By Rachel Thompson | Project Manager
Lu Xiuying and the other older people from her village are very proud of their Older People’s Association (OPA). It put pressure on the local authorities to improve housing conditions in their village. And the local authorities agreed..
In Xiuying’s village in Hunan province the OPA carries out many other activities which are supported by Age UK. These include workshops and training to help older people to keep active and make a living; loans to start businesses and cash transfers to see them through difficult times; and cultural and physical activities to keep them fit in mind and body.
In the past six months 95 older people have attended training in farming techniques and 120 have received training in ways to make a living. All this has raised morale among the older people who feel they have more to contribute to village and family life.
The OPA is also helping provide seed money (or starter loans) for older people to start up businesses. Xiuying has borrowed four times from this fund which the government matches with equal amounts. With these funds her family has raised pigs for sale. Not only has she returned the seed money but her profits have allowed her to help fund the building of a new house for her family.
Xiuying is not the only older person to benefit from this project. She says, “ In our village there is an older person surnamed Ye. He didn’t used to have anywhere to live. It was our OPA who, in cooperation with other villagers, helped build a house for him.”
Your money makes a huge difference to the lives of older people in China who are more than willing to work hard to raise their standard of living . Please give generously
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