An evening with Ms Mateen Ansari
Introduction
On Friday, October 25, in the 213th WiseViews Leadership Conversation, we had an engaging session by Ms Mateen Ansari, Co-Founder & Director, DOBARA – India’s pioneering community model for dignified ageing. She spoke about “Socializing in senior years”.
About Ms Mateen Ansari
Ms. Mateen Ansari is an internationally Certified Gerontologist, social innovator, and a pioneering advocate for dignified l ageing in India.
She is the Co-Founder and Director of DOBARA, a first-of-its-kind intergenerational community initiative based in Hyderabad that is transforming the way ageing is perceived and experienced in modern society.
Ms. Ansari received her training from the prestigious USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology in the United States, a global leader in the study of ageing, longevity economics, and elder well-being. Equipped with this global perspective, she has brought international best practices to India, adapting them to our cultural context.
Ms. Ansari is associated with international forums on ageing, serves as a thought leader on elder dignity and social justice, and has been invited to speak on platforms focused on ageing policy, emotional infrastructure, and intergenerational cohesion.
Her work has been acknowledged for pioneering a shift in India - from perceiving old age as a burden, to celebrating it as a phase of continued growth, contribution, and leadership.
Through DOBARA, she has introduced India's first structured intergenerational care model, designed to combat loneliness, promote mental health, and build supportive ecosystems across age groups.
Ms Ansari along with her young daughter Sameen Ansari(creative Director of DOBARA) worked relentlessly e during the pandemic to mobilise virtual communities of care for thousands of isolated seniors, which stands as a shining example of empathetic leadership in action.
About DOBARA
DOBARA is a senior well-being platform based in Hyderabad, focused on social, mental, physical support for seniors. DOBARA encourages seniors to stay active by using their knowledge and experience to help others in need. DOBARA has a large team of senior volunteers who thrive on giving back to society and making a positive difference. DOBARA gives seniors a platform to network, connect and share their wisdom and talents. DOBARA serves as a medium to help them find a new purpose in life. DOBARA is all about positive connections and holistic well-being.
The problem of ageing
As we age, our body takes a beating on various aspects: poor eyesight, loss of hearing, slower response time, impaired mobility, the usual aches and pains. All this, while coping with the loss of close family members and friends. So, without realizing it, our social circle and interaction with the outside world are decreasing. Apart from the physiological challenges of aging, being alone adversely affects emotional and mental health, brain functioning, physical well-being and life expectancy.
There are several research reports that have been done on the importance of socialization as we age. A Harvard study on adult development is one of the world's largest and most cited longitudinal studies. The study has reported that 24% of seniors aged 65+ experience social isolation, which raises their risk of premature death by 29% for heart disease and 32% for stroke. Loneliness increases the risk of developing dementia by approximately 50%. Seniors experiencing loneliness have a nearly 4 times higher risk of death if they have heart failure and face 68% more hospitalizations.
The impact of isolation and loneliness is felt in five spheres: mental, emotional, cognitive, physical, and longevity.
The importance of socializing
Strong bonds and good relationships are the strongest predictors of long and healthy and happy lives. Socializing in senior years improves mood, cognition, memory, and encourages healthy behaviours, lowering risks of depression and other health problems.
Unfortunately, many seniors experience shrinking social circles due to various reasons like retirement, mobility, transportation, loss of loved ones, and children leaving the nest. Prolonged loneliness is almost as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It increases the risk of depression, dementia, and heart disease. So, socialization isn't just an emotional comfort. It is a pillar of health, just like nutrition and exercise. Socialisation is required for longevity and quality of life.
Ms Ansari got the idea of DOBARA when she reached 50. While we prepare for education, career, and family, we rarely prepare for aging. We don't even think of it as a phase to be embraced, celebrated, and lived to the full. This is what drew Ms Ansari into social gerontology, and understanding the social, emotional, and community dimensions of growing older.
What does socializing in senior years really mean? It is not about parties. It is about meaningful connections, being seen, heard, valued and appreciated. Seniors gain a newfound confidence when they are appreciated and identified for who they are and what they do.
DOBARA enables the older people to demonstrate their skills and their hobbies, like origami (paper folding), Ikebana (flower arranging), bonsai (growing miniature trees), African art, Scrabble, Mind Games, handicrafts, crochet, knitting and more. This gives them the opportunity to socialize and be acknowledged.
