On 22 and 23 September the annual Festival of Health was organised in the Belgrade Youth Centre. The Red Cross of Serbia participated as per tradition. On its stand the volunteers and professionals of the national society spent two days providing free council to the visitors, focusing on preventive health. The panel discussion organised by the Red Cross at the festival this year was focusing on ageism and discrimination of older people as a kind of introduction to the 1 October, the International Day of Older persons. Nataša Todorović delivered a lecture entitled "Take a stand against prejudice abut ageing and older people".

Contemporary society is characterised by demographic ageing, globalisation, modern technology and scientific development. However, stereotypes cliches and prejudice related to older people survive. Ageism is a widespread phenomenon across the globe and in every pore of the society. Thus it is necessary to raise public awareness on the contribution older people make to the society and the importance of their participation. It is necessary to dismantle stereotypes about older people that paint them as conservative, helpless, sick, devoid of value, incapable of working.And to successfully fight stereotypes, we need older people's assistance. Therefore:

Be active!

Follow healthy life styles and go for regular health checkups!

Keep learning, be open for new skills!

Cherish your friends and get some new friends too!

Be positive towards ageing - research shows that you will live longer than people with negative attitudes towards ageing!