With the easing of the national lockdown restrictions and a pending end to the National State of Disaster, a group of elders from the Khayelitsha’s Neighbourhood Old Age Home (NOAH) had a memorable trip on Friday 18 February when they visited the Two Oceans Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront.
While for some the trip was the first outside of Khayelitsha in almost two years, for others it was their first experience of the aquarium.
The trip gave them not only an opportunity to be away from their daily chores, but a chance to learn about the different fish species.
Following a guided tour of the aquarium, the group enjoyed a leisurely lunch and a walk around the waterfront.
“We are immensely grateful to Shoprite for arranging such a wonderful outing for them,” said Anne Dobson, Director at NOAH.
NOAH provides housing and social enterprises for vulnerable elderly people who struggle to make ends meet on their social grants.
The elders who went on the outing were nominated by their peers in recognition of their daily contributions to the running of the centre in Khayelitsha.
Daily, they help in the kitchen, clean, work in the spaza shop, manufacture soap bars and candles for fundraising purposes.
NOAH’s Khayelitsha Manager Nonceba George said it was important to have such an outing. She added that the elders have been kept in doors for some time due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
“Our elderly could not even come together any more on the days they usually come together. So, this outing in a way showed them that life continues with all the challenges they may have encountered,” she said.
George said some elders did not see such areas in their lifetime, so it was a “nice experience” and they will likely share it with their grandchildren.
“On the day they also had a guide, which meant they not just watching the different fishes, but learnt about them. It was very educational and fun for them,” she said.
Noah member Nomkhitha Sigwele described the outing as “wonderful”. She said she will never forget it. She said what she saw on the day was worth remembering forever, as it was her first time going to the Aquarium.