COSE is a Non-Government Organization (NGO) in the Philippines working with older persons since 1989. We focus on the formation and strengthening of Older Persons’ Organizations (OPOs); advocacy; and partnership building.
We promote community-based programs of older persons such as health care, residential care facility, age-friendly and diversified livelihood, and inclusive disaster risk reduction and management. Also in partnership with with other humanitarian actors, we strive to address issues and concerns of older persons in humanitarian crises situations or emergencies.
COSE recognizes the significant contributions of older persons in society through its annual Sampung Ulirang Nakatatanda (SUN)/ Ten Outstanding Older Persons Awards.
COSE is a licensed and registered Social Welfare and Development Agency, and a member of various humanitarian and development networks at the international and national levels.s
Our Vision
COSE envisions an age-friendly society where all older persons live in dignity; remain healthy, self-reliant, and secure; and free to commit themselves to others and society.
Our Mission
To work with older persons, especially the poor and marginalized, in upholding their rights while respecting cultural diversity, promoting gender equality, nurturing their potential, recognizing them as a significant sector, and ensuring their participation in matters affecting their lives.
Our Goals
- To strengthen older persons’ organizations (OPOs) through capacity development.
- To advance the well-being of older persons through networking and partnership building with various stakeholders at the local, national, regional, and international levels.
- To foster a national movement of older persons that will take the lead in promoting intergenerational solidarity and gender equality.
Shared Values
- Older Persons-Centered. We make older persons the center of what we are doing. We work for the best interest of older persons.
- Commitment. We are committed to facilitating interventions for/with older persons with respect, quality, and professionalism.
- Compassion. Our interventions and engagement with communities are based on compassion and solidarity with those who are most vulnerable/marginalized, and those most affected by disasters, be they natural or human-induced calamities.
- Gender Equality. We recognized that gender equality is a human right. We promote and provide access to equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities regardless of gender, whether among our employees or community partners.
- Inclusiveness. We provide equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as but not limited to older persons, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, etc.
- Participatory. We involve relevant stakeholders especially older persons in all that we do. We apply consensus decisions at all times.
- Each of us is responsible for our words, our actions, and our results. We are accountable for promoting and upholding the rights of older persons in all that we do.
Strategic Focus Areas
1. Protection and Inclusion
- Ensures that the older persons, national and local government units, and other stakeholders work together in developing and implementing policies and programs for the aging sector.
- Promotes the rights and welfare of older persons through policy advocacy and awareness-raising of issues and existing laws/policies related to older persons.
For more information, visit this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfSgShvyeF0
2. Income Security
- COSE together with older persons works to ensure their rights for an age-friendly, diversified, and secure livelihood; adequate social protection; and equal opportunities in employment and work.
- Introduce and establish an age-friendly and diversified livelihood within older person’s organizations (OPOs) such as small-scale businesses and micro-lending, a communal garden that uses crop diversification and typhoon resilient farming, etc.
For more information, visit this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vqKLX9JWnE
3. Active and Healthy Aging
- Promotes healthy and active aging through community-based health programs, advocacy for better health policies, and institutionalization of healthy practices in COSE’s internal policies.
- Formation and development of community health volunteers to provide geriatric care to sick, frail, and bedridden older persons.
For more information, visit this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feLkhul8srs
4. Community Resilience
- Promotes community resilience by ensuring active participation of older persons to improve access to social protection programs on health, and income security like social pension, inclusive humanitarian response, etc.
- Ensures the active participation and inclusion of older persons in all phases of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Climate Change Adaptation.
- Promotes inclusive community-based disaster risk reduction and management activities led by older persons themselves and inclusive humanitarian response.
For more information, visit this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfSgShvyeF0