Empowering Senior Citizens to live with dignity, security, and community support in their twilight years

IASEW is now proudly engaging with its third generation of women workers. 

This remarkable journey signifies that the first generation of women we worked  with have gracefully transitioned into their senior years. We need to support them even more now to ensure they enjoy a serene and healthy retirement, honouring their invaluable contributions over the decades.

Our work is aimed at strengthening the identity of senior women workers and helping them access social security benefits. Through our programs, we foster a supportive environment, where they can engage in sharing, caring, and organising themselves into small informal groups. This strengthens the position of senior women workers who have dedicated years to the informal economy.

Why this is Important

Our engagement with our senior citizens is a heartfelt commitment to our roots and a testament to our values. These senior citizens, or our ‘Founders’ as we like to call them, are not just members; they’re the living embodiment of our history and resilience. Their stories offer invaluable lessons and inspiration to younger generations.

During our engagement sessions with them, the wisdom of age meets the vigour of youth, creating a vibrant, supportive community. We’re not just addressing their health or financial needs; we’re nurturing their sense of belonging and dignity. Our seniors have safeguarded our traditions over years, and are the keepers of skills and crafts that define our cultural heritage passing on these treasures to the next generations. 

Working with our senior citizens honours our past, empowers our present, and secures our future. It’s a cycle of learning, respect, and care that defines the spirit of IASEW.

Our Work

Capacity Building and Social Inclusion

This involves fostering  productive platforms for sharing and organising elderly women in informal groups. These spaces empower seniors to support each other, exchange experiences, and collectively navigate the challenges of ageing, particularly for those entrenched in the informal economy.

Awareness and Legal Rights Training

Through our initiatives, we raise awareness of legal rights and health issues among senior women. It is important to address concerns such as property disputes and legal rights violations, which empowers seniors through knowledge and in turn upholds communal harmony.

Linkages with Social Security Schemes

IASEW establishes vital links with social security programs, granting elderly women access to essential benefits. We facilitate pension applications, resolve billing issues, and provide guidance on government financial assistance, ensuring seniors' financial stability and security.

Health/Mental Health Support and Medical Assistance

We actively promote access to healthcare services and provide support for mental health awareness among seniors. Our initiatives include facilitating hospital visits, treatments, and obtaining age certificates for healthcare purposes.

Skill Enhancement and Lifelong Learning

Through thematic training programs, we enhance the skills of senior women, enabling them to adapt confidently to changing environments. Additionally, IASEW conducts literacy programs, breaking age-related barriers to education and fostering lifelong learning and confidence among older women.

Education and Literacy

IASEW conducted literacy programs for older women, breaking age-related barriers to education and fostering a sense of confidence through lifelong learning.

Documentation and Administrative Support

IASEW organisations assisted senior citizens with documentation, including updating ration cards and obtaining age certificates, among other essential tasks.

Community Radio Outreach

IASEW harnessed the power of community radio to reach and engage with senior citizens. They used this platform to generate mass awareness on critical issues affecting senior citizens, such as health, education, agriculture, history, and livelihood. These initiatives not only provided valuable information but also created a sense of community and belonging among senior citizens.

Early Awareness and Financial Planning

Recognizing the importance of financial security in old age, IASEW initiated an awareness campaign targeting women at an early age. This initiative sought to instil the habit of saving and investing for the future, ensuring a dignified life during retirement.

Community Engagement and Exposure

IASEW extended its efforts to organising exposure visits, forming saving and credit groups, and creating women's clubs for older women. This empowerment through knowledge sharing resonates with IASEW’s core values.

Certification and Evaluation

The periodic evaluation and certification by IASEW enhance the credibility of the training received, boosting trainee’s employment prospects and confidence. This transformation from students to skilled professionals enables them to contribute to the community and economy. 

We also create inclusive spaces for sharing and networking, aiming to bridge the generational gap and facilitate mutual learning between the young and the old. On these platforms, individuals from different age groups come together, exchange perspectives, and share their knowledge and experiences.

Case Studies

Valiben Kodipatel: Senior Strength

Impact created in the last 30 years

1,200

Enabled Women To
receive Widow pensions

1,000

Eyeglasses Provided At
Health Camps

1,500

Assisted in Obtaining
Aadhar & Ration Cards

1,200

Sisters Taught Value of
Saving Money

2,000

Vaccinated Women
Against Covid-19

Our commitment to empowering senior citizens stands as an integral part
IASEW’s journey. It is a testament to our enduring values and respect for tradition. 

We remain steadfast in our mission to empower and support our senior citizens, ensuring they enjoy the dignity and security that they deserve at every age.