Opal Bernard – A woman for the ages
YOU will find many people who are passionate about children and youth, but when it comes to older folk, few will willingly be drawn to them.
But for Opal Bernard, it is quite the opposite as their well-being is something she is wholly passionate about and has studied.
Bernard, who has over 20 years’ experience in business management, project administration and monitoring, research marketing, strategic planning and business development, told All Woman that a few years ago when her aunt was ageing and she became one of her primary caregivers, she realised that much was needed for older people.
And so, Bernard, who holds a degree in history with social sciences from the University of the West Indies and a MBA from the University of New Orleans, took up a Commonwealth Scholarship and pursued a master’s in gerontology at the University of South Hampton in the United Kingdom.
“Just not being able to get from home to church or make regular meals meant I had to make provisions for her. I realised if I was not around or couldn’t make provisions for her, I didn’t know what would happen to her. Also, while I was doing my MBA, I had done a project on setting up a multi-functional retirement community. Somewhere between the two it got cemented in my mind that I needed to do something towards this and explore it more and that is how I got into the Univeristy of South Hampton on a Commonwealth Scholarship to pursue a master of science in gerontology.”
She explained that this area is the study of the social, psychological, cognitive, and biological aspects of ageing.
Bernard, who grew up in Montego Bay, said though her career has changed from a private sector focus to more public sector, project-based work, it involves work with a lot of people and groups that fit her passion.
“In terms of practice I have done mostly volunteer work and completing my business plan for setting up an activity centre for older people because my thesis was done in active ageing which is an area of interest for me. Active ageing is in terms of health and nutrition and being involved in activities whether it has to do with your grandchildren or clubs or social events with other older people or young people,” she explained.
A mother of two and netball enthusiast, Bernard also volunteers at the National Council for Senior Citizens, Beauty for Ashes Ministry, and apart from active ageing, has an interest in farming.
Currently, she is an incubation specialist at the University of the West Indies Consulting Inc where she provides and facilitates support to high-growth mobile app enterprises across the Caribbean on the Caribbean Mobile Innovation Project (Canadian government-funded project).
She also implements acceleration-type activities including seed finance administration, product and customer development training, and strengthening their market and investment readiness, while managing the mentoring programme including identifying and engaging regional and international mentors.
Additionally, she coordinates participation in local and international networking and pitching events to expose participants to potential investors and other members of the mobile innovation ecosystem.
As it relates to her interest and job, she said she sees opportunities for the two areas to correspond.
“Many of the older people in the region have been exposed to utilising cell phones and many of them, their skills have been outdated because of tablets and innovations in technology. As a result they need to be retrained. Also, older people are living longer than they used to, so whatever money they have at retirement can’t stretch and they often look to get additional jobs when they retire,” she said.
“Retraining can be easily facilitated through their phones as they have constant access to it. Through an app they could get their courses and would be able to interact with other people in their age group. Apps can also be developed for older people in language they understand as technology has changed the way we speak. Designing apps that can help to reskill people will make them add value to the labour force,” Bernard pointed out.
She believes people should live and let live.
“It is important to believe in yourself and have confidence in whatever you do. Others have achieved it before so I can do it. Many people achieved because they worked hard and believed in themselves and chased their dreams. So just live,” she said.
