Celebrating the International Day of Older Persons October 1: Dien Tho Commune: Connecting from the intergenerational self-help club

Help each other grow

Every afternoon or evening on the 16th of each month, members of the Intergenerational Self-Help Club of Dong Be village meet at the village cultural house. Here, members receive health check-ups; are informed of policies for the elderly; are communicated with about prevention and control of common diseases; are instructed on how to grow crops and raise livestock, etc. The activities are also made more fun thanks to "homegrown" performances or fun games suitable for the elderly. Ms. Nguyen Thi Cam (Dong Be village) shared: "I have participated in the club's activities since the early days. Every month, we receive health check-ups; are informed about many useful contents and meet and play together, so we find life more joyful and interesting."

Giving birthday gifts to members of the Intergenerational Self-Help Club in Phuoc Luong village.

The club has 10 volunteers participating in supporting and helping the elderly when needed such as: Visiting lonely elderly people; cleaning, sweeping the house; taking them to see a doctor, getting medicine; helping dry rice, watering vegetables... In addition, from the initial capital of 130 million VND supported by HelpAge International (HAI) and the locality, the club has deployed loans for members from 5 to 7 million VND/person, with an interest rate of 1%/year to invest in economic development . 50% of the interest earned is put into the capital source and 50% is kept as a living fund for the club. Up to now, the club has lent 26 members capital to invest in livestock, farming, and small business, bringing about efficiency. Ms. Ngo Thi Hoa - Club President said that the club was established in April 2023. Up to now, the club has 55 people. Coming to the club, people are not only happy, healthy, live more joyfully, and are more optimistic, but also receive capital support to do business. The club also grasps the thoughts, aspirations and needs of members to encourage and help promptly...

Similarly, the Cay Sung Village Intergenerational Self-Help Club, established in May 2023, has become a useful place for 55 members. The club meets on the afternoon of the 15th of every month at the village headquarters. In addition to physical exercise and health care, members also receive health check-ups; communication about warning signs of dementia, rights and benefits of the elderly, gender equality, climate change; participating in arts and games... The club has 5 volunteers participating in supporting the care of the elderly when needed such as: cleaning the house, going to the market, getting medicine... Twice a year, the club coordinates to organize free health check-ups for members and the elderly in the community with about 90 people/session. With the capital supported by HAI Organization and the locality of 130 million VND, the club has lent 24 members to invest in economic development, bringing practical results. Mr. Phan Van Su - Club Chairman shared: "Because the life of the villagers is still difficult, the Club promotes social work to support the elderly who are lonely, sick, and in difficult circumstances inside and outside the Club. Every year, the Club mobilizes 2 rounds, each round from 10 to 30 million VND to give gifts to the elderly. Through activities, the Club discovers many difficult cases to have timely support solutions, helping the elderly in the village live happily, healthily, and usefully."

Will continue to replicate the model

The Phuoc Luong Village Intergenerational Self-Help Club was established in November 2024 with 70 members. The club meets quarterly at the village cultural house. This is a club established by the local Elderly Association. Although there is no financial support from the HAI Organization, all activities are carried out according to regulations such as: Cultural and media activities, health check-ups, organizing games, organizing birthday parties, visiting the sick, etc. Ms. Le Thi Thu - Club Manager said: "To have capital to support the elderly in economic development, the Club has mobilized benefactors and members to contribute 47 million VND. From this capital, the Club has lent 10 members from 5 to 10 million VND/person for a period of 6 months to 1 year to raise livestock, grow crops, and do small business to generate income for the elderly." Although she is 79 years old this year, Ms. Huynh Thi Ban (Phuoc Luong Village) has to take care of 3 grandchildren and 1 child who is mute and deaf from birth. Her family is near-poor, her husband passed away a long time ago, and she herself is often sick, so life is difficult. The club lent her 5 million VND to sell tofu. Thanks to that, she has extra income every day to take care of her children and grandchildren.

Mr. Vo Binh Tan - Vice Chairman of the Provincial Elderly Association said that the 3 intergenerational self-help clubs in Dien Tho commune have been operating very effectively, becoming a warm and affectionate common home for the elderly. Through community-based mutual assistance activities, the clubs have contributed to health care, supported income increase for the elderly and connected and promoted the role of the elderly in life. Currently, there are 182 intergenerational self-help clubs in the province. In the coming time, the association will continue to expand and promote the effectiveness of the clubs' activities, contributing to helping the elderly in the community become more connected and share.

CHAU TUONG

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/xa-hoi/202509/ky-niem-ngay-quoc-te-nguoi-cao-tuoi-1-10-xa-dien-tho-gan-ket-tu-cau-lac-bo-lien-the-he-tu-giup-nhau-8390e22/