Sukanya Baba.
Sukanya came back to Hyderabad from Bombay after her husband passed away. Joining DOBARA has given her the confidence which she had lost by sitting at home. Now she can do many more things. She has very good friends who have the same interests. Thanks to DOBARA, Sukanya has found a new meaning to life. Sukanya now reads for the blind at LV Prasad. She's a Scrabble Champion. She's good at carrom. She's always on the go, ready to do anything that suits her, including travel .
The example of Sukania demonstrates what happens when seniors get a listening ear from people curious to know who they are and what they have done. They can reconnect with old hobbies and skills. They can think of sharing their experiences and connecting to the outside world.
Socialization becomes a form of therapy, stimulation, and a purposeful renewal of skill and talents long forgotten. It creates an environment where aging feels a privilege.
Hearing
Mateen feels the main culprit for lack of socialisation and withdrawal is the loss of HEARING. There is a stigma attached to the loss of hearing. This is the main culprit. We need to address this as soon as possible. Due to poor hearing, seniors get into a shell and live in their own world, oblivious to activities around them. When our eyesight becomes dim, we don't have any inhibition in going for an eye checkup. But hearing loss is something that most seniors will hide. And that's how loneliness and dementia set in. This is one important aspect of aging that needs due attention.
An immediate recourse to hearing aids is essential. DOBARA has an empathetic audiologist who does home visits for audio checkups if required . The audiologist also provides lifelong hand-holding support for the minute adjustment of hearing aids.
Reimagining aging and senior wellness
We have to combat senior isolation and loneliness and reimagine aging and improve senior wellness. DOBARA does this through weekly meetups, group games and activities. DOBARA encourages the participation of seniors in a senior friendly environment: giving increased opportunities to connect, libraries to browse, events to gather at, forming new friendships and bonds or seek old ones. DOBARA frequently connects long-lost friends. Some of the seniors with DOBARA were classmates 48 years ago. Virtual companionship programs proliferated during the pandemic. These have become very popular.
DOBARA is willing to do its activities wherever it is possible to get a group of seniors to connect and relate to each other. This sets the ball rolling and the urge to socialization in motion.
Events
DOBARA conducts various events: annual, monthly and weekly. They aim at giving back to society and spread awareness of ageing among youngsters and why seniors need their support.
Princess Niloufer's Birthday
The year begins with the distribution of handmade baby bonnets on the 4th of January, which is Princess Niloufer's birthday, at Niloufer Hospital. (Princess Niloufer was deeply committed to helping the underprivileged.) Youngsters from school give a hand to seniors. It is a win-win situation for all involved: families, doctors and children. This has been going on since 2019 as an attempt to help a senior citizen who was passionate about celebrating Princess Niloufers birthday but could not be present Every year DOBARA attempts to make the hospital experience a little more pleasant for patients. DOBARA members contributed to set up a water cooler for visitors and patients. This year DOBARA has beautified the hospital by adding potted plants for serenity and greenery so as to provide a sense of peace&calm to the agitated parents of patients.
Numaish Chalo
Numaish is DOBARA’s annual program since 5 years conducted with the support of the All India Industrial Exhibition Society (AIIES). About 120 wheelchairs are borrowed from various hospitals. 250-300 volunteers from a number of schools and colleges participate. Seniors from the elite society and from the underprivileged, below-poverty-line old-age homes are picked up and dropped off by empathetic, enthusiastic volunteers. Earlier buses were hired but seniors found it difficult to climb. So since last year, volunteers have started taking the seniors to the exhibition in their own vehicles.
Eateries give snack bags to volunteers and seniors, generous hearts donate money so each senior had Rs200/- before setting out on the tour. The train ride is eagerly looked forward to and the authorities reserve train rides exclusively for the seniors and volunteers. All this at no cost!
Picnic at Public Garden
An annual picnic every year since 2016 at the central Public Garden (BAGH E AAM), results in making the authorities aware of the need for breathing spaces in our cities. DOBARA points out various areas for improvement: washrooms, walkingpaths, bumps and impediments to wheelchairs etc, to the authorities. As a result, improvements keep happening.
