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The Maruzi Age Alert Project (MAAP) - Uganda

Country

Uganda

Region

Global, Africa

Programme Summary


Uganda youths provide the starter boost which enabled the elderly to be productive in an agricultural project for increased nutrition & profit while supporting their grandchildren whose parents were stricken with AIDS.

Communication Strategies

Through intergenerational personal contact & commmunity action, people were able to work together for a rewarding cause. In addition, an enriched community of elders evolved, where a revival of traditional dances & poetry occured.

Development Issues

Ageing, Health, Nutrition, Population, Youth, Agriculture

Key Points

A project instigated by local youths who realized that with the spread of AIDS & death of many from the parent generation, grandparents were often left with the responsibility of their grandchildren, under less than desirable conditions. The MAAP was meant to inject nutritious food & money into this situation while leaving members of the ageing population feeling productive & needed. The Uganda youths performed most of the hard labour, such as ploughing the thickly overgrown soil. They also raised funds to purchase seeds for beans, maize, sunflowers & groundnuts. "The older workers were stimulated by the fresh challenges & longer-term aspirations". A portion of the profits went to fixing huts & medical treatment for sick members. The project brought together many members of Uganda's ageing population which developed into more organised activities; including, the revival of traditional dances & poetry, which threatened to be lost to the younger generation with the influx of popular music. As time passed, the elders took on more of the planning & management, knowing that the youths were there if needed for support & the heavier work. This project fostered strong relationships between Uganda's youth & elderly members of the community.

Partners

The UYDEL organisation in Uganda

Contact

The Division for Social Policy and Development
sidorenko@un.org

Source

The UN Compendium of Community Programmes for Older Persons in Newly Ageing Countries Website

Compiled by Dr.Ken Tout, Consultant, ConsultAge, United Kingdom, 1999


Placed on the Communication Initiative site July 13 2001
Last Updated July 13 2001

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