Hangzhou seniors enjoy colorful social life thanks to community clubs (4)

In Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, elderly people are enjoying their retirement thanks to a special "school" made up of 22 clubs, according to an article by thepaper.cn, We media RAYFOTO reported on Dec. 12.

The school for the aged, Yile Xueyuan, which translates to "fun for the elderly," was established over two years ago when a property developer offered a two-story building in a housing estate in Hangzhou's Yuhang District as a venue for recreational activities. Zheng Ping, head of the "school", immediately began to organize activities with the help of volunteers.

With the help of volunteers from charitable organizations, activities at Yile Xueyuan have continued to run smoothly and have attracted the attention of more and more people. After two years, almost all seniors from local communities with special talents have joined Yile Xueyuan.

The community center now has 22 clubs in total, including an opera club, chorus club, and dance club. Every time someone with a new specialty joins Yile Xueyuan, Zheng helps them create a new club to teach others their skill, bringing a sense of vitality to the school.

Many of the seniors are in several clubs, which often means they are more active than they were before retirement. However, life here helps these seniors from becoming lonely. Through this kind of community, they can enjoy a colorful life even though their families may be more than a thousand miles away.

Yang Qi is the head of the waist drum club, and she is also a member of four other clubs. Yang is never bored, and says she feels "busy but happy."

The school is expanding quickly as more people continue to join. By sharing homemade food and working together, all seniors can use their strengths and make new friendships at the same time. Though members are free to leave at any time, they only do so due to personal reasons. So far, everyone has become a "permanent member" for long-lasting and straightforward fun.

According to Zheng, the regulations and the organizational structure of the school have already been established, and they are now planning to register Yile Xueyuan with the relevant civil administration department.

Zheng noted that she hopes that groups like this will continue to develop and be promoted throughout the whole country.