Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs: Need Support to Continue Growing

Mr. Quach Trung Nguyen, Deputy Director of the Provincial Department of Health , awarded certificates of merit to collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements in implementing the project to replicate the model of Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs in Binh Duong province for the period 2021 - 2025.

Need long term support program

According to statistics, the province currently has 133 intergenerational self-help clubs with 10,486 members. Of these, 4,804 are elderly people; 4,684 are women's union members; and 998 are poor households in difficult circumstances.

Mr. Quach Trung Nguyen, Deputy Director of the Provincial Department of Health, said that people in general and the elderly in particular strongly agree with the establishment of intergenerational self-help clubs, but all activities are based on mobilized resources, so the clubs are not operating stably, and support for members to develop the economy is still limited.

In the 2021-2025 period, the total budget allocated by the province and district to implement the project is about 2.6 billion VND. The activities of the clubs are not diverse in content and form. The majority of club members are elderly, female; aged 60 and over; family life is just enough; daily life is still difficult to make a living, so they only help each other spiritually, it is very difficult to help each other develop the family economy. Some localities have not yet established a Fund for Care and Promotion of the Role of the Elderly, so there are no resources to support the activities of the Club in particular and the Association of the Elderly in general.

As of the first quarter of 2025, the province has 102,208 elderly people. Currently, 100% of communes, wards and towns have established and put into operation intergenerational self-help clubs.

At the conference to summarize the project to expand the intergenerational self-help club model in the period of 2021-2025, delegates said that over the years, this model has not only been effective in supporting the elderly both materially and spiritually, but also aroused the spirit of mutual love and affection in the community. Although people's lives are still difficult, members still care for, support and look after each other so that no one is left behind, especially the elderly in difficult circumstances and the elderly living alone.

In order for the intergenerational self-help club model to continue to be replicated, many delegates recommended that the authorities include the club in the national target program on poverty reduction, new rural development, and care for the elderly. The authorities should direct communes and wards to prioritize land allocation and facilities for the operation of intergenerational self-help clubs. In particular, the authorities should support the initial budget and create conditions for the clubs to have revolving capital to help members in difficulty.

Need the participation of departments and branches

Along with the Central Committee's recommendations, representatives of the Clubs' Board of Directors also sent recommendations to departments, branches and localities in the province. Accordingly, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism needs to support the organization of cultural, sports and tourism activities for members of the Intergenerational Self-Help Club. The Department of Finance advises competent authorities to arrange budget support sources in accordance with regulations or advises on funding support for Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs according to the province's specific mechanism (if any) to create a breakthrough for the Club's activities in localities. The Department of Science and Technology supports the application of information technology, communications and digital transformation for the management, operation and communication of the Club's activities.

Mr. Phan Duc Tin, Chairman of the Ben Cat City Elderly Association, said that currently, the members of the local intergenerational self-help club are mainly poor, near-poor, lonely elderly people who face many difficulties in escaping poverty sustainably and improving their lives. According to statistics, Ben Cat City currently has 12,321 elderly people, of which over 70% have to work to earn a living and rely on the support of their children and relatives; only about 25% of the elderly have pensions and social benefits, so the goal of helping each other improve their lives is very difficult to achieve.

According to Mr. Phan Duc Tin, according to the regulations, "Depending on local conditions, each club is supported with an initial capital of 20 - 30 million VND to create a fund for members to borrow capital for livestock farming, farming, and small businesses". This is difficult for the People's Committees of communes and wards to do, because they cannot find any source of funding to support the club. "Also because of this initial funding source, the establishment of the Fund for Care and Promotion of the Role of the Elderly in Ben Cat has not been implemented yet. Without funding from the Fund for Care and Promotion of the Role of the Elderly, it is impossible to support the intergenerational club", said Mr. Phan Duc Tin.

Referring to solutions for developing and replicating the model, Mr. Quach Trung Nguyen recommended that the Department of Social Protection (Ministry of Health) and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly advise the Government and the Prime Minister to issue a program and project to develop the intergenerational self-help club model in the next phase, meeting practical requirements and suitable for the new period of the country.

The two units continue to act as focal points for policy advocacy and international funding for the intergenerational self-help club model. In particular, it is necessary to advise on the issuance of a general directive document on replicating the intergenerational self-help club model nationwide, considering this as a solution to implement the national strategy on proactive population aging; approve projects or long-term support programs for intergenerational self-help clubs.

KIM HA

Source: https://baobinhduong.vn/cau-lac-bo-lien-the-he-tu-giup-nhau-can-su-ho-tro-de-tiep-tuc-phat-trien-a347649.html