Over 60s Club keeps on growing and comforting

Ward 132’s Over 60s Club held their first monthly lunch meeting in public since the Covid-19 third wave.

Club members gathered at Doppio Zero, Mall of Africa on August 20. The club’s administrator, Dr Ria Human, shared the club came about after she was approached by Ward 132 councillor Annette Deppe.

“The first time we got together for lunch we were only eight people, and now every time we get together we have lunch. At the moment we are around 30 members, but because of the lockdown, not all our members can come for the lunch meetings,” Human said.

Currently there are only six men in the group, the rest are women and people are welcome to join. Human added that they loved going out once a month to have lunch and everybody paid for themselves.

“Some of the ladies live alone and do not get to go out a lot, however, the benefits of this club is that you can meet people, and we have all become good friends yet we did not know each other before. We now have common interests.”

Deppe added that ever since lockdown, it was a good way to make sure the elderly did not become depressed because a lot of their families were not nearby. “The club is really about motivating and talking to each other on our WhatsApp group, assisting us all the time to develop bonds,” Deppe said.

Jharna Dixit, who joined the club even though she was not over 60 yet, said the club has comforted her through emotional support since she was away from her country and extended family. She added, “Whenever I feel like I need my mom, or my own people, I just go and visit the ladies and I end up feeling good again.”

Dixit concluded, “The club has been supportive in many ways to me, not so long ago I was in hospital and very sick from Covid-19. Ria Human sent messages to everyone letting them know I was sick. I got daily messages, the ladies were praying for me and sent so many positive messages. So I get good support from the club.”

Details: Over 60s Club administrator Ria Human 084 504 5788.