Business Manager…..so we can earn something and have money for our own.

They came from different directions in the urban poor area, one carrying an old kerosene stove that looked like it had seen better days, another with an enormous wok, still others with fresh ginger bought in the wee hours at the central market… they were happy to see one another and immediately set down to business preparing the “miracle balm” which was the income generating project of this organized group of older people.  It was also a well kept secret.  Other groups had asked for the recipe since it was a best seller among  health workers and people for the recipe since it was obvious that there was a coconut oil and ginger but other ‘secret ingredients’ as well.  The masseurs swore by it and it was economical as well.  Ten pesos bought enough for multiple patients.

The miracle balm is only one of the income generating programs of the organized communities.  Others secure scraps of cloth from tailor shops and sew them together for dust cloths sold on almost every street corner.  At one time a large bag factory donated scraps from rubber, which older people converted into pillows.  The group sat around a large open space, cutting the scraps while regaling each other with stories from the past.

Some groups lend money for older people to sell vegetable in the market.  The loan is repayable at 1% interest per month.  One enterprising woman traveled across town to buy broken cookies from a large biscuit company.  She marketed the cookies at a school in small brown bags as “mixed cookies”.

Older poor people rate “income” as one of their top priorities and they have not survived for long lifetimes without many skills and experience.  Any group interested in the well being of older people can help them with the vast number of possibilities which they themselves will suggest, if they have the will to do so.