Friendship Haven, a Home for the Aged has instilled the flair of art into residents of the facility to help them stop feeling isolated and become more active.
On Monday 21 May, seven of the most outstanding participants received gift vouchers and hampers as prizes for outdoing the rest.
“The main objective was to get them active. We made the programme in a from of a competition to have more fun and get them more involved,” said one of the coordinators, who is also an artist, Paul Roosenschoon.
Roosenschoon said the art was very important for all the participants who, at first were reluctant to join.
Asked why art was specifically chosen for the programme, Roosenschoon said art is a therapeutic type of a thing that will achieve bringing people together.
“We did this in order to help people who are sitting here, who are feeling left out. We are doing this so that they can fit back into the society,” Roosenschoon added.
Sarah Oberholzer, another coordinator of the event said even though it was a big challenge to get the participants get into the programme, she said they have enjoyed taking part in the activity and some have said the would like to more of it.
“They were sort of scared and reluctant in the beginning. Most of them complained that their hands were sore, therefore they could not do it. So, as they went along, they developed their art skills and started enjoying it.
“One day I was surprised when I walked into the sickbay, I saw some of the art pieces that were on display, on the beds and on the walls,” she said.
Oberholzer said the art activity has made the participants to feel more self worthy, “Some give their creations to some their children as presents.”
Roosenschoon said, “You see, there is a two-fold here, these people seat there and they have nothing to do. Some of them do not even have finance because all their money is taken just to get them stay alive in this place, so when we get sponsors, these people have an opportunity to make things that they can give to their kids, which makes them feel worthy.”
The programme also included two participants who were blind.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za (please remember to include your contact details in the email) or phone us on 011 693 3671.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
