Supa-dimama Senior Citizens Centre in Ivory Park is focused on developing the elderly

Supa-dimama Senior Citizens Centre in Ivory Park held recruitment and educational day 24 January.

Josephine Mphefu, the founder of the centre, started the organisation 10 years ago. “I was raised by my grandmother and I loved it, from that experience I could learn the kind of hardships there was from the elderly as well as what their needs were.”

Elderly people in the area were exposed to gardening, music (choir), drama, handcrafting and health and financial education among others, with social workers and social service officials.

Mphefu said, “I tried finding a nine-to-five job but I could not prosper as this is my calling. Many of the elderly people endure hardships, from having nothing to eat to some living with a minimum of five kids which is a burden because they cannot care for them as they would if they were still young.”

She added that with Supa-dimama, the elderly people in the community can be exposed to doing activities that will help reduce stress and depression because illnesses such as high blood pressure and diabetes can be caused by stress.

“Not many of them have parents and siblings or just anybody at home to talk to, therefore them joining Supa-dimama will give them an opportunity to socialise and do activities, as well as getting counselling from professionals.

“I would suggest that all our elders in and around Ivory Park join Supa-dimama at 15 257 Eco Village Thulani Section on weekdays, Monday until Friday from 8am till 4pm. The elders can donate a small affiliation fee of R50 – that would be appreciated as it helps with transport and other logistics as we are a non-profit organisation.”

Mphefu concluded by further encouraging elders to join them adding that the organisation was key to the elderly community because it will help them with any queries like those involving South African Social Security Agency, title deeds, and financial workshops.

Bazial Nombengu said that Supa-dimama has helped him improve his life very much. “I joined Supa-dimama 10 years ago while it was still new.

“I must say there is a bit of a difference as we have come a long way. What I love about the organisation is that it has opened my mind and taught me so much.

“Because as old as I am, 73 years old, and just living at home with the kids, I used to get so stressed but now I can work around my stress and manage it with all the activities like gardening, exercising and others.”

Details: For more information about the Supa-dimama Senior Citizens Centre, contact Masello Makwela on 082 402 9134.

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