Botswanan delegate to attend the Global Ageing Conference thanks to our travel bursary
Meet Magen Mtepfa, recipient of our travel bursary supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Healthy Ageing Challenge!
We are delighted Magen has accepted our offer of our 2023 travel bursary, supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Healthy Ageing Challenge, to attend the Global Ageing Conference, 7-8 September 2023, Glasgow, Scotland.
Magen is the Chair and co-founder of the NGO Ageless Inspirations, and as an associate professor, has been carrying out research into older people since 2012. Her advocacy for older people includes sharing her research in best practice in local communities and the international community, as well as teaching Masters and psychology students.
The Mission of Ageless Inspirations is to promote community and national values of caring for Botswana’s older people. Some of its many areas of work includes:
- engage with governments, relevant national, and international organizations to provide a conducive
- support and nurture the mainstreaming of older people’s needs in national and international
- engage with stakeholders to advocate for eradication of ageism, both causal and systemic,
- promote the principle of lifelong and experiential learning; where members are empowered
- support knowledge exchange and innovative practices that empower all older people.
- facilitate and support participation of older people in developmental processes, vis-à-vis, personal,
- support older people’s participation in the digital space and economy.
- encourage and support good nutrition and exercise for good health, wellbeing and longevity.
- provide daycare services.
“As an Associate Professor and Chair and founder member of an NGO, I believe that attending this conference would be an exceptional opportunity to learn and share my expertise in the field of healthy ageing,” says Megan.
“I teach health psychology courses, including health and geriatrics to students in our university to enable other specialists, for example, medical doctors, psychology students, and other professionals to learn how to handle older people in their practices and communities.”
Over the years, Megan’s research focus has been on the impact of ageing on psychological and social well-being and implementing strategies that can slow the progression of that come with ageing. Magen has conducted numerous studies in this field and has published several papers and articles, and in March this year; she was recognised in National Research Excellence Award ceremony for her research into the mental health of older people in Botswana.
“I am confident that attending this conference would also broaden my knowledge of ageing through learning best practices, provide an opportunity to network with other experts in the field, and gain new insights into the latest research findings,” she says.
Magen explains more about her work in this video:
Healthy Ageing
Magen has contributed to the Directory of Research on Ageing in Africa: 2004-2015 and is a member of the position paper: Developing the Silver Economy and Related Government Resources for Seniors.
She is keen to share her research findings with other researchers so that more research can be done on the geriatric population; this will inform policy and enable the formulation of intervention and prevention strategies that impact the health and wellbeing of older people.
“This would contribute to the development of the country, the psychology department, and the school of public health to enhance the country’s knowledge in the field of healthy ageing,” she says.
“We have already started working with other stakeholders on policy formulation for older people in Botswana, a first draft copy is available although more work needs to be done, emanating from our research findings. As part of the stakeholders, we have also come up with a strategy for healthy Ageing in Botswana (2021), which we can share with others, if interested.”
By partnering with us, the benefits of UKRI’s Healthy Ageing Challenge research and innovation can assist Magen to grow her international networks, share and learn from research, and develop and shape policy for healthy ageing in Botswana.
UKRI’s Healthy Ageing Challenge aims to help people remain active, productive, independent and socially connected across generations for as long as possible. It does this by enabling businesses, including social enterprises, to develop and deliver beneficial products, services and business models.
We are very much looking forward to meeting Magen at the conference, and learning more about her research, advocacy work, and care and ageing services in Botswana.
Find out more about CommonAge’s activities, supported by UKRI at the Global Ageing Conference here.
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