By Rorisang Rampheteng:
Bloemfontein grannies were celebrated with dignity during a special visit to the Oliewenhuis Museum, organised at JB Mafora, Block 6, in Bloemfontein on Friday. The event aimed to refresh their memories of South Africa’s history while honouring the important role elderly women continue to play in their families and communities.
The initiative brought together elderly women from the community for a meaningful outing and activities designed to uplift their spirits and recognise their contributions to society.
Trip to Oliewenhuis Museum
One of the co-founders of the initiative, Kgosiame Motlhanke, said the trip to the Oliewenhuis Museum was organised to help the elderly relax and refresh their minds.“The purpose of this initiative is to refresh our grannies’ minds and help them de-stress. We also wanted to give them guidance on how to handle raising their grandchildren, because many of them are the ones taking care of the children,” he said.
Motlhanke added that the visit to the museum also helped the elderly reconnect with the country’s history and reflect on the struggles many of them experienced during earlier years.
A Meaningful Experience for the Oldies
One of the grannies, Ntswaki Sibiloane, said the experience meant a lot to them and that the trip gave them an opportunity to learn and reflect. “I truly appreciate the gifts we received and the opportunity to visit the Oliewenhuis Museum. The trip helped us learn about things we did not fully know during the struggle years. The knowledge we gained here will also be shared with our grandchildren so they can better understand their history,” she said.
Supporting the Elderly in the Community
The owner of the School of the Elderly, Mpho Makhetha, also acknowledged the support the organisation has received from the Department of Social Development over the years. “I would like to thank the Department of Social Development for supporting this initiative since 2004, when I started working with the elderly,” she said.
Makhetha explained that the centre was established to help elderly people who do not have proper support at home. “I opened this school to take care of grannies who are in need of assistance, especially those who do not have anyone to look after them,” she added. The event served as a reminder of the importance of recognising and supporting elderly people in communities, while celebrating the wisdom and experiences they continue to share with the younger generations. – @NewsSA_Online
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