Reports show that such initiatives can be vital platforms for identifying and responding to the real needs of older persons. Only then will the promises of the AU protocol become realities for older persons in our country. As we celebrate the International Day of Older Persons, let us remember that older persons are not a burden. And going forward let us be guided by the theme: “Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action: Our Aspirations, Our Well-Being, Our Rights.”This is more than a slogan — it is a call to recognise older persons as active drivers of change, not passive recipients of care. (Ageing with a Smile Initiative is a Community-Based Organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the health and welfare of older persons in The Gambia).