Independence Day
The Independence Day event brings together those born in the 1930s and 1940s and youth and active adults . Seniors are encouraged to speak about what actually happened, what they were doing when the news was released on 15th August 1947. Children and adults simply lap up the story and ask many questions. This event is a crowd puller each year. True history is related and the forgotten stories of police action are remembered and shared
Kuch Lamhay Maa ke Naam
Another popular event is the Kuch Lamhay Maa Ke Naam Here, the aim is to encourage the love for poetry while trying to help a senior fulfil her mothers desire to spread poetry. Original, written poems in English, Hindi, Urdu, and Telugu are invited. The event is held in commemoration of the mother of a senior citizen, who was a great Shaira herself. But she could not attend Mushairas due to various health reasons. Schools are invited to participate through email. Prizes are given along with certificates of participation. Annually, schools always look forward to this event, this event has been going on since 2019 and this year we received 940 entries from schools!.
Vana Bhojanam
Vana Bhojanam is held in November. Vana Bhojanam roughly translated means a meal outdoors, surrounded by greenery. DOBARA organizes Vana Bhojanam under the shade of trees: snacking, chatting, bonding, engaging in fun activities followed by a delicious lunch, for an intergenerational group of people each looking out for the other, providing help, support and goodwill. Information interchange and learning just happen organically.
Many organizations come forward. We started with DOBARA HQ at the iconic Mustafa Lodge at Rd no 13 Banjara Hills, then various parks and last year it was the Qutub Shahi Tombs. This year, students of the English department of MANUU are organizing the whole day for senior citizens from 11 am to 5 pm. Participants are picked up, and dropped off. Lunch is provided and a cultural program is held on a subject that they are learning now, the Shakespearean play, King Lear, blending learning with empathy for seniors.
DOBARA Almari Mela
The annual DOBARA Almari Mela is a sustainable living initiative for funding DOBARA. As their age increases, seniors like to downsize and keep things simpler. DOBARA encourages the seniors to donate. Their cherished belongings and treasures are showcased and sold at DOBARA Almari. This way, DOBARA a sustains it efforts at funding, at the same time saves the environment by upcycling and recycling -also gives seniors a chance to use their creativity as they come up with ideas!.
Weekly and monthly events
There is a DOBARA Walk and Talk every second Saturday Morning at 6.30am at different venues such as parks in the Cybercity, Shaikpet, Parade Ground, etc. It's a proven fact that walking and talking simultaneously has better effect on health than walking alone.
There are also book launches and monthly potluck tambolas. Thursday open house is very popular. People carry their lunch like a school child and do whatever they wish to. DOBARA also celebrates birthdays and anniversaries. Festivals like Eid, Diwali, Navratri, are celebrated with custom. In-memoriam services are held where families donate with DOBARA for a cause in memory of their loved one.
DOBARA has collaborations with PRAAN, Bioenergetic wellness from Canada. and a student organization in USA called Club Netizen, who with the help of DOBARA is spreading cyber fraud awareness every first Tuesday of the month.
Community activities
DOBARA enables seniors to involve themselves in community activities. Seniors read for the blind, help as substitute teachers at government schools, spread greenery in schools and other areas, visit old age homes to give a listening ear to the residents and share their culinary skills and hobbies.
Active adults accompany challenged seniors for visits to hospital, pharmacy, department store , mall walks and more.
DOBARA’s visually challenged and mobility challenged volunteers, too, give back to society and do their bit. There are blind musicians who play the keyboard. Those on wheelchairs, are very happy to call lonely seniors, check on them on a daily basis and cheer them up.
Some visually challenged seniors are helped by other seniors or juniors for their daily walk etc - its a commitment to a cause
Concluding remarks
Planning is very vital for aging gracefully. Mobility issues need to be addressed immediately. We need to have safe neighbourhoods where we can connect seniors and youngsters. And seniors should not be afraid to reach out for help. In the new gated communities, this may be easy. But in most high-rise apartments, people don't know the next-door neighbour. DOBARA is working towards correcting this.
The key to interact is to give more of ourselves to others. When we think of others, and think of what we can do for them, it becomes our Ikigai. And what we have to do gives us the reason to jump out of bed each morning.
