the network sessions of the club “Zhiznelub” were recorded. This year, the number of sites where the project activities are being held has increased. The project is being implemented in 33 city libraries and 7 city parks, said Azat Abzalov, the head of the Department of Culture.

The Mayor of Kazan drew attention to the fact that it is not the authority of the municipality to increase pensions for older residents of the city, and the city budget does not have such opportunities. However, the city authorities can change the life quality of Kazan citizens due to changes in the infrastructure of the city. Ilsur Metshin reminded that houses of culture, sports facilities, parks, squares, embankments are being renovated, large modern schools are being built, in which people could engage in various activities.

“Now we have a thousand active participants, but this number is growing. The number of infrastructure facilities is growing as well”, said the head of the city. “We don’t have a recreation center in the Novo-Savinovsky district, but there are modern beautiful schools where you can and should practice. There are parks and squares. And we must use all opportunities, including the Day of Zhiznelub, so that people feel that life is beautiful even at the elder age”.

Since June, classes for the elderly will be held not only in the premises of the recreation center and libraries, but also in the parks of the city. The Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure, the Uritsky Park, the Krylya Sovetov, the Sosnovaya Roscha, the park in Derbyshki, the Gorkinsko-Ometevsky forest, the Aksenov Square, and the playground in front of the Children's Center “Ekiyat” are among the outdoor sites. Classes in parks will be held weekly almost every day in all 10 directions.

A. Abzalov said that out of 10 directions, dances, vocal, lessons on a healthy way of life and mobile educational program continue to cause the greatest interest among “life-lovers”, in which more than 55% of all elders are engaged. Lately, interest has increased in gardening. Classes are held in the format of talks, master classes on planting and caring for garden plants. Participants of the club exchange planting materials, visit city exhibitions on gardening and botanical garden of the biological faculty of the KFU.

Exciting master classes “Drawing music” is conducted by the Kazan center of light music “Prometheus”. Participants got acquainted with the traditional kind of unique Russian folk arts and crafts, lacing on bobbins, listened to a lecture on the Russian costume of the Kazan province In the city center of Russian folklore.

“We must create conditions for our pensioners so that they can reach all the directions that interest them”, said Ilsur Metshin and marked that new quarters and directions may appear in the framework of the project at the request of pensioners.

“The project “Zhiznelub” has a great perspective, a large audience”, believes the head of the city. “We want the project to cover as many elder citizens of Kazan as possible so that their life quality improves”.