Belize City Council Hosts Movie Day for Elderly in Honor of National Service Day

They are called by many names: the elderly, older persons, and even golden citizens. Today a hundred of them were the guests of the Belize City Council, for a movie day at the Ramada Belize City Princess. The council treated the group to the outing in commemoration of National Service Day. Michael Fritz, Youth and Community Support Officer, Belize City Council, explained that the event was held in collaboration with the Sister Cecilia Home for the Elderly and HelpAge Belize. Fritz stressed that the council decided to focus on the elderly for National Service Day, as a way of honoring their service to the development of Belize.

Michael Fritz, Youth and Community Support Officer: “It’s important for us to remember those that are often left behind. And so this year rather than focusing on the youth or focusing on a clean-up campaign or something of that sort, we’re bringing it back home with our elderly and we’re coordinating and getting youth volunteers so that it’s a fun afternoon, movie, snacks, refreshments, the opportunity to talk to someone, get information, give them an afternoon out. Today’s movie showing is A Night in Miami. So it’s an older piece. We have some historical figures like Malcolm X in there and also Muhammad Ali. It’s a boxing picture. So they have an opportunity to look at something that they might remember something of and they can start conversations about it. I think everything can be reciprocated one small duty. We cannot do as much of some of our senior citizens have done for our country but just one small act can encourage a lot of people to do the same, you know. It doesn’t only have to be on national service day, and as a council we remain always about the people and our initiatives are centered around families, children and now youth and also elderly.”

Love News spoke with one of the participants, seventy-six-year-old Phillis Kelly, who said that the event was a good change of scenery for the clients at HelpAge. 

Phillis Kelly, Participant, BCC Movie Day for Elders: “I feel very good attending them with all the people and all the ladies that I meet all during the week. We play bingo and we play all sorts of things, so it’s nice. We’ve come out from the center and we’ve come here now, so that’s good. It’s a different venue so we hope to enjoy ourselves.”

Reporter: How do you feel knowing that you and your demographic are being honored on National Service Day? 

Phillis Kelly, Participant, BCC Movie Day for Elders: “Very good. very well. I like it. I like when people pay attention to the age, you know, and give us some sort of enjoyment or some sort of, you know, that they remember us. So, I enjoy that and I thank them very much.”

Reporter: Thank you so much, ma’am. You enjoy your movie. 

Phillis Kelly, Participant, BCC Movie Day for Elders: “Thank you very much.”

There were other events held countrywide in honor of National Service Day.