Education

The First Summit on Social Responsibility and Reintegration of the Elderly into Society as a Challenge for the Next Government was held at the Campus of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP). It took place on Monday, March 13, and Tuesday, March 14, 2006, with a large number of attendees each day, interested in such an important topic. It was organized by the Asociación Adulto Feliz (AAFeliz) and the Master’s in Social Management from PUCP (MGS-PUCP), with the support of the Graduate School of PUCP. Its objective was to highlight the current situation of the elderly, not only in the country but also in the international community; the achievements and perspectives of the State and the business sector regarding the elderly population, emphasizing experiences of corporate social responsibility and the problems of reintegration and retirement of this important population segment; the media's stance towards the elderly; and, finally, the proposals of various political parties on these crucial issues. The Summit featured eminent personalities from various spheres of national life, as well as foreign experts and representatives of international organizations.

The demographic shift in Peru and around the world, characterized by a decline in birth rates and an increase in the number of older adults, is due to advances in medicine and new technologies that offer treatments for previously incurable diseases. This phenomenon has given rise to the Silver Economy, a part of the global economy that focuses on two key components: creating public policies and private spaces that empower older adults, extending their productivity, as they are becoming one of the largest productive forces; and identifying their needs and demands, which opens up opportunities for the creation of new businesses and ventures. Although aging is often seen as a burden, for the Silver Economy and Adulto Feliz, it represents an opportunity to promote inclusion, entrepreneurship, and innovation.