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2025 January
Telling Good Stories about Seniors with Kind Thoughts

 
There are views that encouraging physically healthy and mentally active seniors to reengage in social work or volunteer activities would give them a purpose in old age, thus benefiting both the seniors themselves and society. Presently, a special social enterprise in Hong Kong is actively advancing efforts in this area.
 
Hong Kong is transitioning into a “super-aged society,” with projections indicating that by 2039, over 30% of its population will be aged 65 or above. Addressing the challenges of an ageing population requires more than just focusing on medical and welfare services; it also necessitates attention to the mental health and social engagement of the elderly. If their health allows, encouraging the elderly to harness their strengths and actively contribute to society can enhance their mental well-being and benefit societal growth. With medical advancements, the goal of society today extends beyond merely prolonging lifespan to ensuring that the elderly remain mentally sharp and enjoy a high-quality, dignified life in their later years.
 

Putting German experiences into practice in Hong Kong

On this basis, the social enterprise Ginger Innovation was established. Chen Yimin, the founder of Ginger Innovation, previously worked as a mainstream media journalist and university lecturer. A visit to seniors living alone over a decade ago prompted her to reflect on the issue of ageing. Later, in 2013, she began writing a series of reports on the ageing society. At that time, while exploring solutions to the issue, she wondered whether her reports might inadvertently emphasize only the negative aspects of an aged society and the vulnerability of the elderly. She also pondered if there could be alternative solutions.

 

Subsequently, Chen embarked on a series of reports focusing on aged countries around the world. For her first stop, she chose Germany. She spent four years conducting research, visiting 19 cities and completing over 200 interviews. This experience fueled her determination to promote the “embrace ageing" culture and concept in Hong Kong.
 

 

Spicy flavour of old ginger is precious and unique

The creative Chinese name of Ginger Innovation, which translates to “Old Ginger,” signifies that “the older the ginger, the spicier it becomes,” symbolizing the wisdom and value of life experience. Chen firmly believes that stories are the most effective way to connect with people’s hearts, so Ginger Innovation embraces the philosophy of “No preaching, just storytelling.”

 

Her team has so far trained over 200 seniors aged 65 to 86 in storytelling skills, teaching them techniques to effectively present their life stories in a few minutes. Among them, 20 were shortlisted to become Ginger Ambassadors, engaging in in-depth engagement with over 1,000 young students at universities to challenge and reshape the younger generation’s inherent perceptions of the elderly. Despite physical challenges such as visual and hearing impairments, these seniors enthusiastically explore life’s possibilities, demonstrating remarkable vitality: Some have bravely travelled to Antarctica to participate in a snow marathon, others have tackled a cross-country race in the Gobi Desert, and even a 70-year-old senior has taken up street dancing. Their actions prove that age is never an excuse to limit one’s dreams.

 

Fostering harmony in corporate sector

Through organizing and sharing life stories, the seniors improve their self-esteem in the process, while young people gradually change their stereotypical impressions of the elderly. This successful experience in inter-generational communication prompted Ginger Innovation to extend its services to the corporate sector. The team uses story training methods honed over the years, enabling senior employees to share their stories of growing with their company. This not only inspires new employees, but also fosters inter-generational harmony in the workplace. Looking to the future, the team aims to develop more innovative methods and seek to collaborate with more business organizations to create more high-quality employment opportunities for the elderly, thereby achieving a win-win situation for both the elderly and society.