GALLERY and VIDEO: Breakfast for seniors
NEWLANDS – Sophiatown CPF chairperson Tilly Michaels hosts breakfast to make senior citizens feel loved around Christmas time.
A breakfast of appreciation was held for senior citizens at the Danie van Zyl Recreation Centre in Newlands on 10 December.
Tilly Michaels, Community Policing Forum chairperson of the Sophiatown precinct, hosted this breakfast alongside her sister-in-law, Pili Tau, wife of City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Parks Tau. According to Michaels, she went to visit residents of various old-age homes in the Sophiatown area. “The biggest problem is that these senior citizens feel like they have been abandoned. We need to make them feel loved,” said Michaels. She further said that this breakfast is held at the end of 16 Days of Activism. “People have to realise that by sidelining the elderly, it can actually be seen as abuse,” she stated.
According to Tau, the senior citizens felt very depressed, especially at this time of the year. The breakfast was only the start of other plans for senior citizens. “We want to keep the elderly busy so that they feel less depressed. We are organising lunch dates, painting, knitting and other clubs as well as excursions to museums. We hope that groups of friends would form after this breakfast,” said Tau.
Aside from the nutritious breakfast served, citizens had a chance to listen to speeches. Captain Yvonne Kloppers from Sophiatown Police advised the elderly how to keep themselves safe during the festive season. The main speaker of the event was Tinswalo Makhubele, national secretary-general of the South African Congress of Non-Profit Organisations. “We are the voice of the voiceless and focus on community development,” said Makhubele. She added that senior citizens are the treasure of the nation. “They can help shape the future of the country, because most of these seniors have been through decades and their story-telling skills are valuable.”
Rita Knight (88) was the eldest attendee at the breakfast. She went on stage and sang White Christmas. Thereafter many more senior citizens took turns to sing on stage.
Details: Tilly Michaels, 083 649 7889.
