Age International

Age International is a UK-based charity focusing on older people in developing countries. It works in over 30 low and middle-income countries.[1] It was founded on 24 April 2012 by Age UK and HelpAge International. The charity's working name is Age International, but the legal name of the charity is HelpAge International UK.[2] The director of the charity is Chris Roles. Chris Roles holds a blog on the Huffington Post, where he has previously blogged about a number of topics related to ageing, including:

  • Preventing HIV and Aids in Older People Across the World.[3]
  • Why Does Witchcraft-related Abuse of Older People Still Happen in 2016? [4]
  • Long-Term Health Support More Vital Than Ever on Fifth Anniversary of Syrian Conflict [5]
  • Why Is the World Humanitarian Summit Important for Older People? [6]

The charity focuses on four priority areas of work: poverty reduction; improving health; protecting rights; and emergency relief.[7]

Age International
Founded24 April 2012
TypeCharity
HeadquartersUnited Kingdom
Websitehttp://www.ageinternational.org.uk/

Vision

Age International’s vision [7] is of a world in which all women and men everywhere can lead dignified, active, healthy, and secure lives as they grow older and can say:

  • I am given the help and information I want in emergencies
  • I have the income I need, and enjoy the best possible health and care
  • My voice is heard by decision makers
  • I am safe and secure, free from all forms of discrimination, violence and abuse.

Relationship with Age UK and HelpAge International

Age International is a charitable subsidiary of Age UK and is a registered charity linked to Age UK.[2] It is the UK affiliate of the HelpAge Global Network – a network of over 100 ageing organisations in more than 70 countries.[8] As the UK affiliate of HelpAge, Age International raises awareness of HelpAge's work in the UK, raises funds in the UK, and carries out influencing and campaigning work in the UK to change global policies and practices.

Emergency Work

Age International is a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC). It is the only aid organisation within the DEC to specifically target older people in emergencies.[9] According to Age International, 26 million older people are affected by disasters every year.[10] In 2014-15 Age International reached 155,000 older people in 23 countries with emergency response and recovery programmes.[11]

Since 2012, Age International has responded to 7 DEC appeals: the Philippines Typhoon; the Gaza crisis; the Syria crisis; the Ebola crisis; the Nepal earthquake; the Yemen crisis; and the East Africa Crisis. [12]

Publications

In 2015, Age International published "Facing The Facts: the truth about ageing and development".[13] This publication is a collection of essays which discuss the impact of an ageing world on international development.[14]

In 2016, Age International and HelpAge International published "Older Citizen Monitoring: Achievements and learning".[15] OCM involves older people monitoring the implementation of policies and services affecting their lives, and using evidence they gather to advocate for change at local, national and international levels. This report offers insight into the HelpAge network's experience of OCM since 2002.

A number of celebrities are affiliated with Age International, including Penny Smith, Nick Sharratt, Martina Navratilova, Sir Antony Gormley, Miriam Margolyes and Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall.

A number of high-profile politicians, academics and development experts also support the work of Age International, including Baroness Barker, Lord Foulkes, Baroness Northover, Baroness Greengross, Dr.Margaret Chan, Mary Robinson, Martin Prince, Peter Lloyd-Sherlock, Nora Groce, Penny Vera-Sanso, Jane Falkingham, Duncan Green, Jonathan Glennie and Craig Mokhiber.

Age International's photo competition and exhibition

In 2016, Age International held a photo competition and exhibition entitled 'Strength for Life'. The organisation asked for both amateur and professional photographers to submit photos that depicted strength in older age. The winning photos were exhibited at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London. [16]

Alongside the winning photos, the organisation also exhibited a series of photos entitled ‘The Missing Generation of Myanmar’, from awarding-winning Guardian photographer, David Levene. These photos were also published in the Guardian with an article about older people caring for their grandchildren when their parents migrate to find work and the work Age International is doing to support them. [17]

References
  1. "Age International: where we work". Archived from the original on 2015-06-24. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
  2. "The Charity Commission".
  3. "Preventing HIV and AIDS in older people across the world".
  4. "Why Does Witchcraft-related Abuse of Older People Still Happen in 2016?".
  5. "Long-Term Health Support More Vital Than Ever on Fifth Anniversary of Syrian Conflict".
  6. "Why Is the World Humanitarian Summit Important for Older People?".
  7. "Official website".
  8. "HelpAge International website". Archived from the original on 2015-08-09. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
  9. "DEC member agencies".
  10. "Older People in Emergencies".
  11. "Age International Trustees' Report and Financial Statements 2014" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-07-24. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
  12. "DEC appeals".
  13. "Facing the Facts: the truth about ageing and development" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-02-28. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  14. "Jonathan Glennie (2 February 2015) "Why don't we care about older people as much as children", The Guardian".
  15. "Older Citizen Monitoring: Achievements and learning" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-10-01. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
  16. "Exhibitions 2016". Archived from the original on 2017-09-14. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  17. "Myanmar's absent generation".
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