Today, October 1st, the world celebrates the International Day of Older People under the theme: “Older People lead local and global action: Our aspirations, our well-being, and our rights.” This highlights that older People are not a burden on society, but rather active leaders with experience and wisdom who contribute to shaping change both locally and globally.

United Nations agencies emphasize that older People must be essential partners in most areas of life, and that their voices must be heard clearly to end age-based discrimination and to build inclusive societies for all. The number of people over the age of 60 has doubled, reaching more than 1.2 billion this year, making attention to older People an urgent issue tied to public health, social justice, and sustainable development.

However, older People around the world face multiple challenges—from chronic illnesses, limited access to healthcare, and lack of income, to loneliness and isolation. The situation is even more severe in Syria, where years of war and economic crises have led to acute shortages of medicine and medical services, as well as soaring prices of basic necessities and food, increasing the risk of malnutrition among the elderly.

Many older People in Syria also suffer from deadly isolation and loneliness due to the loss of their families or the destruction of their homes caused by previous bombardments. Weak social protection further exposes them to poverty and deprivation.

Despite these harsh conditions, older People remain an indispensable force. They are the caring fathers and mothers, the grandfathers and grandmothers, and the bearers of authentic history. They nurture, teach, and pass down their experiences to younger generations, contributing to the resilience of communities and shaping future generations with wisdom and lifelong lessons.

In recognition of their invaluable role, *Hope Revival Organization (HRO), through its projects focusing on older People in Syria, seeks to provide psychosocial and medical support to the most vulnerable elderly, implement humanitarian campaigns to distribute food, medicine, and relief items, organize awareness sessions and community activities to reduce isolation and strengthen their confidence and presence, as well as launch awareness and humanitarian campaigns such as *“Be a Support for Them” to encourage community donations and solidarity.

Despite all the challenges linked to the security and economic situation, HRO teams have managed to make a difference in many cases—through field visits, documenting inspiring success stories, producing awareness materials, and providing direct services to thousands of older People across Syria.

In cooperation with its partners, HRO also plans to continue its activities, expand the scope of care services, launch specialized programs, and leverage volunteer expertise to support older People in innovative and sustainable ways, ensuring them a dignified life.

The International Day of Older People is not just a symbolic occasion, but an opportunity to reflect on how to guarantee their dignity, rights, and care worthy of what they have given. On this day, everyone can be a partner in supporting older People —through donations, volunteering, kind words, or even sharing a message of awareness that could change someone’s life.