Innovation Fellow Profile:
Pintu Agrawal

Pintu Agrawal
Assistant Operations Data Management Officer
Duty Station: Damak, Nepal

I’m addressing the challenge of how elderly refugees can better interact with relatives and friends who are far away.

It seems that English Language education is not common in my society. People don’t speak English. And, age is even more of a barrier. While youth are busy with technology; the elderly are left all alone in closed rooms. Life in refugee camps is much more difficult. Why can’t we do something about it? How can the elderly interact more effectively?
The group resettlement of refugees from Bhutan began in late 2007, and it is assumed that the vast majority of refugees (over 100,000) will have been resettled by the end of 2015. However, it is estimated that the remaining refugees in Nepal will face considerable challenges without viable durable solutions in there near future, and that around 12,000 – 13,000 refugees will be among these “remaining caseloads”.
The remaining elderly population are exposed to vulnerabilities and challenges that will increase as time passes. There is an immense need for an effective communication system for them.

I want to find a solution to this problem because access to easy communication can strengthen support systems that have been put in place for elderly refugees by UNHCR’s Protection Unit (Community Services section), and partner NGOs, Lutheran World Services, and TPO Nepal.