Coming Together to Create a Better World to Grow Old In

Elias Hakizimana Nov 3, 2023Nov 4, 2023 0 Comments

By The Inspirer.

Nsindagiza Organization, Rwanda’s leading advocate for the rights and wellbeing of older people, is hosting a global meeting in Kigali this week to collaborate with other actors who champion the rights and wellbeing of older people.

With older age, we acquire a lifetime of wisdom, experience and expertise, but ageing also brings challenges and, as older people, we often need support. The HelpAge global network is a group of more than 170 organisations who work together to campaign for the rights of older people and make this a better world for everyone to grow old in.

This week Nsindagiza is hosting 12 African members of the HelpAge global network, as well as the HelpAge International Board of Trustees and the executive leadership team. They have all come together to discuss what changes need to be made to improve the world for older people.

**Participants to the Helpage Annual Meeting posing for a group photo.**

Elie Mugabowishema, the president of Nsindagiza Organization, said: “It is a great privilege to welcome the HelpAge Board of Trustees and fellow members of the HelpAge global network here in Kigali. Older people should not be overlooked and have the same rights as all of us, but sadly this is not always the case. It is great to have the opportunity to host those who have the same aspirations to improve outcomes people and discuss how we can build alliances.”

This is the first time that a network member has hosted the HelpAge annual meeting of its board of Trustees and is the first meeting led by the new CEO of HelpAge, Cherian Mathews.

“The annual meeting of the HelpAge Board, along with network members, is an important event in the HelpAge calendar and we are delighted to come to Kigali this year. We learn so much from hearing from network members who are working on the frontline of older people’s rights,” said Cherian Mathews, CEO of HelpAge International.

“We have hugely valued the support that Nsindagiza has delivered over the years to advocate and campaign for the rights of older people here in Rwanda, as well as on the African and global stage. It gives me great pleasure to host the first international meeting of the HelpAge board here in Kigali and am deeply grateful to Elie for the support he has provided in making this meeting happen,” he added.

1st, L-R, Elie Mugabowishema, the president of Nsindagiza Organization, Cherian Mathiews, CEO of Helpage International (in the middle) and Arun Maira, the Chairman of Helpage Board Meeting in a group photo.

“At HelpAge we believe that harnessing the expertise, diversity and reach of a truly global network will provide the most opportunities to make a positive impact on older people in future.”

The HelpAge Board of Trustees and its Executive Leadership have several activities marked out for the one-week meeting in Kigali. These include visits to a few of the Elderly Support Groups supported by Nsindagiza to learn directly about the work being done in Rwanda and to learn more about ageing in the country.

HelpAge International is the convenor of a global network of diverse organisations and individuals who work to promote the rights and meet the needs of older people around the world. Working collaboratively, HelpAge and members of the global network work to influence positive changes in policies for and attitudes towards ageing and older people.

Nsindigaza works in Rwanda to promote healthy ageing, intergenerational solidarity and the promotion of Older People’s Associations. The organisation focuses on advocacy and awareness raising, ratification of the AU protocol on the rights of older persons and to get the government of Rwanda to recognise the global International Day of Older Persons and ensuring older people included in national work for the SDGs.