Thembalami welcomes back elderly gogos for Mandela Month celebration
“This initiative was our way of giving back to the community and reconnecting with the gogos who remain close to our hearts.”
In the spirit of Mandela Month, Thembalami Care Centre and the Max Ordman Deaf Association (MODA) warmly welcomed back a group of cherished older women from Alexandra, affectionately known as the ‘gogos’.
These women were previously part of Thembalami’s Zamokuhle outreach programme.
Although the 14-year-long Zamokuhle programme ended in June 2023 due to budget cuts by the Department of Social Development, the bond between Thembalami and the gogos remains strong.
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The reunion, held on July 16, marked a heartwarming return for the women to the centre that had supported them for over a decade.
During the 67-minute Mandela Day celebration, the gogos joined residents and staff for a day filled with joyful activities.
The programme included light exercises, singing, and a creative session making pom-pom dolls.
The handmade dolls, along with bibs made by Thembalami housemother Jane Mogwale and resident Jo-Ann Weyerman-Noble, were later donated to Sithandiwe Disabled Care Centre in Lombardy East, extending the day’s goodwill even further.
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Tsakani Shihlomule, Thembalami’s occupational therapist, said, “This initiative was our way of giving back to the community and reconnecting with the gogos who remain close to our hearts.”
The event concluded with warm conversations over tea and scones.
