Nurses visit agri-village
As part of their annual outreach programme, the Grahamstown Retired Nurses Association (GRNA), together with the Grahamstown TB Care Society, visited residents of an agri-village 18km outside Grahamstown on Thursday, and gave residents in need clothes, shoes and food.
The people of Radway Green Farm Agri-village showed great appreciation as they all gathered within a matter of minutes to welcome the retired professionals. On their arrival, they broke out into song.
GRNA chairperson, Nozipho Mpahlwa said they started this organisation back in 2002 and it has grown from strength to strength and has been giving back to those in need ever since.
“We started this organisation (because) we felt like the minute we retire, then government and the community forget about us so giving back is one of our ways of letting the people know we still exist,” she said.
Mpahlwa added that giving back to the community gives them a sense of purpose and fulfilment as they worked closely with them and thus established personal relationships with some of them. Since they had never done it outside of Grahamstown before, GRNA decided to be spontaneous and take a trip to the farm and spend the whole day with the community there.
“The feedback that we get is so empowering. We get people who wear these clothes the minute they lay hands on them, on the spot and that kind of joy to us is priceless,” Mpahlwa concluded.
Zilindile Onceya, who spoke on behalf of the Radway Green Farm Agri-village residents, said that they were eternally grateful for this initiative as it came unexpectedly.
“We thank you for making us happy, we thank you for the beautiful clothes and we ask that you do not hesitate to visit us in the same manner again next year,” he jokingly said.
Some of the women couldn’t hold back their excitement as they started ululating and dancing as they received the clothes saying they will wear some of the attire when they go for traditional ceremonies.
“I am going to buy green soap, soak and iron them to wear when I go to town, all eyes will be on me!” exclaimed one of the ladies in excitement.
The Radway Green Farm Agri-Village in Manley flats is situated about 18km outside of Grahamstown and has no nearby shop or clinic. The residents come to Grahamstown for basic necessities.
GRNA member, Sister Mthotywa encouraged the community to use their land as much as possible to plant organic vegetables and eat healthily.
“There is so much that you can do with this land and with food being so expensive, you could save a lot of money and live healthily while doing so,” she advised.
She also urged young people to stop drinking, to be wary of the things they say or do in front of their children and be positive examples to them.