This is just one of the many success stories of the ISHCs which are sustainable, self-managed, and multifunctional organisations aiming to enhance equitable and inclusive development. They are an innovative and sustainable community approach to help improve the lives of the elderly Vietnamese, their families and communities and enable the poor and disadvantaged people to lead a dignified, active, healthy and secure life.
During the recent 2016 HelpAge Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on the Economic Implications of Ageing, held in Hanoi, I had the opportunity of attending a monthly meeting of one such ISHC at Luu Ha village in Kinh Mon district of Hai Duong Province.
This particular ISHC was founded in June 2013. The club has eight core areas of activities including health, home care, income generating activities, rights and entitlements, awareness raising on a wide variety of topics, self-help activities, fund raising, and cultural performances. It currently has 53 members, most of whom are in the age group of 55-65 years, with the eldest being 72 years old and youngest below 55 years. It is mandatory for each club to have 70% women members and 30% male members. Also 70% members are more than 55 years and 30% less than 55 years of age. The club is not just for older people but it is intergenerational and is also for this who will become old in the next few years. All members live close by in the same community.
Membership fee is 5000 VND/month (approximately US cents 25). For the 1st two years a monthly project support of 250,000 VND/per month is provided. But after that the club has to support itself through its fund raising activities. Club members actively participate in club activities like monthly meetings, sanitation drives, and cultural and physical activities.
Structured club meetings, around a very specific agenda, are held preferably on a weekend around the 15th of every month, and last not more than 2 hours. I was fortunate to witness their group exercise (Tai Chi), followed by a cultural programme. Then leaders of each of the 4 groups presented their monthly report. Next was a discussion on family violence wherein all members gave their inputs. Every month the club chooses some relevant topic for discussion to help raise awareness of the members on various issues and also help in instilling good living practices in them.
Community members are also involved in club activities like voluntary home based care, economic development and local sanitation drives.
Main activities include bi-annual healthcare check up of its members, cultural performance by a group of members on all meeting days as well as in neighbouring villages; home care support for 5 community members through 5 volunteers; self help/ community support activity - weekly cleaning drives, biannual cleaning of ditches, helping older people, who are living alone, in sowing and reaping rice/ paddy fields, killing rats; awareness raising on rights and entitlements, and income generating activity.
Currently there are 1,000 ISHCs with 55,000 members, operating across 17 provinces of Vietnam. Recently Vietnam government has officially approved the plan to replicate the ISHC model and have 3,200 additional ISHCs in 65 provinces.
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