They say that it takes a village to raise a child. To help seniors age gracefully, it takes society, infrastructure, governance, educational institutions, youth, and active adults- all working together. All these cannot be in individual silos. We must work as one team to make this happen. Socialization and human interaction is the key. The human touch, empathy cannot be replaced by technology
DOBARA’s impact continues to increase. DOBARA constantly gets phone calls with various requests: I need a caregiver for my parents. Which is the best place to go to for so-and-so checkup? What is happening? I need to connect to a knitting expert - I am stuck with my project! - recipe exchanges and help is also a big thing
DOBARA tries to connect people who have similar hobbies, etc. DOBARA has enabled fresh friendships to blossom. DOBARA has touched a lot of lives, through its referral services and help. Not only do the seniors benefit. But they also benefit others: by mentoring and guiding youngsters, by providing financial aid to underprivileged students, by serving as substitute teachers. The impact is huge. By giving a listening ear to young and old! by sharing their experiences!
Q&A
It all began in the community college where there was a subject called ageing. Ms Ansari worked as an intern / research associate at various senior centres in the US. She wondered why seniors in India are deprived of such facilities. She had gone to the US to visit her children. When she returned from the US, she felt the need to stay back. Meanwhile her husband was suffering from severe muscular disease. She had to motivate him and keep him energised. She was in touch with GYD Health. Three doctors Dr.Vijay Yaldandi, Dr.Dinakar and Dr Ganesh i encouraged her. They believed in her concept and asked her to do the activities at their premises in Jubilee Hills. Thus began Wednesday Well Being. Every Wednesday, (They did this from 2014 to 2020 when the pandemic began.) was a surprise with new people joining. They also discovered each other’s interests. Engaging activities kept conversations flowing, friendships blossomed, minds began to work, physical activity was given priority
During the pandemic, Ms Ansari’s daughter who had come from the Netherlands could not go back. She came up with the website. Then the idea of having something for each day of the week emerged.
Monday: is MAKE ME LAUGH MONDAY , where humour is shared on the WhatsApp group
Tuesday: is TASTY TUESDAY where e recipes are shared on the WhatsApp group, restaurants, food and much more are discussed..
Wednesday WELLBEING: Focus on wellbeing, self-care, being kind to ourselves and other tips for keeping fit and active.
Thursday: SHOW & SHARE THURSDAY Back to school. Show and share. Seniors projected what they had done: embroidery, music, etc. The appreciation was mind blowing.
FALSHBACK Fridays : Reminisce days/flashbacks: Photographs of old Hyderabad, with Charminar in its prime time were circulated. Mr Gopal Melkote showed his grandfather’s signature on currency notes of yesteryears
SALUBRIOUS SATURDAYS were open for all- to indulge themselves in the spirit of the weekend. Second Saturdays were more popular for events as young working adults also wished to participate! Often book readings were organised, DOBARA authors would get together-school children would converge to converse with seniors and Living Biographies emerged!
Sunday: 1st Sunday of the month it was In-person POTLUCK TOMBOLA! But during pandemic 3pm to 4 pm, was reserved for ONLINE TOMBOLA on WHATSAPP with prizes sponsored by various organizations! This went on without a break for 100 weeks. Our Young TOMBOLA master (™ RIYAZ was assisted by his family.
People want to learn languages, music. There are authors in the group. So there are book launches and poetry sessions. This kind of lifelong learning keeps the elderly going.
When the pandemic subsided, events could be held physically. Now some 12 events are held every month.
One thing leads to another. Social connections/networking do matter. Prof Madhavan of IIT Bombay conducted an origami event in 2018. He repeated it in 2024. He was very fast. Youngsters learnt from him quickly. The elders also wanted to learn. Prof Madhavan told them: Tell your grandchild to teach you.
Mrs Rekha Reddy has demonstrated Ikebana and Mrs Vijaya Rao Bonsai. Mrs Uma Rao did African Art, not once but twice!. Judy Gardner a 78 year old craft teacher did special sessions for teachers of schools so that her craft lives on The best in the profession do these demos free for a cause. They repeat the sessions on popular demand.
In Urdu, there is a famous saying: There is no loneliness in poverty. The poor are well connected. But the wealthy become isolated. DOBARA is addressing the elite who are lonely and through them it is helping the under privileged. The rich are benefiting while the poor are getting financial support. So, it is a two-pronged approach.
DOBARA volunteers love going to old-age homes and give a listening ear. In an old-age home, there's no place to sit. So volunteers sit on the bed of the person. When they listen with interest, the inmates feel good and don’t want them to leave. When the volunteers are leaving, residents give a riddle. If the volunteers are ready to answer, the residents say, “Not this time. Next time you come, make sure you get the answer.” So, they ensure the volunteers will visit again.
