Figure 1- Image source: ajisproducts.org
“When grace is joined with wrinkles it is adorable. There is an unspeakable dawn in happy old age.”-Victor Hugo
An integral part of human life, old age is unavoidable and inevitable. It is all about nurturing, care and compassion. It also requires an abundance of patience, empathy, and understanding. Not to mention, this stage is one of the most prominently difficult stages in a human’s life. With a plenitude of love in their hearts and inspired by their own grandmother Champa Devi Tuladhar, the sister duo of Lorina Sthapit and Irina Sthapit decided to contribute towards the elderly community and make their lives a merrier and fulfilling- they established ‘Aji’s’.
Figure 2- Lorina Sthapit and Irina Sthapit, co-founders of Aji’s.
Aji’s is a platform where the elderly community get appreciated for their skills, passion, and wisdom. “I’ve always had a lot of love for my grandparents. My grandmother used to knit socks and gift them to me and my cousins ever since we were little. I’ve had many of them since I was a kid. It wasn’t until long ago that it struck me- these socks could actually get the value and attention through a proper platform,” says Lorina Sthapit.
Figure 3- Champa Devi Tuladhar, one of Aji’s makers.
Formally established on 1st January 2018, the newly opened social enterprise not only focuses on recognizing the passion of the elderly but it also helps strengthen bonds between them and their grandchildren. Aji’s has a unique way in which the younger generation work through all the processes of signing up the product details in Aji’s website while their grandparents do what they love doing. While the elderly make various products with a hint of love, it is the grandchildren that connect with Aji’s website and take the process of selling the products further. Just the two generations getting together for something helps create a bond between them. The younger ones get to spend time with the elderly and it helps reduce the loneliness of old age.
Figure 4- Sushila Sthapit, one of Aji’s makers.
In this fast-paced world where we’re all running life’s race and chasing something, we often tend to forget our priorities. While we’re busy with life, we don’t realize that we’re not spending enough time with our aging parents and grandparents. The ramifications of this include the loneliness, isolation, and helplessness of the elderly, them feeling overlooked and neglected, and their desire to be productive, active and independent citizens receiving little consideration by society as a whole. Aji’s has a vision of changing our perception towards the elderly community and giving them the value and love they deserve. It wants to prevent them from becoming the forgotten generation. It wants to provoke the younger generation to recognize the value of older people.
Figure 5- Necklace Devi Sthapit, one of Aji’s makers.
The other visions of Aji’s include harnessing the unique skills and knowledge of the elderly, revive them and use them to sell the products they will be remembered for. Aji’s also wants to preserve the stories and legacy of the elderly. For this, they have #AskAnAji campaign. In this campaign, people can submit any questions they have for the elderly community through Aji’s website and the elderly’s answers will be posted.
Figure 6- Menuka Shrestha, one of Aji’s makers.
Currently, there are five people in the Aji’s elderly community and five in the pipeline. The Sthapit duo’s own grandmother is also one of the makers of Aji’s products. The makers vary between the age ranges of the late 40s and 92. Each Aji’s product is hand-made by the elderly community. The items are more than just a product. They have the touch of love and carry unique stories of life and inspiration. The products include Lumu socks, Poh bracelets, Tara Puja set, Swoyambhu Stupa, Dharma Chakra magnets and Tapu headbands.
Figure 7-Lumu socks
Figure 8- Poh bracelets
Managing a social enterprise certainly demands a lot of effort and there are quite a number of responsibilities associated with it. When asked about the main challenges and risks in establishing and managing a social enterprise, Lorina Sthapit says that the biggest challenge is managing finance for the enterprise. Since Aji’s is a social enterprise, they’re looking for financial supporters who can help Aji’s hire more staff and expand nationally as well as internationally. Another challenge for Sthapit is managing time. “With already a full-time job on the side, managing time can be quite a task,” says Sthapit.
Figure 9- Juju Ratna Tamrakar, one of Aji’s makers.
When asked about what the future for Aji’s looks like, Sthapit says that they want Aji’s to include more people from the elderly community and expand Aji’s nationally and internationally as well. They’re coming up with new product ideas too. They have been rigorously pitching for supporters who could help Aji’s plan and execute events and gatherings that could bring together the elderly community. Sthapit says that in the long-term, they want their social enterprise to not just focus on the elderly community but also on the education deprived children of Nepal. Their plan is to help the children through the revenue generated by the elderly who are interested to donate it.
It is enterprises like Aji’s that remind us of the important things in life. By enabling the elderly to make and sell their products, share their stories and experiences and, connect to the younger generation, Aji’s wants to make the lives of the elderly people happy and meaningful. As a new enterprise and the first of its kind in Nepal, it can certainly go a long way with support and love from us.
Aji’s website: https://www.ajisproducts.org/