The Sponsor a Grandparent programme currently works in 30 countries around the world. Our projects aim to help the most vulnerable older people and their families and communities. All our projects empower older and help them work towards building sustainable independent lives. We hope that one day grandparents and their communities can exist without needing to depend on help.
Below are examples of some of our favourite Sponsor a Grandparent projects. Each project is represented by one Grandparent who acts as a spokesperson for their entire community.
Through their stories you can see how sponsorship money not only changes lives of grandparents but also that of their families and the community around them.
Location: Uttar Pradesh, India
Spokesperson: Hakum
Grameen Vikas Santhsa has been part of Sponsor a Grandparent since 1998. The project was created to meet the grandparents’ most immediate needs, such as providing food, clothing, shelter and medical help. But its long term goals are to establish more sustainable income generation programmes, such as goat rearing.
Location: Harare, Zimbabwe
Spokesperson: Fazhimaro
The Mazoe River Bridge Project was founded in 1989 and originally focussed on helping older refugees from Mozambique. Its main aim is to improve the quality of life for all men and women, regardless of their race, religion or gender by providing food, clothing, medicine, a cash allowance, and other basic necessities.
Location: Bangladesh
Spokesperson: Fatema
The Resource Integrated Centre (RIC) was established in 1989 and has been working in partnership with Help the Aged since 1999. The project focusses on not only providing basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing; but also promoting income generation programmes that help older people become more self reliant.
Location: Songea, Tanzania
Spokesperson: Alana
Songea Older Persons’ Forum (SOPF) was set up in 2001 in response to the disintegration of the traditional family structures that had supported older people in Tanzania. The project’s aim is to tackle the main difficulties facing older people in the Songea area such as poor housing and nutrition and to improve their access to health services or community support.
Location: La Paz, Bolivia
Spokesperson: Jose
The Awicha Community for Older People was established in 1985 and has been part of Sponsor a Grandparent since 1999. Their main aim is to allow older people who are without family or resources the opportunity to improve their living standards by providing food, shelter and recreation.