DOBARA has noticed that this kind of humaneness connects people across all levels. Most people are anxious to help. And that's how the programs are curated.
DOBARA also helped a senior citizen who used to run an organization called Sunshiners. When she became old, she found it difficult to handle the phone calls, etc. So, DOBARA ran Sunshiners for a long time. And every time they did it at a different location: a school maybe after 3 o'clock, or an establishment which gave the premises free of cost. DOBARA was not spending anything or charging anything. It was all potluck. But at the same time, to keep it manageable, the food was restricted to just one namkeen, one sweet and chai.
DOBARA has tremendous support from the society doing this. The only challenge is the commute. For example, people in Secunderabad want her to do events there. And the commute for the volunteers is very long. But during the carpool journey bonding happens. New friendships are also building up this way. DOBARA has onboarded all sorts of professionals: lawyers, engineers, physicians, leading to interconnections. And these bonds are growing stronger through DOBARA.
A lot of people are requesting DOBARA for daycare. Hyderabad being a technology-oriented city attracts professionals from other cities, along with their parents, who feel lonely in their new surroundings. So they want to be sure they can leave them in a safe environment while going for work. DOBARA tried doing this during the pre-pandemic days. But it was too premature and did not work.
Recently some young physicians asked whether a daycare centre could be set up at Gachibowli. So, there is a need for a non-medical facility, with a fun atmosphere, where people can spend the day without being explicitly told to exercise, eat properly, etc.
DOBARA already has a whole lot of assisted living facilities. DOBARA also works closely with Sparsh Hospice.
Universities are recognizing DOBARA’S work. Recently, the whole team went to Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) for Sir Syed Day celebration (Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was the founder of AMU). They were given a slot to present what they were doing to keep seniors engaged. Senior engagement has now become a topic for discussion.
Senior companion support is also important. DOBARA is trying to encourage the students at AMU to connect with the retired seniors on the campus through a program called Get to Know Your Senior on the campus. DOBARA has also great hopes of connecting MANUU (Maulana Azad National Urdu University) students with seniors to accompany them on small errands. going to the pharmacy, visiting the hospital, etc.
Culturally, we are different. Seniors in India are dependent on others. Often, the children are overly helpful. And that is detrimental to senior health. So, being thoughtful doesn't mean we say, “You don't move from there. I'll get you water, I'll do this, I'll do that.” What is required is encouragement. Here, we must learn a lot from the West. In the US, seniors are independent, driving till they are about 85-90, until their driving license is not renewed. So, this independence is lacking in our society.
Our population is a big issue. There is also a lack of safe places to walk. There are also transportation issues.
Young students owning a car is quite a norm in the US. They can apply for hours of work with senior citizens. They are given a card loaded with a certain amount of money. They visit the senior, take them to different places, and can spend whatever is needed: petrol, coffee, medicines or whatever. But they must keep an account of the expenses. Since the money is loaded on a card, the senior is not exposed to any sort of financial fraud. This kind of arrangement provides a lot of comfort.
DOBARA gets many calls from seniors saying, “I wish someone would accompany me for an eye checkup, because I feel nervous when they put those drops, and how will I return home, etc.” So, this is where our youth and others can help. But there is a lack of trust. Everywhere the question of a background check comes up, the liability of referring someone to someone comes up. That is a challenge. How do we get over this? Can something like the card system in the US be implemented?
The Telangana government has played a great role in providing senior centres, all over the city. DOBARA had the privilege of doing a study of almost 100 senior centres in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation area. Sad to say, most of them were locked. And very few were functioning. Another concern is male dominance. Old people come, read the paper, maybe play a game of carrom, spend from their own pocket for tea/coffee turn by turn and then go home. So, there's no systematic approach to keeping them engaged. There's nothing to address, emotional wellness today, mental wellness, tomorrow, etc. Thus, our community centres are not equipped to engage meaningfully with old people. There is a need to train activity professionals for senior engagement…this can provide lucrative part time fulfilling employment to home makers and students.
Abroad, the community centres have a different way of dealing with things. They charge a small fee for a quarter. They have a timetable for each quarter. In that calendar, there is a range of activities with a fee for each activity. People can look at the calendar and pick up 2-3 activities. So, right from hobbies to physical activity, to learning a skill or a language, the scope is vast.
