Background
Senior clubs arose out of the need to assist elderly members within disadvantaged communities to meet their daily challenges. The organisation oversees senior clubs throughout the townships, which provide daily activities, such as meals, exercise, craft making, food gardening and special events. Support services include assistance with applying for pensions, child support and disability grants.
Over the last several years, the needs of these elder members of the community have changed. An increasing number of grandparents are left as caretakers of their grandchildren as their own children become ill or pass away, primarily as a result of HIV/Aids related illnesses. The grandparents are left caring for several grandchildren, with only their small pension grant to care for the entire family. There is also little or no support network for this vulnerable section of the community to assist them to access child support grants. Many grandparents are infirm or too old and ill to be physically able to care for their children and the entire situation is heartbreaking.
Senior Centres are being transformed to Integrated Activity Centres where child care facilities, after-school programmes, life skills, sports and guidance for youth are offered. This provides relief and assistance to the grandparents and better care for the children.
Monwabisi
In order to give you a better feel for Ikamva Labantu's Seniors' Programme we took a trip to Nyanga to profile the Monwabisi Senior Centre. Join us as we show you around picture by picture...
