Connecting communities from intergenerational self-help clubs

(Baohatinh.vn) - The "Intergenerational Self-Help" clubs in Ha Tinh are lighting the fire of solidarity and humanity, contributing to fostering a close-knit, affectionate and sustainable community.

Established in October 2010, the Intergenerational Self-Help Club of Phu Nghia village (Loc Ha commune) is one of the typical models of activities, imbued with profound social and humanistic values.

After 15 years of operation, the Club is currently stable with 59 members of different backgrounds, ages, and genders; operates systematically and systematically, and holds regular meetings on the 21st of every month.

The Club's Board of Directors regularly exchanges and develops methodical and practical action plans.

Mr. Pham Ngoc Lam - Chairman of the Club shared: "At each meeting, the executive board builds rich and practical activities such as propagating the Party and State's policies and guidelines; coordinating to protect security and order, propagating the law; discussing solutions to support members in difficult circumstances, assigning each other to help with funerals, weddings... Members are listened to, shared, and supported when necessary, creating a strong bond in the community".

Not only providing spiritual support, the Club is also a solid economic support thanks to maintaining a sustainable revolving fund. Up to now, the total fund of the Club has reached more than 1 billion VND, solving about 70 loans each year. With quick, transparent and easy-to-access loan procedures, the fund has become a "lifesaver" helping many families have the conditions to develop production and business, stabilize their lives.

Mr. Pham Ngoc Lam - Head of the Intergenerational Self-Help Club of Phu Nghia village recorded fully and in detail the income and expenditure of the association's fund.

The family of Ms. Tran Thi Ha (born in 1968, Phu Nghia village) is in difficult circumstances. Her husband is constantly sick, so Ms. Ha has to support 3 children. Since joining the Club in 2015, she has been given the opportunity to borrow 5 million VND to raise chickens and pigs.

Thanks to her hard work, she paid back on time and then boldly borrowed larger amounts, sometimes up to 50 million VND/time. Up to now, she has a spacious house, 2 sons graduated from university, have stable jobs, the youngest daughter is in 11th grade. Her economic model regularly maintains 10 pigs and hundreds of chickens.

With strong support from the Club's capital, Ms. Tran Thi Ha has built an economic model to support her family.

“The board of directors and club members encouraged me a lot, always giving priority to supporting capital, encouraging my spirit to strive to improve, invest in developing production. Without that support, I could not have today” - Ms. Ha emotionally shared.

Along with supporting and helping each other in life, intergenerational clubs also actively participate in contributing to the construction of the homeland. A typical example is the Intergenerational Club of Lien Quy village (Dong Tien commune) - a gathering place for dedicated elderly people, active middle-aged members and enthusiastic young people.

The Intergenerational Self-Help Club of Lien Quy village has been operating effectively after nearly 4 years of establishment.

After nearly 4 years of operation, with a fund of nearly 350 million VND, the Club has supported loans for family economic development, and is also a gathering place to arouse people's consensus in building new rural areas.

Ms. Vo Thi Luong - Club President said: "In addition to actively contributing money and labor to build public works, Club members also coordinate with local associations and organizations to undertake periodic cleaning and care of the village's roads and public works in a thoughtful and systematic manner. Everyone promotes self-awareness and responsibility for the common work. Thanks to that companionship, Lien Quy village has become a bright spot in solidarity, culture and security and order."

Intergenerational self-help clubs become places of connection and mutual support in residential communities.

The intergenerational self-help club model is implemented based on the principles of voluntariness, self-management, self-contribution and self-support, aiming to improve the quality of life of the elderly and connect the community. To date, the province has 235 clubs in communes and wards with nearly 13,000 members, of which more than 1,400 members are under 55 years old.

In the 2020-2025 period alone, the province has established 92 new clubs with 5,323 members, reaching 115% of the planned target. Over the past 5 years, the clubs have lent capital to more than 1,120 members with a total amount of nearly 4.8 billion VND, contributing to poverty reduction, improving people's lives and strengthening social cohesion.

The intergenerational club is a typical model at the grassroots level; integrating many activities of caring for and supporting the elderly based on the community, contributing to the fight against population aging and promoting the proactive and positive role of the elderly. This is a humane and effective model, suitable for the current context, contributing to the implementation of sustainable development goals such as: hunger eradication and poverty reduction, improving community health, promoting gender equality and building a cohesive and sustainable community.

Mr. Duong Xuan Hoa - Vice President of Ha Tinh Elderly Association

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/gan-ket-cong-dong-tu-cau-lac-bo-lien-the-he-tu-giup-nhau-post297817.html