Archive for the ‘Programmes’ Category

Our Siyakhathala forum uses your empty jars and fills them with canned guavas, peaches and pears.

A canning initiative by members of Ikamva Labantu’s community forums is finally bearing fruit. Members of the Siyakhathala forum, an informal peer support group representing carers in our Orphans and Vulnerable Children programme, received training from an expert canner and have started canning seasonal fruit themselves. The canned fruit – peaches, guavas and pears – are sold to other forum members for R10 a jar and the proceeds are used to fund projects in the forum.

The project has been so successful that they are now in need of more supplies. “The initiative has been overwhelmingly successful. We have been selling our fruit for some time now but are in urgent need of jars with lids, no matter the size,” said Connie Mqhayisa, Community Forums Officer.

The project has grown steadily and the members are hoping to exclusively label their goods within the next few months.

If you would like to donate your unused or old jars (with lids) or want to find out more information about the initiative, contact us at 021 461 8338 or email info@ikamva.co.za.

We would not be able to do the work we do without the generous people willing to donate and help our cause. To make it easier for those thinking about contributing, we have compiled a list of the things we desperately need.

• Our Seniors department, which supports over 600 senior citizens in 17 seniors clubs throughout Cape Town, is looking to add some enjoyment by providing television sets and radios for the clubs.  At the moment less than five clubs have access to radio and television and we’d like to extend this.

While some may think this a luxury, our seniors watch television and listen to radio to stay abreast of current issues and matters that directly affect them.

Some might think it a luxury, but having a television in our seniors clubs allows our gogos and tatas time to debate issues that affect them.

“They have discussion groups where they debate and talk about issues that are currently happening in our country. Because they do not have access to the internet, the only way they can get this information is through watching TV, listening to the radio, or reading the newspaper,” said Christelle Cornellius, Head of Seniors and Health.

Seniors also have a newspaper day where they discuss issues that they have read about.

• Our Early Childhood Development department, which supports over 12 000 children in 200 care homes, is in urgent need of toys, cot mattresses and covers, plastic cups, plates and spoons, and supplies for art activities.
• In our Health department, we are in need of a loud hailer, which helps us to manage and address large groups who attend our regular health days (e.g. Diabetes Day).

If you are able to help with goods or donations of funds, please contact our fundraising department on 021 461 8338 or email info@ikamva.co.za, or visit our website www.ikamva.org.za.

Children from our Orphans & Vulnerable Children department receive free literacy, numeracy and computer literacy classes in our after school programme.

This year the Orphans and Vulnerable Children’s (OVC) department introduced the Online Educational Support programme, which helps children better their numeracy and literacy levels. About 45 children from the OVC department form part of this after-school programme.

The programme uses animation, activities and reward games to keep children motivated and supports each child’s learning by offering individual, one-on-one lessons that allow children to progress at their own pace. The initiative is sponsored by the Click Foundation, an organisation that finds innovative and non-conventional ways to respond to the education crisis.

Johanna Boshoff, Programme Head of OVC at Ikamva Labantu, said that they had noticed the lack of literacy skills of children in the OVC programme. “It is important that our children, who have very low literacy levels and exposure to stimulation and learning, are able to get skilled so that they can do better in school. In turn they will have a brighter and better future,” said Johanna.

Caroline de Gruchy with some of the over 900 gift boxes donated and collected for our seniors.

A bold initiative by one of our volunteers, Caroline de Gruchy, brought a smile to over 900 seniors’ faces. Caroline created a movement to provide gift boxes for our seniors that include: a toothbrush, toothpaste, a face cloth, a pair of socks, soap, a chocolate and a small packet of biscuits – all to the value of just R50. Spreading the message through social, broadcast and print media, people from all walks of life came forward to contribute to the project.

“They (seniors) are an important part of our community and have contributed so much throughout the years. They are often left out or forgotten. After seeing their needs firsthand, and witnessing the wonderful work Ikamva Labantu does within their seniors clubs to stimulate social interaction, I decided to start a project modelled on the very successful ‘Santa Shoebox’ initiative but aimed at seniors who have very specific needs,” said Caroline.

Caroline, with the help and support of generous Cape Town citizens, collected over 900 gift boxes.

For more information, contact Caroline at 082 462 6227 or email Caroline@skyweb.co.za.

What do duck walk races, egg and spoon races, sleeping bag races and bowl-a-hole have in common? They were all part of the annual Olympiatrics Senior Citizens Sports Event held during Seniors Month at Vygieskraal Stadium in Athlone, Cape Town.

Serious fun and games during the Olympiatrics.

Hot off the heels of the London Olympics and Paralympics, hundreds of seniors gathered to compete against each other at the 27^th Olympiatrics. Seniors clubs and groups from all over Cape Town participated in the annual event.

This year, 17 of Ikamva Labantu’s clubs competed and did themselves proud by giving their all and competing in every event of the competition. Proving they came prepared, Noncedo Club did exceptionally well by claiming top spot in the Overall Frail category.

“The Olympiatrics encourages active ageing. It promotes active participation in a fun and engaging way. All the clubs participate in their own right, which adds to the sense of autonomy and independence. It also encourages the coming together of seniors from all walks of life,” said Programme Head of Seniors and Health at Ikamva Labantu, Christelle Cornelius.

Celebrating our tatas and gogos, we embarked on an awareness campaign, “Make a granny or grandpa smile!”.

In October we embarked on an ambitious awareness campaign to promote the important role seniors play in society today, and also highlight the issues they confront in their communities. The United Nations declared October 1 the International Day of the Older Person and in South Africa October is Senior’s Month. The awareness campaign was driven by month-long print media adverts, promotional emails to interested individuals, radio interviews and printed and online news articles.

