25 years of ADI members

ADI membership

1984: Australia, Canada, UK and USA
1986: Belgium, France, Ireland and Sweden
1987: Germany, Italy and New Zealand
1988: Mexico and Scotland
1989: Finland and Netherlands
1990: Argentina, South Africa and Switzerland
1991: Chile, Denmark and Puerto Rico
1992: Japan
1993: India, Israel and Spain
1994: Austria
1995: Romania, South Korea and Uruguay
1996: Brazil, Guatemala, Hong Kong and Venezuela
1997: Greece, Poland and Singapore
1998: Colombia
1999: Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic and Turkey
2001: Pakistan
2002: China, Cyprus, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand
2003: Costa Rica, Egypt and Panama
2004: Nigeria, Trinidad & Tobago and Zimbabwe
2005: Lebanon and Taiwan
2006: Bulgaria, Croatia, El Salvador, Iran, Malta and Portugal
2007: Barbados, Honduras, Malaysia and Syria
2009: Bangladesh, Bermuda, Hungary, Indonesia and Jamaica

Alzheimer University

'If you have a chance to attend the Alzheimer University, don't hesitate!' Birgitta Martensson, Association Alzheimer Suisse, Switzerland, 2002

The Alzheimer University, a series of workshops to help new and potential members strengthen their associations, was piloted in London in April 1998 and the first programme welcomed sixteen participants from eight counties.

The aim of the Alzheimer University was to give participants the tools to identify their aims, involve people, provide information, raise money and awareness, and influence public policy. Following attendance at the Alzheimer University, participating associations were followed up on their progress after six and twelve months. This practice continues and a similar programme for developing associations is now run every year.

In April 2003, ADI brought together representatives from twelve countries for an Alzheimer University focussed on leadership. This was the first of the Alzheimer University programmes to be run for established member associations. ADI created a programme to equip participants with skills to get the best out of individuals and to enhance the learning ability of their organisations. A similar programme took place in 2004, attended by representatives from 15 Latin American Alzheimer associations. This event marked the first Alzheimer University programme to be run outside of London and in Spanish.

Representatives from twelve Alzheimer associations in the Asia Pacific region met in May 2005 in Singapore for an Alzheimer University programme on strategic advocacy and organisational growth. Participants at the event were invited to share their experiences in areas such as engaging politicians and meeting diverse needs. Alzheimer University programmes held during regional meetings have now become more frequent, with a demand from members for programmes that specifically suit the needs of Alzheimer associations within the region.

Following feedback from members, ADI ran an Alzheimer University programme centred on advocacy in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2006. The three-day event, which was attended by representatives from eighteen countries, saw participants sharing details of their country's political situation and advocacy work while case studies of national advocacy campaigns were presented. The programme also featured a session on media training and participants were each asked to set future objectives as the event concluded. A second programme, Campaigning for Change, took place in July 2007 in Milwaukee, USA, with twenty-one participants.

The first Alzheimer University programme on fundraising was held in Taipei in 2008. Participants from 12 Alzheimer associations within the Asia Pacific region took part in a full day of workshops and group activities, all aimed at building their capacity to fundraise effectively.

In the first 25 years of ADI, representatives from 92 countries have participated in an Alzheimer University programme.

Twinning Programme

'I am humbled to have worked for two weeks with people who are volunteers and work out of commitment from their hearts. I can only pay the highest level of tribute to them.' Jim Jackson, former CEO of Alzheimer Scotland, of the Lanka Alzheimer's Foundation, 2008

The creation of ADI saw a number of Alzheimer associations across the world drawn together to share and exchange ideas. This practice has been a running theme throughout the past 25 years and it is common for two ADI member associations to discover similar interests or assist each other in their work. A number of unofficial partnerships began to develop as more and more Alzheimer associations were taken on as members of ADI.

In 2004, the possibility of developing a programme to support ADI members in these partnerships was discussed and the Twinning Programme was launched a year later at the ADI Council meeting in September 2005. The programme offers great potential for sharing knowledge and skills between Alzheimer associations. As part of the programme, a developing association is paired with a more developed one to strengthen both organisations by tackling shared issues together.

The first step of the Twinning Programme sees representatives from the developed association visiting their twin to establish their objectives and create an action plan for their three-year relationship. During the partnership the associations maintain regular contact and arrange visits in order to work together to achieve their objectives.

The first year of the programme saw the Greek Association of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders paired with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Alzheimer's Pakistan and Alzheimer's Western Australia united, and Alzheimer Society of Canada working in partnership with the Alzheimer's Association of Trinidad and Tobago. A further twelve associations have benefited from the programme since its creation.

The programme has seen a number of successes so far. In 2007, Alzheimer's Pakistan opened their first day care centre in collaboration with Alzheimer's Australia WA. Alzheimer's Society in the UK and ARDSI in India have worked closely together on a number of projects, one of which was the formation of Friends of ARDSI, a UK-based charity raising money on behalf of ARDSI. The Alzheimer Society of Canada and Alzheimer's Association of Trinidad and Tobago devised a workshop in 2008 on building global solidarity, which took place during the first world Eldercare Mediation summit in Canada.

The Twinning Programme continues to appeal to Alzheimer associations across the world and it is hoped that many more associations will benefit from it in the future.

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