A society for all ages is one where older and younger generations live in harmony together.
A society for all ages is one where older and younger generations live in harmony together. For this reason, HelpAge promotes initiatives that bring together older and younger people to work on activities that encourage cross-generational bonding, and address issues affecting them and their community.
Why an Intergenerational Approach?
Different generations working with and supporting each other has been part of community lives in most countries for decades.
In Kenya, for example, it has become a mechanism for transmitting indigenous knowledge and wisdom, culture and values, instilling discipline and addressing societal wrongs.
Intergenerational approaches as such were first “named” in the US in the 1960s, defined as “initiatives or programs that increased cooperation, interaction and intergenerational exchange.” Foster Grandparents in 1965 was the first formal program and showed strong evidence of social benefits.
Dramatic demographic changes across continents over recent decades brought more urgency to developing and funding programs to support the interdependence between children and grandparents first, then more generally between younger and older generations.
Older People's Associations (OPAs)
Older people’s associations (OPAs) offer an approach for inclusive, sustainable community development that actively engages the growing population of older people. OPAs serve as vibrant sanctuaries where older people congregate, not merely for leisure but for contribution and empowerment.
HelpAge pioneered the OPA model over 30 years ago and has continually refined the OPA development approach to ensure it best responds to learnings from the OPA experience and the rights, needs, and aspirations of older people.
What makes OPAs extraordinary is their multi-dimensional nature, fostering intergenerational connections that bridge age gaps and allow wisdom, skills, and experiences to flow seamlessly between generations. The ripple effects of these associations transcend individual benefits, weaving a stronger fabric of community bonds at local and national levels.
When crises loom, OPAs often emerge as lifelines—as witnessed during the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013, where, thanks to the local knowledge of OPAs, HelpAge was able to reach an isolated community that had not received any outside help in the 12 days since the typhoon had struck. In 2023, during Ethiopia’s ongoing food crisis and the floods in Pakistan, these associations monitored the needs of older people, ensuring they received aid and pressing for inclusive humanitarian responses.
OPAs in Action
Asia
The growth of OPAs in Asia is a tale of evolution and adaptation. Starting as outlets for recreational activities such as dancing, cooking and exercise in Bangladesh, India, Cambodia, and Vietnam, these associations blossomed into responsive entities addressing varied issues, from health monitoring to livelihood promotion. HelpAge facilitated this transformation, promoting exchanges, sharing knowledge, and enhancing skills among diverse OPA groups.
The success story spans the entire Asian continent, as OPAs were promoted and rolled out through the HelpAge Global Network, including 600,000 in China and 105,000 in Vietnam.
Africa
In Africa, HelpAge has fostered the growth of OPAs in nations like Kenya, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania with a focus on advocating for better policies for older people and instigating change.
In Ethiopia, for example, through working in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, HelpAge was instrumental in building a sustainable nationwide structure for OPAs: the Ethiopian Elderly and Pensioners National Association (EEPNA). EEPNA started with 30 ‘pensioners associations’ in 1998 and now boasts more than 1,300 OPA members at the district, regional, and national levels. In Tanzania, in response to the government denial of the existence of COVID-19, OPAs helped promote the benefits of vaccinations against the virus because they were trusted by their peers.
Latin America
Across Latin America, OPAs have been pivotal in crucial milestones like the ratification of the Inter-American Convention on the Rights of Older People Treaty, agreed in 2015. In 2011, OPAs played a pivotal role in the successful advocacy for Peru’s universal pension program; and in Uruguay, they successfully campaigned for a ‘Senior Deputies Day,’ enabling older people to sit with politicians to outline challenges and what should be done for older people.
Intergenerational Guide
Intergenerational Case Studies
DC Grandparents
Led by HelpAge USA, DC Grandparents is a movement of older people in Washington, DC, united in facilitating intergenerational and peer conversations about health. First, they tackled COVID-19 by encouraging loved ones to get vaccinated and boosted. Now they’re taking on mental health, learning how to support others struggling with mental health challenges.
