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Tianping Village Seniors’ Society (TVSS; Chinese name: 绵竹市广济镇天平村老年协会) in rural Guangji was founded in January 2010 to enhance the quality of life of its senior citizens and to strengthen their community engagement. Although in general, seniors in China receive financial support from their children, it is increasingly common for the children to have moved to urban areas for their greater economic potential. As a consequence, the parents can often suffer from feelings of loneliness and detachment; community-based groups such as TVSS can provide a warm sense of cohesion. The lasting effects of the earthquake on the community — including loss of loved ones — has heightened the need for such organisations.
TVSS has already hosted numerous recreational activities to serve its 260 members, including sightseeing trips to Chengdu, and free traditional storytelling and dance performances. A community centre, constructed by the Macau Red Cross in response to the earthquake, currently houses the TVSS offices and its local performances.
Programmes to date have been funded out of pocket by the society’s chair, Yang Zhenqing (himself a senior), or by individual participants. In the near future, Mr. Yang would like to purchase a projector, exercise equipment and performance supplies for his community members, but currently does not have the means to do so. Profits from the sale of agricultural produce (grown and managed by members of TVSS in a garden adjacent to the community centre) have only partially covered the expenses of ongoing recreational activities, and have not allowed for these additional purchases.
TVSS aspires to partner with a local organisation for funding assistance and business management for its upcoming economic projects, including the opening of a grocery store and affordable public bathhouse facilities. TVSS will reinvest profits into the organisation for future operations and activities. In the long-term, Mr. Yang envisions TVSS expanding into nearby communities and providing more public services, such as microloan, health and childcare services (including public information talks).