Elderly Day Celebration: Preserving the Local Tradition of Paying Respect to Older People

To express love, respect, and gratitude towards older people, while promoting the preservation and continuation of local traditions and cultural heritage, the COERR Foundation, in collaboration with the Mae La Oon Temporary Shelter Committee and relevant organizations, organized an Elderly Day celebration on 4 April 2026 at Mae La Oon Temporary Shelter, Mae Hong Son Province. A total of 302 people participated in the event.

The event included an opening ceremony and youth storytelling competition, which provided young people with an opportunity to share stories and personal reflections about older people in their community. The programme also featured cultural performances by elderly people. This year, the focus was on sharing and passing on cultural knowledge rather than competition. Elderlies demonstrated aspects of traditional Karen ways of life and knowledge through traditional tools and household items, as well as traditional instruments and communication tools, including bamboo instruments, buffalo horns, and flutes. These activities provided an opportunity to preserve and pass on cultural knowledge from one generation to the next.

A key activity was the traditional “Rod Nam Dam Hua” ceremony, during which children and youth paid their respects, asked for blessings, and presented small gifts to older people. The ceremony helped strengthen relationships between generations and reinforced the value and important role of older people within the community. The event also included speeches by representatives of the COERR Foundation and the Elderly Club, followed by closing remarks and appreciation to all participants.

The celebration brought joy and a sense of pride to the older people who participated, while providing a meaningful space for them to demonstrate their skills and share their experiences and cultural knowledge with younger generations. The event also strengthened relationships, respect, and understanding between older people and youth within the community. For other elderly people who were unable to attend due to health or mobility limitations, youth volunteers and CBRS members visited them at home and delivered dry food and essential items, ensuring that they were also cared for and included in this meaningful community celebration.