Our communities too can offer all this, provided they don't work in silos. If different stakeholders work together, we can provide all this and charge reasonably for it.
At the same time, our transport authorities should also take note of the needs of senior citizens and provide a ramp for getting in and out of a bus. The government should also set up a car service for seniors. When it comes to Uber, the process of booking the cab should be simpler. One simple call should do the job. Also, booking multiple rides on Uber at one time is a challenge.
Initiatives should be focused on the immediate area around them. Companies should start small, be in a contained area and provide simple facilities and build trust. In a community, if people start getting to know each other through the company, they will resolve most of the issues themselves. Companies can also conduct a survey of a 5 to 10 kilometer area, to find out how many seniors are there, what is their outlook, etc. We really cannot have a blanket rule for all.
DOBARA has launched the initiative: ‘Know your Grandparent’ t in schools. Many youngsters, living in nuclear families were in tears because they did not know what a grandparent meant. As we all know, grandparents can make a huge difference in child rearing. Children growing up with a grandparents are kind, understanding, adjusting and empathetic .
DOBARA has come up with living biographies where the grandparents are present. Youngsters met seniors for every Saturday for over 6 weeks. The living biography essentially meant -we connected with the family, we heard from you, and this is what we have done for you. Such a document of their life has been greatly appreciated.
The study of gerontology can open a lot of avenues for employment amongst the youngsters. Where senior engagement is concerned, we can have activity directors, activity assistants, activity professionals, facility managers. But the best way to age is to age at home, if possible. To enable that, we need a lot of caregiving support .
Using a CSR contribution of Rs 2 lakhs, DOBARA a has conducted five, caregiver training sessions. The first training session was totally family-oriented. A heart warming session, where professionals from all walks of life came to understand how then would eventually take care of their aging families. UDAI OMNI hospital gave us their 2nd floor totally free of charge for these sessions for 6 weeks!. After that, more programs were done keeping employability for those in need . Though trained very few people are agreeable to work a 24 by 7 shift. In India, caregiving means 24 by 7. Whereas abroad, people work for 2 hours and then move on to something else. They look at one facet of the senior and complete that need: morning sponge, bath, breakfast, etc. Then the next person can come in. But we do not see that level of professionalism in India. Minimum wages for caregiving need to be fixed up and dignity and recognition of these amazing individuals. As of now all caregiver agencies simply get untrained individuals and hoist them on families in need. Once trained they move them out so the personal bonding is lost.
DOBARA volunteers do go to old age homes. Sometimes they go just for a chat and chai. Sometimes there are requests for homemade dosa. Sometimes, they just go with some craft in hand. Once DOBARA sent glue and glitter paper with the volunteers . The seniors wrote their name, put the glitter on it and stuck it to their beds. They were so pleased doing it. There have been requests for teaching them how to make paper bags without the need for scissors, glue, etc. This way, DOBARA is not only saving the environment, but also teaching them a skill. This is possible when the hands and the eyes work. But there are cases where the seniors are bed bound. So, everything must be taken into consideration.
Many a time, Ms Ansari wishes she had a right hand with the same passion. However, she has still not been able to hand over the baton to someone and say, you know, this has to go on. But she realizes that there must be some professional way to do this., a long term vision so that DOBARA continues to serve with compassion, those who served us in their prime
DOBARA wants to be around and make a difference in the lives of seniors. For example, there are families living abroad, and their parents are lonely here. Once, in an emergency, we got a call in the middle of the night and said: “My parents are 90 and 85, and my mother has fallen down. I saw DOBARA on the web and I am reaching out for help!
Now, how do we go about this?” Thanks to networking and kind people in this world an ambulance quickly reached the spot, and everything was done quietly, without the old gentleman having to do anything.
A blind and a deaf citizen recently approached DOBARA asking whether she could be escorted for a daily walk. Generally, DOBARA posts the story on the DOBARA WhatsApp group and then, volunteers reach out and task is done and new the bonds established s.
Many companies are charging heavily for this service. But DOBARA is tapping the empathy in the youngsters and make it work for helping seniors. As an NGO, DOBARA is trying its best with minimal resources, to be able to do what it can, to alleviate anxiety, minimise loneliness and provide solace and comfort to seniors here and their families living far away.