KENNETH FROM JAMAICA

Kenneth, 72, Jamaica: ADA is about change

Born in 1940, Kenneth Hemley spent much of his working life as a technician in Jamaica's textile industry after beginning his career in construction. Today he is President of the Rivoli Senior Citizens Club in St Catherine's and an ADA leader.

Having witnessed first hand the discrimination faced by older people, Kenneth decided "enough is enough" and got involved with ADA in 2009 to bring about change. He has since been instrumental in getting the Jamaican government to widen access to pensions - mobilising campaigners to call for this step forward.

On 26 September 2011 Kenneth met Faith Innerarity, Director General of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. Having met Kenneth and other campaigners, the Director General agreed to review the government's Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education, which is a conditional cash transfer scheme. The review will look at the possibilities for greater inclusion of older people in the scheme.

The power of Kenneth's campaigning has been recognised by several UN agencies, who have invited him to speak at a number of UN forums in New York. After receiving an invitation from the NGO Committee on Ageing at the UN. Kenneth was a panel member at an International Day of Older Person's event at the Salvation Army Auditorium in Manhattan on 6 October 2011.

Sign our petition calling for a convention on older people's rights.

MAMA RHODA FROM KENYA

Mama Rhoda, 77, Kenya: ADA has made me confident

Mama Rhoda is 77 and has two children, one adopted daughter and a son who passed away when he was small. She currently runs a kiosk that sells cakes, green vegetables and fruits.

Rhoda is a leader in her church and community and a defender of older people's rights. She has taken part in ADA since 2009. This year, Rhoda marched through the streets of Nairobi and met the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs to demand greater protection and support for the victims of elder abuse.

Of ADA, she says: "ADA has made me an ambassador to spread the good news about older people. I am so happy and confident... This campaign has taught me that older people have rights which should be respected, not just put on paper but should be practised by all."

Read more about Mama Rhoda.

Sign our petition calling for a convention on older people's rights.

DR KERAMAT ALI FROM BANGLADESH

Dr Keramat Ali Shah, 70, Bangladesh: Implement policy changes

Dr Shah has been involved in ADA since the beginning as a delegate. He is also an advisor of Resource Integration Centre (RIC), HelpAge Affiliate in Bangladesh.

After he retired from his teaching profession at Dhaka University, he got actively involved in the health related movements, especially healthy ageing in Bangladesh. In 2011, seminars, a mass signature campaign and a talk show jointly hosted with Ministry of Social Welfare and other non government organisations, were organised as part of ADA in Bangladesh.

Dr Shah believes that ADA is a platform for involving different levels of the society to increase awareness of issues of ageing. He wants to extend his efforts towards policy changing activities and improve older people's health.

Support Dr Keramat Ali's efforts by signing our petition calling for a convention on older people's rights.

BEATRIZ FROM THE PHILIPPINES

Beatriz Guaño, 67, the Philippines: Fighting for social pensions

Beatriz is a member of the Confederarion of Older Persons' Associations in the Philippines. She has participated in Age Demands Action since 2007. As a leader in her community she has spoken up for the rights of older people. In 2008 Beatriz's dedication was recognised when she was awarded one of the "Sampung Ulirang Nakatatanda" ("Ten Outstanding Older People") awards.

She says: "We are pushing for complete implementation of the social pension law. We want the Department of Social Welfare and Development to make a credible list of older people qualified for the social pension. I am hopeful that the pension will benefit the right beneficiaries".

Click on the video to hear Beatriz talking about the campaign to ensure that poorest older people receive the social pension they are entitled to.

DIDA FROM INDONESIA

Dida Soerodjo, 70, Indonesia: Including voices of older people

Dida is an executive committee member of Yayasan Emong Lansia, an affiliate of HelpAge International.

She has been a part of ADA since 2009. In 2011, she campaigned for home-based care for older persons and took part in the establishment of the National Movement on Ageing under the leadership of Eva Sabdono, Executive Director of Yayasan Emong Lansia.

