Updated 11 November 2008

Day after day, our elders in the developing world continue to struggle for their very existence. Their hardships are battles that they would not wish on anyone else, yet they persevere in the hopes that one day, their plight will be heard.

Sri Lanka is a nation whose population is 19,615,300 people, out of which 45.4 percent exist on $2 or less a day; 25 percent of the people suffer from malnutrition. These figures include our fellow Mo’mineen, especially our destitute elders who are unable to work due to their old age, illnesses and most importantly, because they are caught in the cycle of poverty.

India is a nation that 1.1 billion people call home. In the state of Bihar, the per capita income is a mere $148 a year against India’s average of $997. Moreover, 30.6% of the state’s population lives below the poverty line. Many of these people come from our community and include senior citizens who simply cannot earn to provide for themselves.

The World Federation’s Sponsor Our Seniors Program is the shelter that so many of our elders living in poverty are searching for to help them survive their everyday challenges.  The following table depicts 14 more seniors living in Sri Lanka and Bihar who have applied for sponsorship through this initiative and are awaiting sponsors. The gift you give today is an expression of hope for our elders. Please consider sponsoring a senior.