Dance and singing in the Aftercare

Mrs Sishuba teaches children dance and singing at part of our aftercare programme

Media invite: Media Invite: GAPA hosts International Day of Action for Women's Health

MEDIA ADVISORY

International Day of Action for Women's Health 

—  Day for Grandmother's Health Promotion — 

Khayelitsha, May 29, 2009 – On May 29, a large number grandmothers will gather at GAPA centre, Khayelitsha to discuss and learn about various topics related to their health. They will do this to draw attention health issues such as HIV/AIDS, cervical cancer, adherence to treatment and health and well being. 

Amongst the Grandmothers at GAPA is has been established that a majority of them manage chronic diseases of lifestyle such as hypertension and arthritis while also caring for households which experience the ravaging effects of HIV/AIDS.

WHO: GAPA – Grandmothers Against Poverty and AIDS

www.gapa.org.za

  

WHEN: 09h00- 13h00   

WHERE: J415 Qabaka Cresent

J-Section Khayelitsha

Directions to GAPA

Take the N2 out of Cape Town towards Somerset West. After Mew Rd look for the next exit. This is exit No 29 (Spine Road). Take this exit off the highway.Turn right over the highway towards Khayelitsha. Proceed round the small circle to the first intersection. This is Lansdown Rd. Turn right and then 400 m along turn left at Lawulo Rd. The back of the GAPA centre will now be visible. Turn first left and then left again into Qabaka Cres to access the main gate of the GAPA centre.

  

PROGRAMME : Program Director:    Ms R. Hoza 

                     

Opening and welcome:  Mrs Dlulani

               

Morning Devotion:  Mrs Shishuba                     

Cervical Screening on site:  Department of Health

        

Education on use of medication: Department of Health

Nia Dance:   GAPA Grandmothers and Gillian Warren-Brown

                                

Oral Hygiene:  Dr K. Nojilana (Michael Mapongwana Day hospital)

            

Keynote Address:  Professor Bette Dickerson (American University)

            

GAPA song: GAPA Grandmothers

                                  

Motivational Speaker:   Professor Jennifer Fish (Old Dominion University)

               

Announcements

Lunch

Closure

 

WHY:

GAPA is a voluntary organization that implements programmes to support grandmothers affected by HIV/AIDS in urban and rural communities to continue with their lives and to cope better as providers of care and support for their infected children.

Programmes include:

· support groups and cooperatives

· educational workshops

· Aftercare facilties

· Pre-school bursary schemes

  

Note to Journalists: · The  action will begin at 09h00 a.m. sharp. Media should arrive early to set up for photos.

 

Media Contact:    Vivienne Budaza, nolulu@telkomsa.net tel: 021 364 3138

GAPA in the news - Cape Times

 Jo-anne Smetherham (Journalist) and Eric Miller (Photographer) wrote a wonderful article about the Grandmothers at GAPA in a March edition of Cape Times. Please look up the link to read more:

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-196814734.html

Monwabisi Beach Outing with Aftercare

Monwabisi beach is just on the border to Khayelitsha, within False Bay. Many of the children and grandmothers hardly have the time or the means to make use of this resource, although it is only 10km from the GAPA centre. So many families are concerned with living day to day that a day of relaxation does not feature in their lives.

Thankfully due to the sponsorship of Stephen Lewis Foundation we were able to organise a day dedicated to play and enjoyment. At GAPA we believe that children should be given opportunities to develop coping skills through engagement in positive occupations: such as play.

The Monwabisi, City of Cape Town gave us a discount to make use of their braai/pool facility, for this we are very grateful

The Monwabisi staff put clean water into the pool for us... as soon as it was filled the fun and games began

Catching some sun

Mrs Hoza for Miss South Africa

Mrs Ngewu gets her feet wet

The Monwabisi beach lifeguard on standby

Basking in the sun

Mrs Nkonka and Mrs Skefile nominated for princesses

Florence and Mrs Gusha collect bananas for the picnic

Taking the older children for a trip down to the beach

Picnic time - The kitchen staff prepared a wonderful meal of chicken, salad, juice and fruit

Ready to go home

Calm after the party

All the grandmothers who assisted on the day.

Total 67 children and 23 Grandmothers

It was in summary: "A Perfect day!"

Blessings continue...

In December 2008 Pick 'n Pay opened a new store in Khayelitsha. GAPA grandmothers were invited to their launch party. Later that evening we were asked to attend their official opening.
On arrival we were astounded to discover that they had chosen to donate R5000 to our organisation.
Mrs Nkone and Althea received the cheque on behalf of GAPA.

More blessings

Staff at Union-Swiss donated 'Gogo bags' to the grandmothers for the festive season. The grandmothers were so appreciative, exclaiming: "what have we done to deserve this?"
Thank you to Lorien for organising this and thinking about GAPA.

Gifts from Telkom staff

In December of 2008 Telkom staff collected items to donate to GAPA. We are really overwhelmed by their generosity. Among the gifts was a much need refrigerator.
About 20 boxes filled with everything from kitchen utensils, art supplies, sewing materials and clothes we delivered to GAPA. We wish to extend many thanks to the individual employees of Telkom who opened their hearts to assisting the grandmothers and children of GAPA.

Welcoming Penny

We are really happy to welcome Penny Kokwana to the GAPA team!
Penny started working at GAPA in February this year and has added so much to our administrative systems.

Daily activities at GAPA

Knitting

Gardening

Beading

Sewing

Pictures courtesy of 1st yr OT students from UCT