Buenos Aires, Argentina—Members and guests of UPF-Argentina’s Peace Council met with grandmothers at the San José Nursing Home in Ciudadela (Buenos Aires), on October 15, 2015, in observance of the UN International Day of Older Persons. At the meeting, which was organized by Ambassadors for Peace, Mr. Hugo Cattoni and his wife Leticia Castorina, music and dance was performed, poetry was read, gifts were presented, and a raffle was drawn.
Fifty socially vulnerable senior citizens live in the home; some do not have any family who can take care of them, while others need assistance or lack resources. The home regularly organizes activities that promote healthy aging.
This year, the home, which is supported by the international non-profit organization, Messengers of Peace (www.mensajerosdelapaz.org.ar), celebrated its 80th anniversary.
One of the poems read at the meeting:
Avanzando
by Pastora Alba Contardo
Camino lento
Hablo despacio,
Con mi sonrisa
Voy avanzando.
La vida, es buena
Me ha dado tanto,
Y en cada lágrima
Voy avanzando.
Y veo el sol,
Que va alumbrando
Con nuevos brios
Sigo avanzando.
Miro la luna
Allá en lo alto
Tantas estrellas!
Sigo avanzando.
Tuve tormentas
Tengo un pasado,
Vivo el presente
Sigo avanzando.
La primavera
Está a mi lado
Con paso firme
Sigo avanzando.
Y en mi ventana
Allá en lo alto
Hay un gorrión
Que está cantando.
Y aunque hay canas
Por tantos años
Aún mi mirada
Sigue avanzando.
Y si la vida,
Es cada paso
Por el amor
Sigo avanzando.
Camino lento
Hablo despacio
No me detengo
Sigo avanzando.
Porque hoy siento
Que en estos años
Dios me sostuvo
En cada paso.