NOT GRIZZLED
Beating loneliness of the elderly
Ms Senior Botswana, one of the projects of “MmeMotsadi” charity initiative aims to honour the age of elegance where seniors prove that they are not too old to be beauty pageant queens.
The director of the initiative Kgomotso Tshwenyego said the mission of the pageant is to present a positive image of aging as beauty is not limited to the young and to also provide support.
The director highlighted that the support ranges from empowerment workshops, social and emotional support to donations in the form of mobility gadgets.
Tshwenyego added that the initiative also raises awareness to encourage the elderly in the community to live rewarding lives which include regular exercises, using mobile devices, regular medical checkups and knowing and exercising their legal rights.
“Loneliness in the elderly is something we’re working to stop. We want to change the perception that feeling lonely as an older person is completely normal.
“Elderly people are forgotten and this is a gap that needs to be filled. Most initiatives are about women and children and the boy child. What about elderly people? They also need our protection as they experience all sorts of abuse, social, legal and financial challenges,” she said.
Tshwenyego said they do not have sponsors on board and are using personal funds to promote living fulfilling, exciting
lives of individuals in their senior years.
Deputy Tribal Secretary at Palapye Tribal Administration and reigning Ms Senior Botswana Gabaake Olefile, 50, expressed gratitude to the directors of the pageant for seeing it fit to bridge inequalities prevalent in the older age group.
Olefile indicated that an elderly person is often thought of as aged, over the hill or grizzled. The reigning queen suggested that these terms
come from a place of disrespect and not seeing the person as someone who still has value in the community.
Olefile explained that Ms Senior Botswana gives the opportunity to pass wisdom down to younger generations and also gives her a chance to help disadvantaged members of the society.
The director of Ms Senior Botswana highlighted that so far, Ms Senior Botswana 60s is Julia Lekgetho and Ms Senior Botswana 70s is Tirelo Oitsile.