15 U Live ambassadors planned and organised this year’s U Live Symposium.

‘Old and retired’ is not how Jek Kwok Kwong sees himself. The 68-year-old can confidently name the various plants commonly found around neighbourhoods and is an avid volunteer with the U Live gardening group. He was part of the U Live ambassador taskforce organising committee and one of 15 seniors who helped to run this year’s U Live Symposium held at Downtown East.

His main role was to build partnerships where he sourced for suitable suppliers to join the Healthy Bites Fair at the symposium. He also shared his knowledge on how some plants can be beneficial to one’s health during a symposium session. Besides partnerships, other seniors in the ambassador taskforce were involved in sourcing for relevant speakers, and managing the venue and volunteers throughout the day.

Held over two days, the U Live Symposium is an annual event for active agers to keep healthy and up-to-date with the latest trends for re-employment or purposeful retirement. This year’s symposium focuses on wellness, technology and finance.

Heng Chee How, deputy secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), who graced the event, shared: “The U Live Symposium is a platform where members are able to further themselves, be it to lead active lifestyles, be involved in programmes or develop and grow their skill sets. We really wanted to engage active agers in a way that would enhance their well-being. So we decided to let the active agers be more involved in the planning and organising of the symposium. We hope that our U Live ambassadors will truly be living role models to other active agers in Singapore.”

Added Kwok Kwong: “My journey with U Live has better equipped me with skills that let me share what I’m passionate about with other participants. With the network of friends from the U Live community, I can stay current and connected with my peers. I hope that by being part of the U Live ambassador taskforce, other seniors can see what they can still do and be inspired to become more active in their lives.”

All 15 in the ambassador taskforce underwent U Live’s Active 55+ programme, a planned curriculum of workshops and activities for active agers. The Active 55+ programme develops members’ capabilities in four core areas ­– happy, healthy, productive and purposeful (or the H2P2 lifestyle), and also encourages members to take on leadership roles to benefit others within the community.

 

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