Dressed in red and white uniform, 77-year-old Somjit Teeraroj waited for the school bus to arrive so she could go to school. For the elderly like her in Thailand’s Ayutthaya province, going to school is like a breath of fresh air, leaving behind their solidary, stressful life.
Teeraroj lost her husband at 37. Her children visit her occasionally, but she spent most of the time alone and lonely. This is not the life she wanted to live. School came to her rescue. Now, she prays that every day of the week is Wednesday and she can talk with her ‘friends’, and laugh with them. The once a week school has filled her life with joy.
Thailand accounts for 13.7% older population, which is expected to increase to 31.8% by 2031. It is witnessing the third most rapidly ageing population in the world.
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Lack of job opportunities in the countryside has led the young migrate to cities and the older people are left alone at home and are under immense stress. Now, the government is offering the elderly population opportunities for weekly classes.
Choochart Supkerd (63) told news agency, Reuters, “It has become stressful to live alone. But I’m proud of joining the school.”
Poonsri Seangnual, who also attends school, told the news agency, “I love going to school and whenever I can’t, I feel very lonely. I have made a lot of friends and gained knowledge.”
(Picture is representational)
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