Japan Foundation delegation visits Intergenerational Self-Help Club in Hoa Binh province

On the morning of September 30, 2024, within the framework of the Project “Reducing Income- and Health-Related Vulnerability of Older Persons in Vietnam” (VIE071), a Japanese delegation from the Japan Foundation visited Hoa Binh province. The delegation was led by Ms Kimura Asa, Director of the Center for Future Humanities Research at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, along with Mr Yoshimura Shuhei and Mr Kurosawa Shoya from the Japan Foundation.

The delegation took a commemorative photo with the ISHC of Residential Group No.3, Dan Chu ward, Hoa Binh city

The purpose of this visit was to gain a deeper understanding of community-based care for older people models in Vietnam, aiming to foster cooperation and development in this field between Vietnam and Japan. By observing and studying the Intergenerational Self-Help Club (ISHC) model, which has been piloted since 2006 by HelpAge International in Vietnam (HAI) and the Vietnam Association of the Elderly (VAE), the Japanese delegation will have a basis for conducting more extensive research and cooperation projects in the future.

Ms Asa Kimura spoke in the meeting with the ISHC

The delegation visited ISHC of Residential Group No.3 in Dan Chu ward, Hoa Binh city, a club established under Project VIE071, funded by the Japanese Government through the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) and managed by the World Bank (WB). As of August 2024, the ISHC model has been approved by the Prime Minister for nationwide expansion and integration into national programs, with 7,382 ISHCs established across 63 provinces and cities.

ISHCs not only contribute to older people care but also enhance the role of older people, meeting diverse needs of the communities through eight main areas of activities. Additionally, ISHCs can expand their activities such as climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and providing paid home care services, depending on the needs and conditions of each locality.

The delegation visited a case of older person receiving home care support by the Club’s volunteers

During the visit, the delegation participated in various practical activities at the club, such as Thuc Vu Kinh exercises, folk dance and cultural performances, and visits to beneficiaries of the club, including home care cases and income-generating activities. They also received an introduction to the club’s activities, a brief report on achievements, and directly exchanged with the club’s management board to learn more about the model’s effectiveness.

The delegation expressed deep admiration for the club’s efforts and successes in elderly care and promoting their role in the community. The members noted that the ISHC model has created positive impacts in improving the quality of life for older people, encouraging active community participation, and providing a supportive environment for older people to develop skills and increase income.

This visit was a valuable opportunity for the Japanese delegation to not only study and learn from the successes in older people care in Vietnam but also to promote long-term cooperation between the two countries. This opens up new opportunities for developing community care models, adapting to population aging, and improving the quality of life for older people in the region.

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