"And they lived long... But did they live happily ever after?"

Aladdin, the Little Mermaid or Sinbad - these are well-known heroes of favorite childhood fairy tales, whose fates and adventures provided many experiences. And what happened to them after their stories ended? Did they live happily ever after? In the latest campaign of the Little Brothers of the Poor Association, these characters become a symbol of loneliness, which more and more elderly people in Poland face every day. By showing the further fate of the fairy tale characters, the organization draws attention to this problem and encourages support for the "Presence" Program, which helps seniors regain the joy of life through presence and daily support.

Familiar fairy tales in a new role - support of the "Presence" Program

The campaign uses images created with the support of artificial intelligence, which depicted the characters of six popular fairy tales as senior citizens. Although they lived long lives, they did not experience happiness - their stories do not have the typical fairy tale endings. Cinderella lives in an empty, quiet castle, Little Red Riding Hood looks out the window for guests alone, and Sinbad, confined to four walls, longs for distant travels.

- In reality, this is what the daily life of lonely seniors looks like. Lack of interest from others, low self-esteem or a sense of helplessness caused our heroes, just like seniors in real life, to lose the joy of life and fall into a sense of marasm. As part of the campaign, we wanted to illustrate this loneliness through references to well-known fairy tale characters - showing that even characters who have lived a long life can feel sadness, depression and lack of that expected happiness.says Joanna Mielczarek, Board Member and Chief Operating Officer of the Little Brothers of the Poor Association.

Why is support so important?

Lack of a relationship with another human being means not satisfying one of the basic needs - the need for contact and closeness, crucial for maintaining mental balance. Long-term loneliness is not a natural state and can lead to severe stress, emotional problems and even deterioration of physical health. It's a difficult experience that robs seniors of a sense of security and meaning in life. Lonely seniors are more likely than those surrounded by loved ones to face health problems, loss of independence and motivation for daily activities. That's why it's so important to reach out to them for help as soon as possible.

And they lived happily ever after - become a friend of the elderly

Happy endings are also possible in real life, and the daily life of the elderly need not be quiet and lonely. Support in the form of presence, kindness and attention can provide the lonely elderly with participation in the "Presence" Program, which has been run by the Little Brothers of the Poor Association continuously since 2003. The program is based on regular visits by volunteers, which often develop into lasting, intergenerational friendships.

- Successful implementation of the Presence Program requires professional coordination, organizing training, providing psychological support and assistance in difficult life situations. Each person who decides to support the Program on an ongoing basis helps us create real happy endings. With such help, we can act more effectively and reach more lonely seniors with support. - emphasizes Joanna Mielczarek.

To support the Presence Program, go to www.obecnoscpomaga.pl, select an amount and set up automatic payments that will contribute to a fund to help seniors every month. Thanks to regular donor contributions, the Association is able to reach lonely seniors in 14 Polish cities, ensuring continuity of activities and building long-term relationships based on trust and kindness.

For more information on the Little Brothers of the Poor Association and its initiatives, visit: https://www.malibracia.org.pl/

***
The Little Brothers of the Poor Association is an international organization that was founded in France in 1946. In Poland it has been operating since 2002 and is a public benefit organization. It was established to be the voice of the inaudible, invisible and unnoticed in everyday life - that is, the elderly, the lonely. Thanks to the Association, seniors become visible in society. The Association bases its activities on long-term accompanying volunteerism, consisting of regular visits by volunteers to the homes of the wards under the Presence Program, through which relationships based on friendship and trust are built.

Source: Press Mat.