Senior citizens celebrate heritage month
‘The aim of commemorating heritage month is to reminisce about where we come from as senior citizens.’
Members of the Baptist church senior citizen’s club in Mamelodi West have encouraged the youth to study their roots and learn about their culture.
The senior citizens raised their concerns during the commemoration of Heritage Day at the Mamelodi West Baptist church on Wednesday that the youth of today is lost.
Club member Beauty Sibanyoni said the aim of hosting the event was to reminisce about where they come from as senior citizens.
She said they came dressed up in their traditional clothes because they want to teach others about their different traditions and culture.
“We also held an exhibition of artwork the club members made by hand from blankets to mats and hats,” said Sibanyoni.
The group said the different cultures are slowly fading away and it is up to them and the schools to teach young generations about their history.
The group formed the club in 2014 to fight boredom among senior citizens with only a few members, but today it boasts more than 30 members. Read also: Children not at risk at Zwartkop Christian school
Not all of the members are from the church but are within the community of Mamelodi West.
They meet Mondays to Wednesdays from 08:00 to 12:00 at the church.
Their programme starts at 08:00 with a an hour of exercise “to keep healthy and strong” followed by sewing and vegetable gardening.
The sessions end with prayer and a discussion about the social issues that the members are dealing with in their homes.
“Many senior citizens find themselves at hospitals and clinics for body aches, diabetes and high blood pressure. Exercise could help alleviate many of these health problems” said Sibanyoni.
“Most of our members no longer complain about body aches and they feel healthy and strong since they joined the club.”
She added that her blood pressure used to be high and she used to sweat a lot, but since she started training it has decreased and she is healthy.
Sibanyoni encouraged the senior citizens in the area to come out of their houses and keep themselves busy by joining the club. “It will change their lives.”
The day ended with the club members playing indigenous games after feasting on the traditional food they had earlier prepared for sharing.
