By Carolyn Vasquez
For Dina Hashish (LLM '08), the phrase "I'm too old for this" does not apply. Hashish is a corporate lawyer and founder of the Golden Years Foundation for Community Development, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting healthy aging in Egypt. While many of us may equate aging to slowing down, members of this Cairo community are performing choir concerts, volunteering at senior living centers and holding biweekly book clubs. "These people are moving mountains with us," Hashish says. "They help with event planning, travel around to nursing homes and organize trips. Most of them are 70 plus years old, while our oldest member is 106."
Golden Years began as a Facebook group in 2021 and has since rapidly expanded to include more than 50,000 members. Accessibility is key at the foundation, so in addition to social outings, members can join free online activities, ranging from live interviews with doctors to art classes, yoga sessions, virtual meetups and guided breathing exercises.
"As we age, our social circle often shrinks," Hashish says. "However, retirement marks the beginning of what we call the golden years, a new chapter filled with both challenges and exciting opportunities. Seniors ought to embrace this time and maximize their golden years."
Growing Together
Early on, Hashish initiated conversations with seniors to learn more about their needs and desires. "Given the challenges of the COVID-19 era, particularly before vaccines were available, there was a prevalent sense of anxiety. Many seniors expressed concerns about their health and sought credible medical information. This prompted me to prioritize addressing their health-related worries as a starting point," she notes.
As the online community grew, Hashish began connecting members who lived close to each other for carpooling and friendship. "Viewing seniors through the lens of comprehensive care -- which encompasses their physical, psychological, emotional and social needs -- is what motivates us to wake up each day," she says. "We aim to extend this holistic approach not only to seniors but also their entire support network, including relatives, neighbors and other caregivers who play a vital role in their lives."
How to Help
Hashish's advice to younger people wanting to make a meaningful impact in the lives of seniors is to volunteer and ask questions. "Seniors appreciate being heard," she says. "Ask them: 'What do you need? How can I support you?' In the midst of our lives, we often overlook asking these simple questions."
Working with seniors and getting to know them on a personal level has changed Hashish for the better, she believes. "There is an energy of positivity, optimism and acceptance that is inherent in this work," she says. "I'm always learning from them and seeing life from a new perspective."
Golden Years is now registered with Egypt's Ministry of Social Solidarity, and Hashish regularly gives training sessions on healthy aging, caring for seniors and volunteerism. She is the first from the Middle East to be recognized by the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing among 50 global leaders who are "transforming the world to be a better place in which to grow older."
A passionate advocate, Hashish hopes the foundation will reshape society's perceptions of aging, promoting positive messages about growing old. "When you're young at heart, you basically don't age," she affirms.