Since many senior citizens are not able to afford a day out, the Nation Builders Prophetic Apostolic Movement (NBPAM) are hoping to raise enough funds to take 25 elderly members from their Old Age Club on an exciting excursion to the Jeffreys Bay Zebra Lodge on April 27.
As previously reported by Kouga Express, Pastor Ashwell Goliath, his wife, Nicolette, and members of their prayer group initially began taking care of the elderly in need in Humansdorp, by providing them with some food parcels and restoring their dilapidated homes.
The group’s committee members have also been hosting weekly sessions with the elderly people at the library in Humansdorp, and helping them with various other challenges.
Goliath said due to financial constraints, not many elderly people in the area were able to afford to go on outings.
“Many of the elderly from our club live on the money from their SASSA grant, and many of them also have to take care of their families,” said Goliath.
He said that the organisation has therefore decided to take 25 elderly members and five committee members on an excursion to the Jeffreys Bay Zebra Lodge, where they will be taken on a tour to view the animals on site.
“As a club we want the elderly to enjoy their time together while we take care of them,” said Goliath.
He said that on that day the group will have breakfast at the lodge, and then they will be treated to a braai for lunch at the lodge’s braai facilities.
To generate enough funding for printed t-shirts with the club’s details, transportation, the entrance fee, which is R30 per person, and for food on the day, Goliath said they hosted a bingo event on March 18, and were able to raise R4 800. He said even though the bingo event was a great success, they still needed more funds for the trip.
“We would like to thank the community for supporting our bingo event. We are also calling on sponsors within the private sector, Department of Social Development, and our local municipality for assistance with raising funds for our trip,” said Goliath.
In addition to funding needed for the excursion on April 27, he said that as a self-funding organisation their challenges included providing weekly nutritious meals to the elderly, and providing the elderly with a permanent facility to host their weekly programmes.
At the facility they hope to have prayer sessions, breakfast, health awareness programmes, games, and skills development, among other activities.
In December last year, Goliath identified the Old Age Resource Centre in Arcadia, Humansdorp, as a centre where they could offer their services.
Unfortunately, the building was vandalised in 2020, before the COVID-19 nationwide lockdown.
While doing research about the centre, Goliath discovered that the centre was being leased by the Protea Bejaardes Klub.
Since the club was no longer active in the community, he inquired with the Kouga Municipality about possibly making use of the building.
Goliath said that the municipality recently sent him a lease agreement application which he has completed and submitted, alongside the organisation’s official documents. He said that he is now awaiting feedback from the municipality.
“We have businesses and individuals who are interested in investing in the refurbishment of the centre, but we first need to have an official lease agreement with the municipality for them to come on board and help us with the centre,” said Goliath.
For more info, contact Pastor Ashwell Goliath on 072 208 4230 or email nbpam.humie@gmail.com.
