The International Day of Older Persons was established in 1990 by the United Nations (UN) to be celebrated every October 1st, with the aim of vindicating the rights of this most vulnerable group in Latin America: care, awareness, health, social security, discrimination, mistreatment, and work. 

The echoes of this day can be felt in Cuba and, in particular, in the Historic Center of Havana, where every year events are organized for this sector of the population. 

The effects of Covid-19 have led to the activities taking place in the virtual space or to the development of other types of initiatives. On this occasion, the Centro de Gestión Cultural, the Casa de la Poesía, and the Centro Hispanoamericano de Cultura, of the Office of the Historian of the City of Havana, are inviting older adults interested in literature and photography to participate in the Communities and Older Adults competition. 

The aim is to reflect, on the basis of life stories and unique experiences, on the challenges and opportunities imposed by the community environments where this social group lives and interacts. 

The rules of the contest establish that the competition will be held in the categories of Literature or Photography; with only one entry per person. In the first case, poetry, narrative (chronicle, short story, or testimony), or investigative article, with a length of up to five pages in printed or digital format, may be entered. In the case of photography, a current photo of the author or from family archives must be submitted. 

The deadline for entries is 20 September. Made up of specialists in the fields of Literature and Photography, the jury will award the prizes for each category and the mentions it deems appropriate. 

The winners will be announced in October, as part of the Jornada de las personas mayores en el Centro Histórico. Entries can be sent digitally to the following e-mail address: amayor@patrimonio.ohc.cu or delivered in person to the Centro de Gestión Cultural, located at Oficios No. 8 e/ Obispo y Obrapía, La Habana Vieja.