She believes that the campaign needs to continue so that it can bring about better services for older people, especially in poorer areas of Indonesia. The most important element of the campaign is that the voices of older persons have been heard and acknowledge by the policy makers.

THERRA FROM MOZAMBIQUE

Hermelinda Therra, Mozambique

Hermelinda Therra met Prime Minister Aires Ali as part of the Age Demands Action 2011 campaign. She spoke of the concerns of older people and called for improvements that would dramatically change the lives of older people in Mozambique for the better.

Click on the video to hear about Hermelinda's experience as an activist fighting for older people's rights in Mozambique.

Sign our petition calling for a convention on older people's rights.

VERA FROM KYRGYZSTAN

Vera Geikina, 77, Kyrgyzstan: Bring change to my society

Vera used to work as an engineer and organised discussions about political discussions in the factory. She has been a part of Age Demands Action since 2010. She says, "In 2011, I was campaign leader and member of a delegation that met with government representatives.

"We met with local ministers and presented our demands regarding older people's access to healthcare and our involvement in decision making.

"I became involved with HelpAge and ADA because I believe that we as older people should help the society raise future generations. I want to live better myself and also bring change in my society."

Play the video to hear about Vera's experience as an ADA activist.

Support older activists like Vera and sign our petition calling for a UN convention on older people's rights.

MRS GUNATHILAKE FROM SRI LANKA

Mrs Gunathilake is 67 and the Secretary of the Senior Citizens Committee (SCC) in Colombo. Her role is to enhance the well-being of older people in her community.

As Secretary, she has learnt a lot from the committee about age discrimination and has seen older people suffering from diseases such as diabetes, dementia and cancer.

For Age Demands Action 2011, Mrs Gunathilake joined over 600 members of the Social Services Committee to ask the Minister of Social Services about pensions for people over the age of 80. She is also planning to organise a medical clinic to provide free medical examinations for her community.

Click on the video to hear more about Mrs Gunathilake's experience as an ADA leader.

Sign our petition calling for a convention on older people's rights.

TILAHUN FROM ETHIOPIA

Tilahun Abebe, 76, Ethiopia: ADA is about aspiring for change!

Born in 1935, Tilahun Abebe, was raised by his grandmother. He has been involved in the movement for older people for over a decade. He says, "I was raised by my grandmother and she is my inspiration for my involvement in older people's issues. I was privileged enough to be raised with love and support, to grow up to be successful and now I am secure in my old age. I am well off but there are so many older people needing the most basic of support across the nation. This must change!

"ADA is about aspiring for and bringing about changes for older people not paper work. This year it will be about achievements- no more planning; it's time to get results! Once we know where we are, we can see where we must go."

Tilahun was one of 140 older runners that ran the 10 kilometre Great Ethiopian Run. Play the video to hear more about his experience as an ADA leader.

GALINA FROM MOLDOVA

Galina, 63, Moldova: ADA is an opportunity to meet our governments

Galina is a teacher and used to be the leader of a trade union. She is also the leader of one of HelpAge's local partners in Moldova.

Galina believes that after five years of meetings and discussions with ministries, she has realised that changes do not occur in one year.

The most important element of ADA according to her is the fantastic opportunity for older people to meet the government and talk to them directly about their problems. She is hopefuly that the recently elected president, Nicolae Timofti, being an older person himself will be more responsive to their demands.

Support activists like Galina and sign our petition calling for a convention on older people's rights.

MR SHEHADA FROM GAZA

Mr Shehada, 74, Gaza: Better healthcare for older people

Mr Abed Errahman Shehada is 74 and an ADA leader living in Gaza's Al Shatee refugee camp. A member of the Arab Union of Writers and the Palestinian Writers and Journalists Union, Mr Shehada has spent years campaigning for the most vulnerable.
He is a central figure for ADA in Gaza and for ADA 2011, he challenged the Minister for Social Affairs to provide better access to health-care for older people whilst delivering a speech in the presence of the Minister and other parliamentarians.

Mr Shehada has also been involved in the Face to Faith initiative of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation and the 7 billion campaign.