The campaign was lead by the motto “Help make a granny or grandpa smile”, and it came at an apt time when a lot of press centred on the hardships and challenges facing seniors today.

Many live on a monthly government old age grant of R1 200 and have become the sole breadwinners in their households – taking care of their orphaned grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They also face daily abuse from family and friends.

“By raising awareness around their issues and encouraging communities to care for the elderly, Ikamva Labantu can make a difference in the lives of seniors as well as the lives they touch,” said Ikamva Labantu Founder and Honorary President, Helen Lieberman

Nearly 600 seniors can be found at 17 Ikamva Labantu seniors clubs throughout the townships, five days a week. At the clubs, seniors enjoy socialising and are exposed to different activities including healthcare and income-generating programmes.

We would like to extend this to even more elders in other communities.

As Abraham J Heschel once said: “A test of a people is how it behaves toward the old. It is easy to love children. Even tyrants and dictators make a point of being fond of children. But the affection and care for the old, the incurable, the helpless are the true gold mines of a culture.”

While the Seniors Month awareness campaign may have come to an end, the success of the campaign would not have been possible had we not received support from Independent Newspapers Cape, Child Mag, Cape Talk 567, and other broadcast, online and print media. We thank them for their interest and caring.

Letter of thanks from Ilizwi Labadala, a senior club

Ikamva Labantu is one of a handful of non-profit organisations that focuses on seniors as a beneficiary group. The needs of this marginalized population group are often neglected, and our Seniors Programme – in partnership with our Seniors Clubs – offers these vulnerable members of communities social interaction, places of safety, companionship and peer support.

Every year our Seniors department hosts a Cultural Day in partnership with our Seniors Clubs.  All club members arrive in their best cultural wear, eat cultural foods, do cultural dances and display their crafts and arts. It’s a day for celebration and singing, celebrating cultures and, more importantly, celebrating what we call active ageing.

As part of our firm commitment to Active Ageing, another highlight on our Seniors’ calendar is the annual Year-End outing. This year about 600 seniors attended the event at Mnandi Beach Resort, where they were treated to a day at the beach, a braai and goodie bags filled with treats.

More than 90% of senior citizens in townships live on Government old age grants. They are increasingly becoming sole breadwinners, second-generation parents and the core of the township family structure. Many elderly live in abject poverty and have the added pressure of being economically responsible for those in their care.

We assist over 540 vulnerable elderly through our 17 seniors clubs where daily programmes include social activities, health monitoring, balanced daily meals and income generating projects. In addition, we assist seniors to care for their orphaned grandchildren. Here is what some of them had to say about their experience of our seniors clubs:

Eleanor Luwaca (71), Nombasa Senior Club, Gugulethu

Why do you attend the seniors club?

I was alone at home, my children were at work and I felt that I need to be with other people and I heard about this club and then decided to be part of other senior members.

What is the best part of the programme for you?

I love knitting and before I came here I could not even hold a knitting needle but now I am the best.  I do teddy bears and baby blankets.  I am also part of the exercise and Relate programs.

How has attending the club changed your life?

My life has changed, I used to have stress but now I am a happy person.  I communicate with other members.  I love my club and I also tell others about Ikamva Labantu.  I cannot stay at home, I feel very lonely even for one day I am not in the club.

George Ruka (71), Masimanyane Senior Club, Khayelitsha,

Why do you attend the seniors club?

I was doing nothing at home and I saw people attending the club and I was also interested.

What is the best part of the programme for you?

Gardening and sport.  I want to be busy all the time and exercise.  I am fit because I am not just sitting and doing nothing.   I am planting vegetables in the garden and I am always working in the garden.  My club cooks fresh vegetables.

How has attending the club changed your life?

I am healthy and fit still, no stress.  Before I joined the club I was very lonely and stressed.

Thelma Mdivasi (76), Noluthando 1 Senior Club, Nyanga

Why do you attend the seniors club?

I was lonely at home, I wanted companionship and to meet different people from different backgrounds, to share our problems, to help one another and I also wanted to age actively.

What is the best part of the programme for you?

Music, I like to sing and I also teach members to sing.  Craft and beading.  When I started at the club I could not bead but now I have been taught how to bead and I am earning money.

How has attending the club changed your life?

I am now very happy, no more stress because I share all my problems with the others.  I cannot stay at home I always want to come to the club.  I enjoy each and every day.  We also go for outings and we all enjoy going out.

This year’s Holiday programme, which aimed to assist vulnerable and at-risk youth over the winter holiday period, was a huge success. The programme, hosted at Gugulethu’s Rainbow Centre from 20 June until 12 August, focused on two separate initiatives – a dedicated youth development programme and a chess programme.

The youth group consisted of teens and young adults who were seeking direction as a result of unemployment or dropping out of high school. All topics relating to job hunting were discussed with the end-result being that many of the youth went on trips to universities and colleges to investigate courses that could improve their employability. Volunteers also assisted in direct job searches, providing suggestions and assistance to these young people.

The Chess Programme, part of Chess For Hope, took place in the afternoons. Chess For Hope is an initiative that uses chess to stimulate learning and improve concentration and academic results. An additional literacy component was added during the holiday season, with US volunteer, Raphael Norwitz spearheading the drive.

“The problem is that a child cannot be taught to read in two months, and I knew coming in that I would not see any dramatic results in the time I was here,” said Norwitz. “We did, however, see great success with some of the learners who took an enthusiastic approach. One of the children, Kolisa, started off completely illiterate, but during the course of the program, learnt to read a variety of simple words.”

The holiday program served as a productive and enjoyable exercise for all the kids involved, but also highlighted the pressing need within the community for basic literacy and job-finding skills. It proved invaluable in terms of driving our youth programmes, and we hope to continue to improve and grow this initiative in future.