Beginning the fall of 2016 “Florence Centre” has been working a pilot project “I am beautiful!” for the two and a half months. The participants were 15 senior women who attend the local social work agency.

 The aim of the project was to attract attention of the community to possible problems and needs of senior people, to dissipate the stereotype about this age group, to diminish the discrimination of older people in society, to help them feel they have worth in society, to show to the community that a person could be beautiful at any age.

There were 11 sessions meeting once a week. The covered topics were related to positive thinking, conflict resolution, self-esteem, serving the community, loneliness, family relations, planning free time, etc.

Besides these topics we talk about how to be properly dressed and to take care of themselves (make-up, hair style, etc.) By the end of the sessions the group participated in a fashion show of evening dresses. The spectators were from young people to elderly people, from all over the city. Senior people as well as young people were very much impressed how these senior models looked on the stage. Following the concert, many people asked how these groups could participate in a similar project; and, asked to put them on a waiting list. Additionally, we heard feedback that senior people in the community now know a better direction to take in elder age.

The feedback we got from the participants at the last session.

Question. What did you personally received from the project “I am beautiful?”

Answers.

Lots of positive emotions.

Lots of joy and positive feelings.

Feel that I am still a personality! I will start to further develop my personality.

Improved self-image, self-esteem.

We became a family.

Warmth from communication.

Feeling that I am still attractive.

Realize that I do not have dresses.

I work on overcoming my fears.

Feel responsible to be an example for other people!

Question. What would you recommend us to do with other groups of a

similar project? What to do differently or to improve?

Have more sessions.

Invite only single people in a project.

Teach how to communicate with children and grandchildren.

How to communicate with men of this age.

Do more role playing as to being free from conflicts.

To have more discussions.

Conclusions: As a result of the project we have seen how the project helped to establish good, warm, positive relationship between the participants, they became closer. This is especially good for single people, who found here a family and support. They were inspired to change both external and internal. Many elderly people want to participate in such projects and ask when a new project starts.  Participants understand that they could be an example to others. All attend all classes, regardless of their personal lives, although training work, as well as the content of training courses, for them were very unusual.