#WomensMonth: Embo resident cherishes the elderly

ZANELE Dladla was born and raised in Embo and over the years she has continued to witness the high levels of poverty in the community.

Getting a chance to work with Carol Schroeder, founder of Twinkle Star Foundation gave her a new meaning in life and helped fulfill her wish to assist her neighbourhood.

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The foundation, which was started in 2005, feeds many families in the Valley of 1000 Hills and provides Gogos with a chance to be grannies at least once a week.

Dladla started working for Schroeder as a domestic worker in 2010.

“My mother was working for Schroeder so when she retired I took over,” she said.

The 34-year-old mother said she loved what Schroeder was doing for her poverty-stricken neighbourhood.

Every Thursday, Dladla cooks samp and soup for the families.

According to Dladla, the foundation feeds 60 families and not only do they provide the grannies with cooked meals but they also receive snacks and cakes.

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Dladla said the happiness she witnesses from the grannies when they are together is more than enough for her.

“They forget about their problems and get spoiled,” she said.

As years go by, Dladla continues to do her work with pride and love.She said she has seen the difference in the lives of the families that they are involved with.

“Gogos are so appreciative, I love taking care of them, they are thankful for everything Schroeder does for them.”

Every Thursday, the elderly gather at the Embo community hall but due to the lockdown, the grannies meet in small groups next to their houses.

With the help of her husband, Dladla wakes up at 3.30am to cook her samp.Schroeder buys the food and fresh bread for them which she brings with her on Thursdays.

Dladla told the Highway Mail that she will forever be grateful to Schroeder for giving her this chance to also give back to her community.

“People are struggling, they have no jobs. The grannies who are supposed to be relaxing and pampered by their families have been left with a heavy burden of looking after their grandchildren and it should not be like that,” she said.

Even though Dladla did not get a chance to complete her matric, she said she is proud of the woman she has become.

“Schroeder has taught me that a woman can stand on her own and that dreams are possible. The love that she has for our communities especially the grannies is just heart warming,” she said.

Dladla’s wish for her community is to see a change in the youth.

“I wish that they could embrace their education, stop drug abuse, use their talents and skills in a positive way and love their elderly family members.”

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At the time of going to press, the contents of this feature mirrored South Africa’s lockdown regulations.

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