Retired teachers were awarded Certificates for reaching the 80 milestone
Retired Teachers honoured in Dhlamini.
Retired teachers from around Soweto were honored by the Johannesburg Retired Teacher Association (JORETA) at the Dhlamini Multi-Purpose center in Soweto on Tuesday.
JORETA is an organization of retired teachers which was founded in 1989. The organization was created because former teacher felt that they were neglected by community and the schools they had served before their retirement. This was according to Chairperson of Cultural activities in the organization, Thandile Nhlapo.
“Even when retired teachers lose their close family members or relatives, the community doesn’t help. Retirement can be a lonely stage so we have created our own little society where looks after other,” Nhlapo said.
“More so than that, we are getting old so the organization helps us to stay in touch, we encourage one another to go to the gym and things like that.”
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In addition to being inducted into the exclusive group of Octogenarians (one who is between the ages of 80 and 89) the retired teachers were awarded Certificates for reaching the 80 milestone and goodie bags.
Whilst addressing the former teachers, inductee Constance Mdluli from Momojama said that she was delighted with being part of this exclusive group.
“It is a special thing to make it to this age, we have to remain active, if for example, you want to change the channel, you have to get up and change it yourself as opposed to calling your grandson to come pick it up for you. That’s what it takes to make it to this group,” 80 year old Mdluli said.
Virginia Khetsi also from Momojama said the it was important to have an event like this to show the retired teachers that we still care about them.
“These are the teachers that raised us, I think it is very important to have events like these where we can come together and celebrate our elderly teachers. We gathered to show them that we care and I would say the event was success,” said Khetsi.
The event was characterized by great performances from the organization’s choir and motivational speeches from program directors.
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