Opportunities and Challenges of Older People’s Associations (OPAs) in Kolfe Keraniyo Sub-city

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Date

2017-06

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

Older people in Ethiopia face numerous discrimination and stereotypes. In Addis Ababa, there are no sufficient data on the type of older people association’s opportunities and challenge. Creating an awareness of the problem is essential to provide an adequate assistance for the older people associations or to follow up planed intervention methods. To increase understanding of the issues, a phenomenological qualitative study was conducted based on the data collected from 13 study participants concerning Kolfe Keraniyo sub-city older people associations and by exploring National and International legal frameworks concerning the rights of older people. Data was collected using an open-ended interview and focus group discussion; and it was analyzed simultaneously with interpretive analysis. The findings of this study generally revealed that there are opportunities in Kolfe Keraniyo sub-city older person associations individually: capacity building trainings, assistance for abused older people, care and support for the unable. Socially: experience sharing among older people themselves and younger generation. Economically: networking for income generating activities. And, politically: pushing the government to construct a multi-functional institution which is expected to commence soon. Regarding the challenges, that problem in implementing the rights of older people mainly related with lack of physical and financial availability, low provision of different service with facilities, lack of community awareness on the rights of older persons and involvement in older people associations were identified. Thus, utilizing experiences of OPAs in other countries as a seed for empowering older persons in Ethiopia is recommended. In addition to governmental, societal and professional attention for OPAs is inevitable

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Keywords

Ethiopian older persons; older people’s association; older person’s rights; and Advocacy

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