Elderly in Azerbaijan receive session of dance therapy under UNFPA-supported active ageing project

”As one of the efficient methods of maintaining active and healthy ageing, dance therapy is the psychotherapeutic use of movement and dance to support the intellectual, emotional and motor functions of the human body, resulting in stress relief, increase of physical fitness, improvement of confidence and self-esteem as well as encouragement of creativity and imagination,” said Narmin Ganiyeva, representative of “Uchuncu Bahar” (Third Spring) Public Union, a local NGO and an implementing partner in this project.

The event continued with a practical session of dance therapy for a group of elderly under the coaching of the professional trainer.

Previously, similar events took place in Lankaran District and Mingachevir city.

The Active Ageing project is an innovative social initiative providing for a variety of supportive and inclusive measures and programs to ensure active and healthy life for retired persons. The project’s activities include the development of the country’s first Active Ageing Index, public meetings with elderly people across the regions of the country, awareness-raising and advocacy campaigns as well as tailored activities such as arranging computer courses, creating audiobooks and e-library, establishing social call centre and others.

The project is implemented in close cooperation with the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ASAN Service), State Statistics Committee, Sustainable and Operative Social Security (DOST) Agency and “Uchuncu Bahar” Public Union.