Genaro, 74, Peru

HelpAge campaigns with partners in Peru to put pensions on the public agenda so that older people, like Genaro, don't have to struggle any more. We also provide training so that older people themselves can influence polici Photo: Antonio Olmos/HelpAge International es that affect them.

"I am entitled to a pension, but I've never received a penny"

Genaro said: "I worked for a construction company for 20 years.  I had to stop when I had an accident that badly damaged my right leg. I couldn't do the lifting or digging anymore. 

"I thought that my wife and I would be secure as I am entitled to a 700 soles (US$200) monthly pension from my old company but we've never received a penny from them. Hundreds of us ex-workers are fighting to try and get our pensions but nobody is helping us. 

"We survive any way we can"

"For the last ten years we have been surviving any way that we can. I get up at 5am to start preparing jelly cups, which I then sell in the local market for 25 cents each. My leg hurts as I have to walk around all day, but I try and stay positive and laugh and joke with people because I sell more jelly that way.

"Food prices are rising so fast that it's impossible to sell enough to pay for the things we need. The cost of rice has more than doubled in three weeks. Oil and fuel are the same.

"They say I am too old to be of any use"

"Even though I am a man, sometimes I cry because I feel so angry that I can't make enough money to buy the medicines that my wife needs to get better. But what can I do? Because of my injury I can't work in construction any more and nobody else will employ me because they say I'm too old to be of any use.

"Aside from the jelly cups, I don't know how else I could make money. The house is my main worry. We owe over US$100 in unpaid utility bills.

"Every month I plan to put some money aside to try and pay back these debts, but any spare money we do have I want to spend on medicine for my wife. I am scared that the government will eventually take our house away. If this happens we will have nowhere to go because my children don't have space. I don't want to end up a beggar.

"If I got a pension, I would be free from stress and worry" 

"If I got the pension I am owed the biggest change would be that I would be free from all this stress and worry about money. I would continue to sell my jelly but I'd be able to afford the drugs my wife needs to ease her pain and I could start paying off the utility bills.

"I would be happier and my wife would be happy. But after all this time it's difficult to believe that this will ever happen."

Older people in Peru are tired of being ignored. Hear what they have to say: