INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NOVEL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT International Peer Reviewed & Refereed Journals, Open Access Journal ISSN Approved Journal No: 2456-4184 | Impact factor: 8.76 | ESTD Year: 2016
Scholarly open access journals, Peer-reviewed, and Refereed Journals, Impact factor 8.76 (Calculate by google scholar and Semantic Scholar | AI-Powered Research Tool) , Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Indexing in all major database & Metadata, Citation Generator, Digital Object Identifier(DOI)
Abstract
Care and support for the elderly is still a crucial area in most developing countries including Malawi. Even though it is widely known and accepted that the elderly people possess the deep wisdom of life and policies being enacted to protect and empower them, the issue hasn’t been given pertinent attention in most developing countries and Malawi inclusive. As such, the elderly people have continued to be recognized as a vulnerable group that occupies an insignificant place in the country.
Non Governmental Organizations in developing countries are one recognized body which has been influential in relieving the elderly from poverty in many rural communities and towns in various ways. One such organization in Malawi is a Faith-Based Organization called Sub Saharan Africa Family Enrichment (SAFE) which for many years has run a program called Gogo Grandparents Support Program.
This study explored the lived experiences of the elderly people in Malawi who are beneficiaries of the Gogo Grandparents Support Program. It sought to understand their views on being old in a society where there is insufficient social security coverage and at the same time being guardians to their children and grandchildren. This study examined elder people’s ways of life on a daily basis and the levels of independence and abilities that are enhanced in them through the Gogo Grandparents Support Program.
A qualitative research methodology was engaged with the aim to gain rich and detailed account of the experiences of the beneficiaries of the program. Purposive sampling was used to select participants who are beneficiaries of the Gogo Grandparents Support Program in SAFE Communities. The qualitative methods used included in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions.
Based on the data collected through primary sources from 110 beneficiaries of the Gogo Grandparents Support Program, this study found that, majority of the elderly people in SAFE Communities are satisfied with the quality of services provided by the Gogo Grandparents Support Program.
This study has at the end suggested that NGOs should be encouraged to invest more in enhancing capabilities in the elderly. These NGOs should as well be identifying the areas where the problems affecting the elderly people originate and not to behave as if they already know what the old people want and need.
As it is in Malawi, older persons have the right to work and participate in any development of their communities. They have a right to equal protection before the law etc. Some NGOs are proactive fighting for the elderly people’s rights but they have not used the older people themselves to speak on the issues affecting them.
Keywords:
District - an area of a country managed by one District Commissioner (DC); Gogo: In Malawi, and many African countries in the Sub-Saharan region, the word means grandmother/grandfather; NGO – Non - Governmental Organization; Older persons – An older person is defined by the United Nations as a person who is over 60 years of age; Sub-Saharan Africa - Geographically, the area of the continent of Africa that lies south of the Sahara; Theory – a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something; Village – a small settlement usually found in a rural setting.
Cite Article:
"Enhancing Capabilities in the Elderly: A Case Study of Gogo Grandparents Support Program in Malawi", International Journal of Novel Research and Development (www.ijnrd.org), ISSN:2456-4184, Vol.8, Issue 4, page no.234-278, April-2023, Available :http://www.ijnrd.org/papers/IJNRDTH00024.pdf
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ISSN:
2456-4184 | IMPACT FACTOR: 8.76 Calculated By Google Scholar| ESTD YEAR: 2016
An International Scholarly Open Access Journal, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed Journal Impact Factor 8.76 Calculate by Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar | AI-Powered Research Tool, Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Multilanguage Journal Indexing in All Major Database & Metadata, Citation Generator
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