Making a difference in 2021-22
Emergency support:
India’s second COVID-19 wave
In April 2021, a second wave of coronavirus threatened to overwhelm India. Infection rates were spiralling out of control. Lockdowns left many older people isolated and unable to access essentials like vaccinations, healthcare and food.
Thanks to the support of Age International and Disasters Emergency Committee donors, we were able to respond quickly to ensure older people received the help they needed.
“When no one was there to help, I received your support. Food supplies for our diet for more than a month were received and cash to buy medicines and for going to the health centre.
We feel safer and taken care of.
No words are enough to say thank you.
God bless you.”
Mohani, 69
Rajasthan, India
Life-saving aid for older people in Afghanistan
At the end of 2021, Afghanistan suffered its worst drought in almost 30 years, leaving millions on the brink of famine. For older people who had already lived through 40 years of conflict and economic crisis, the disaster brought further challenges. Along with our local partners, we assessed the urgent needs of older people. As a result, we developed an emergency relief cash assistance programme. In total, 700 of the most vulnerable households received a cash payment to help them through.
Hessamudin and his family
65-year-old Hessamudin was among those who benefitted. When we met him, he could not afford to buy food, medicine or electricity and spent nights in the dark. We were able to provide Hessamudin with three cash payments. He told us:
“That was a very good day in my life. When I received the money, I went to the market directly and returned home with full hands. I also used the money for medical treatments for my wife, my mother and myself. I paid the electricity bill and now we have electricity”.
Hessamudin, Afghanistan
2021-2022: Where we worked
We helped older people across 24 countries when they needed it most, from providing emergency aid during crises to creating long-lasting change.
Venezuela
Flooding across Venezuela left many struggling to access clean water and medical supplies. With our local partners, we delivered hygiene and food kits to over 22,000 older people.
Ukraine
In Ukraine we worked with our partners to meet the immediate needs of people fleeing the conflict with food, water, medical assistance, protection and trauma care. Our response continued throughout 2022 to reach older people still living in Ukraine.
Bangladesh
In Cox’s Bazar refugee camp, Bangladesh, over 700 older people received training on various life skills, including nutrition, information on how to access health services and skills to make an income.
Kenya and Mozambique
Through our Better Health project in Kenya and Mozambique, with our partners we trained 1,000 Older Persons Associations’ members on issues affecting older people. We also implemented mobile health units to help bring accessible healthcare including cancer screening, dental and eyecare to older people in their communities.
Staff Q&A
Benedicte Benoit, Senior Direct Marketing Manager
In one sentence, how would you describe your job?
I am responsible for bringing on board new donors to support the
work of Age International, keeping them updated on the impact
of their donations, and inspiring them to leave a gift in their wills
to the charity.
What was the biggest focus of your role this year?
As a humanitarian organisation, and a member of the DEC, we
respond to emergency appeals as and when they arise. Our
biggest effort this year was to raise funds for the heart-breaking
crises in Afghanistan and Ukraine. We’ve had a presence in
Ukraine since 2014, so we were in a very strong position to
respond to the crisis. Many people contacted us to find out
how they could help older people there which was very heartwarming, and the entire Age UK group got behind the appeal. To date, this is our biggest emergency response on the ground.
What energises you in your job?
Working with motivated and dedicated colleagues who have
one mission – to help older people in vulnerable circumstances
lead better lives. To receive feedback from donors on the work
we do is also key as it allows us to continually seek to improve.
Lastly, it’s always energising to hear from the older people we
have helped.
What have you been proud of over the last year?
Last year, due to the pandemic, we had to work under a
much-reduced capacity, which meant we sadly couldn’t
deliver on all our plans. However, I am proud that despite the
upheaval COVID-19 caused, we were able to launch appeals
for Afghanistan and Ukraine while continuing to raise funds
for our COVID-19 appeal and keep our regular communications
afloat. We took time to think about how we could engage
potential donors with our cause as, sadly, older people are
often overlooked in favour of other worthy causes. If anything,
last year has given me a renewed passion to be there for
older people.
What are you looking forward to next year?
Our team should be back to full capacity, we will be able to
try new activities and ultimately recruit more donors. Every day,
in every part of the world, in every community, there are older
people doing amazing things. I look forward to telling our
donors about their lives and how, together, we can all do
more for older people.
"Every day, in every part of the world, in every community, there are older people doing amazing things."
"Every day, in every part of the world, in every community, there are older people doing amazing things."
Our future plans:
looking ahead to 2023
Last year older people across the world received life-saving assistance during the most difficult of times, as well as long-term support, showing just how vital the work of Age International is. With much still to be done, we now look ahead to 2023 and some of the ways that we will continue to help those who need it most.
Responding to crisis in East Africa
Extreme, widespread and persistent drought has left over 28 million people in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Kenya and Somalia in dire need of food and water. We know that older people are amongst those worst hit by the ongoing crisis. In 2023 we will be increasing our work in the region, distributing emergency food parcels, food vouchers, clean water and drought resistance seeds to those most in need.
Better health for older people
Building on the success of our Better Health programme we will continue our work to improve healthcare for older people in Kenya and Mozambique. Working with our local partners, as well as governments, we’ll also be starting new health projects in Myanmar and Vietnam. Our focus will be training healthcare workers and improving knowledge of diseases that commonly affect older people.
Helping older people feel included
Ensuring that older women and men are included and understood in their communities will form a key part of our work in 2023. In Lebanon, we will be delivering training on the issues that commonly affect older people to 60 local partner organisations and 160 community volunteers. With this knowledge, the partners and volunteers will be able to adapt their programmes, which include services like home-based care and inter-generational social activities, to ensure that older people are better understood and included in their communities.
Rebuilding lives in Ukraine
In Ukraine we will continue providing life-saving essentials to help older people and their families, whatever the future holds. Our ongoing support will include cash payments, help to survive the harsh winter and mental health support for older people still in Ukraine, and for those who have fled to neighbouring countries.
We will continue to
help those who
need it most.
HelpAge International UK, trading as Age International, is a registered charity (no. 1128267-8) and a subsidiary of Age UK (charity no. 1128267 and registered company no. 6825798); both registered in England and Wales. The registered address is 7th Floor, One America Square, 17 Crosswall, London, EC3N 2LB.
Built with Shorthand