Launched in November 2015, this local project strives to serve the needs of the first generation of Filipino migrants to the United Kingdom who arrived during the late 1960s and peaked in the 1970s. They were mostly economic migrants and were generally employed in the service industries, catering and hospitality, healthcare and domestic services.
Their ages ranged from 18-30 years when they first arrived in the UK. This first generation Filipino migrants are now senior citizens and most of them reside alone in London and the South East. A good number of them are members of FWA-UK. While the majority have integrated successfully in the local community, some stated that they miss the company of women from their country of origin who share their culture, traditions and native language. These are needs that the local services are unable to provide but can be offered by FWA-UK.
The senior citizen members of the Association and elderly members of the community are the beneficiaries of this committee.
First activity:
The FWA-UK launched its first activity with the senior citizens of the community in London, in the middle of winter on January 2016. The Support the Elderly members and friends walked around Regent’s Park, London that included Letty Agustin, Bing Cabatic, Vene Cook, Nene Martin, Elvie Phillips, Pat Shah, Linda Kelly, Remy Reyes, Dulia Prado, Eleanor Templeman, Jeannette Thomson.
Everyone toured the very popular Regent’s Park, went around to check out the famous Jose Rizal apartment (where the ladies took advantage of another photo shoot in front of Dr Rizal’s ex flat. We were confidently toured by Dulia & Letty showing us where Jamie Oliver & family live, and even bumped into the trendy hip Radio 1 DJ presenter Nick Grimshaw and obliged to have a photo with the ladies. The ladies climbed up the Regent’s Park hilltop…quite a challenge with the cold and the wind blowing in everyone’s faces.
After the climb, everyone was invited by Dulia to her cosy apartment across the Park. The ladies enjoyed a cuppa and Swiss breads donated by some ladies. One hour passed and we carried on with the walk along Regent’s Park. That was a delightful day out with both the elderly and less elderly!
The FWA-UK team will carry on fundraising to show support and care to the elderly members of the community. The Association’s survey shows that the majority of the senior citizens that were interviewed are isolated in their own little world.
One of the FWA-UK’s projects includes looking into improving the welfare of some of these senior citizens who seem to have been forgotten by either their friends, family and community. We greatly appreciate any donation you can make to the FWA-UK; your donation will go a long way in assisting some of the more vulnerable members of our society.