Meera, 60, India
Meera lives in extreme poverty. But she manages to earn some income by making and selling incense sticks.
She loves coming to TEV - an older people's village supported by HelpAge India.
She says: "Before coming to TEV, I was alone. There was no one to care for me.
"I came here about five months ago. Now, I like it very much here. I have friends here. I don't want to go anywhere else.
"My husband left me two years ago. I had one son and one daughter but they both passed away. My son died when he was only in the 6th grade in school and my daughter passed away a year ago.
"After my husband left my situation got worse. Finally, I told my local elders self-help group about my situation and that I didn't have any means to support myself. The village older people told me about TEV and asked me to join it.
"Here at the older people's village I help my roommate who is blind. I care for her, do the washing, keep the room clean and make sure she has her mosquito net etc.
It is good work and we make a profit
"I am now a member of the self-help group here at TEV. I help in making these ‘computer sambrianis'. Sambriani is an incense stick and in the local market everything that is man made gets the prefix ‘computer'.
"I learnt how to make these sticks here at the TEV. It is good work and helps me pass time. About seven of us make some 100 boxes a month. From this we make a profit of Rs 150 each (US$3.5). One box has 24 incense sticks and sells for Rs 20 each (US$0.5).
"I want to live here at the older people's village for the rest of my days. Even if I die I want to be here at the TEV."
Before coming to the older person's village five months ago, I was alone. There was no one to care for me. Now, I like it very much here. I have friends here. I don't want to go anywhere else.
