Older people's associations

An Older People's Association (OPA) is a group of older people working to help the members of the group, organise social activities, provide microfinance or conduct other charitable work.[1] Organisations of this kind also enable information sharing and peer support.

OPAs were first created by HelpAge International with the first opening in 1998 in Cambodia to provide relief for seniors following the civil war.[2] The model then spread, a 2016 study by HelpAge International found more than 1,700 OPAs in 11 countries in Asia were established since 2000.[3][4] The structure and operations of OPAs differ from country to country meeting local requirements.[3]

Country-specific OPAs

Cambodia

In January 2018, Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen announced the creation of Older People’s Associations in each community of his nation, totaling over 1,600. [5]

China

The government of China (PRC) provides OPAs; as of 2010 there were over 400,000 in China representing 43,890,000 people.[6]

Sierra Leone

Age International and Restless Development created 85 OPAs in parts of Sierra Leone, giving out loans to help old people start their own businesses. [7]

References
  1. World Report on Ageing and Health. World Health Organization. 2015. p. 138. ISBN 9789241565042. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  2. "HelpAge International". UN Volunteers. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  3. "Older People's Associations: a briefing on their impact, sustainability and replicability". HelpAge International. 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  4. "Older people's associations in Asia transform lives: report". Viet Nam News. October 17, 2017. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  5. Vichea, Pang (January 29, 2018). "PM lays out national plan for the elderly". The Phnom Penh Post.
  6. Emily Ying Yang Chan (2017). Building Bottom-up Health and Disaster Risk Reduction Programmes. Oxford University Press. p. 260. ISBN 9780192533968. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  7. Ben Small (July 27, 2017). "Breaking the age barrier: Lessons from an intergenerational livelihoods programme in Sierra Leone". HelpAge International – via ReliefWeb.
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