WATCH: Senior choirs enchant in Vosloorus

They arrived in matching outfits with bright smiles; their voices warmed by decades of songs and stories – and they brought some 700 community members with them.

This was the scene as members of the Greater Ekurhuleni Elder Choir Fundraising Forum (GEECFF) descended on Vosloorus Civic Centre on June 24 to put on a performance as guests of the host choir, Tshepo ya Sechaba from Dawn Park.

The chairperson of the forum and a member of Tshepo ya Sechaba, Cynthia Nhlapo, explained that the GEECFF was founded to help underfunded older-persons social clubs stay active. The 10 choirs that make up the GEECFF are Tshepo ya Sechaba (Dawn Park), Novensi (Vosloorus), Sizanani (Kwa-Thema), Tshwaranang (Duduza), Lindokuhle (Vosloorus), Tokoza Care of the Aged (Tokoza), Leratong (Kwa-Thema), Khayalethu (Vosloorus), Big 5 (Tokoza), and Pull Together (Spruitview).

“The GEECFF is a coordinating organisation that provides older people’s clubs with a way to raise money for activities at their facility and to address necessities that are beyond the scope of modest budgets,” Cynthia said.

“It is the beating heart of older-persons choirs across Ekurhuleni – a ten-choir alliance that turns music into money, companionship and community care. Every note has a purpose.”

“Not only do senior citizens have frequent chances to interact with their peers, which improves their mental and emotional health, but being part of the forum promotes networking and the exchange of best practices across older people’s social clubs. In addition, the forum combats loneliness through enjoyable concerts, teamwork, and laughter.”

The Forum hosts rotating concerts from February to November, with each choir taking turns hosting. To keep the cycle going from one town to the next, each choir pays a hosting fee to cover the event costs and the venue.

“The result is warmed hearts, fuller coffers, and older people leaving the stage feeling less alone and more alive,” Nhlapo said, adding that GEECFF is more than just a performance competition.

These events attract a mixed crowd, including many young people who come to watch the choirs perform local classics, gospel favourites, and traditional melodies.

The hosting club’s activities, such as day trips, craft supplies, a new kettle or transportation for members who can’t walk far, are directly funded by admission fees, contributions and modest stall sales.

The cost per ticket at the Vosloorus event was R60.

The concerts raise spirits as well as money, Cynthia said.

“People come to sing, but they leave with a friend. We’re creating connections, not just making money.”

The shared-cost strategy, which each choir contributes to hosting, keeps events reasonably priced while providing each group with the funding and visibility they want.

Additionally, hosting strengthens community ability by providing local volunteers with an opportunity to learn event preparation skills, from food booths to sound setup.

GEECFF invites local businesses, families, and neighbours to sponsor refreshments or merchandise for sale stalls, attend concerts, or make kind donations, such as event space or sound equipment.

“Small actions like buying a ticket, bringing a pot of samp and beans for a fundraising event, or spreading the word can have a noticeable impact,” Cynthia said.

Under the direction of Cynthia and the committee, the Forum hopes to continue fostering relationships between groups and expand throughout Ekurhuleni.

To get involved or support the GEECFF, email Cynthia at [email protected] or visit the Tshepo ya Sechaba website, www.tso.org.za

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