The Jasmina Awards is a platform that promotes active aging in Malaysia. The inspiration behind the Jasmina Awards is a similar platform called the Dragan Awards that has been established 5 years ago in Serbia.
The main contributors of the stories and poems are those who are aged 60 and above. “This year, in Serbia, the youngest was 61 and the oldest was 94”, said Dr Jasmina Kuka, founder of the Dragan Awards.
Authors who send their stories and poems come from all walks of life. There are no limitations to who can be a contributor to the Awards. In fact, it encourages people from all over to share their experiences and let their feelings, emotions, thoughts and life stories to be heard.
“Keep in mind that the participants of the Awards who send stories are cleaning ladies, doctors, secretaries, plumbers, small entrepreneurs, peasants who work on the land, university professors. Even though it’s a huge mixture of people from different professions they are all the same on that platform. When a plumber, professor and housewife have their stories in a publication, maybe for the first time in their lives, that means a lot to them”, said Dr Jasmina.
All participants of the Award stated that the biggest award to them is the sense of belonging and acknowledgement that they deserve. “Their self-confidence, their self-respect, the way how they see their role in the society they live, that’s the biggest gift for them. Acknowledgement”, said Dr Jasmina.
Those participants who were not among winners were also acknowledged by having short parts of their handwritten or typed stories/poems presented at the cover page of the yearly publication. It serves both as beautiful decoration for the book publication but more importantly, as a nod to all the efforts, time, dedication and love that the writers have put into writing the stories.
The Dragan Awards is truly a beautiful and magical way to bring some love and liveliness back into the lives of those who have gone through the non-stop train ride that is life. The Jasmina Awards hopes to bring such an experience for those who are living right here in Malaysia. Let those who gone through the many experiences and trials in life to regale us with their wondrous tales.