More than 120 elderly and disabled residents from Alra Park community gathered on December 20 to celebrate the festive season during a special Christmas lunch hosted by Mawewe Projects and Services in partnership with Tasha’s Day Care.

The event was a heartwarming occasion that brought joy, dignity, and companionship to some of the community’s most vulnerable.

The lunch, held at the Almac Centre, was filled with festive cheer, laughter, and a strong sense of togetherness.

The event began with an opening prayer led by Pastor Antony Haai, setting a warm, reflective tone for the celebration.

Speaking on behalf of Tasha’s Day Care, Natasha Jacobs said the initiative highlighted the importance of collaboration in uplifting the community.

“This Christmas lunch meant a great deal to the elderly and disabled members of our community. Many of them often feel forgotten, and moments like these remind them that they are valued and cared for. Partnering with Mawewe Projects allowed us to reach more people and create a warm, dignified celebration filled with love, respect and togetherness,” said Jacobs.

Chriszelda Van Wyk from Mawewe Projects said it was incredible to see so many smiling faces and hear the laughter of our elderly and disabled community members.

“We are grateful to our partners and sponsors for helping us make this Christmas celebration meaningful, and we hope to continue building programmes that support and uplift the Alra Park community,” she added.

In addition to our work with the elderly, we run the Grooming Girls programme, which supports 10 junior girls aged 8 to 12 and 15 senior girls aged 13 to 18.

“The programme provides mentorship, guidance, and essential hygiene support to young girls, helping them build self-confidence and life skills,” she explained.

Van Wyk added that the organisation faces ongoing challenges, including the need for permanent sponsorship to sustain its feeding scheme.

“The success of our outreach initiatives depends heavily on the financial and product support of corporate and private donors.

“We are currently seeking donations of sanitary towels and toiletries to support the Grooming Girls programme, as well as general contributions to continue with community services. We would like to extend our appreciation to Almac Centre for their support in providing the venue and assisting with logistics to make the event run smoothly,” she said.