According to the report from the Vietnam Association of the Elderly, by the end of 2024, a total of 8,432 Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs (ISHCs) had been established nationwide, with more than 484,000 members. This impressive figure demonstrates the demand for ISHCs, which are a comprehensive model for adapting to population ageing
The ISHC model has proven to play a positive role in sustainably adapting to population ageing. These clubs not only help ensure social welfare for older people and other members but also create opportunities for them to participate in community activities, thereby improving the quality of life for both older people and those who not yet reach old age.
With eight main areas of activity — ensuring livelihoods, healthcare, volunteer-based home care, self-help and community support, ensuring rights and entitlements, raising awareness and knowledge (lifelong learning), culture – arts – visits and exchanges (spiritual life care), and resource mobilization — the ISHC model meets real needs and attracts the active participation of older people and other members in the community. By joining these clubs, older people receive technical or financial support to enhance production and small business, as well as health care (both physical and mental). They are also protected in terms of their rights, and they get the opportunity to help others and support the community, which makes them feel more confident and happier. Additionally, the participation of members from diverse social and economic backgrounds, genders, and ages within these clubs fosters understanding, respect, and mutual support among themselves, creating a cohesive and sustainably developing community.
The end-of-2024 evaluation, conducted by interviewing 10,405 members of 186 ISHCs established under Project VIE071 funded by the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) under the Government of Japan, through the World Bank in Vietnam (WB), shows the high effectiveness of the model in improving the quality of life for older people in the community. 99.7% of members reported significant improvements in their health; 82% reported income improvements since joining the club; 99.8% said their awareness and knowledge were enhanced through the club’s communication and support activities; 99.9% stated that the community became much more cohesive and united since the establishment of the ISHCs in their locality.
Seeing the joy and excitement in the faces of everyone here, we can observe the concrete benefits brought by the club – healthy activities engagement with the community, access to vital public services. If we want to see how the the lives of older people should be, this is exactly what the members of the club have experienced.
Mrs. Yolanda Azarcon, Senior Executive Officer of the JSDF, World Bank
HelpAge International in Vietnam has made significant contributions to the establishment, development, and expansion of the ISHC model through various projects such as VIE014, VIE022, VIE047, VIE051, VIE070, VIE071, and VIE085. These projects have not only provided financial resources but also offered technical support and capacity building for the clubs and local Association of the Elderly. This has helped achieve the objectives outlined in Government Decisions No. 1533/QĐ-TTg on August 2, 2016, and No. 1336/QĐ-TTg on August 31, 2020, regarding the development and replication of the ISHC model. These efforts have resulted in significant progress in protecting, caring for, and promoting the role of older people, while also fostering the development of a community-based model that effectively adapts to population ageing.
In light of the achievements already made, it is essential to have follow-up projects after 2025 to continue replicating the ISHC model across the country, while also maintaining and strengthening the established clubs. This not only aims to meet the increasing needs of older people but also seeks to build an inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to participate, contribute, and receive support when needed. The new projects should focus on enhancing the capacity of the clubs and local stakeholders, providing official mechanisms to support initial funding for the clubs, and promoting the involvement of local governments, organizations, businesses, and the community to create a sustainable development environment for people of all ages.
