21 Jan 2025

Based in Kopong village, Sedibeng Foundation is a typical non-profit entity that plies its roles as a social club for the elderly, with members aged 65 upwards.

The architect behind this ingenuity is Ms Tshepelo Kowa-Ambrose, who despite operating the foundation from Ireland where she is married, her love for the elders makes it possible to pull strings from overseas through the help of overseer, Ms Abueng Binns.

Ms Binns said in a recent interview that the main aim was to focus on the general wellbeing of the elders in terms of both physical and mental health.

She said they worked with certified physical trainers who charitably offered their services to conduct physical training sessions for the elders so as to keep them fit and minimise old age pains such as waist pains, knee pains and arthritis.

They also monitor blood pressure, blood sugar levels and eye problems, among others. Ms Binns added that since the foundation was run out of unbound love they had, they had even gone beyond their mandate to extend a helping hand orphans who were under the care of some of the elders.

“It will seem so peculiar to separate their bond from such children who at times are forced to accompany them to the foundation for they had no one to care for in the absence of their grandmothers at home,” said Ms Binns.

She said they offered breakfast and free hairdos to the elders, thanks to the funds disbursed through the well-wishers and altruistic barbers.

When narrating her story about Sedibeng Foundation, from the humble beginnings to a dream come true stage, Ms Kowa-Ambrose described the preliminary stages of the journey as ridden with ups and downs, but kept by passion, born of the notion that ‘little by little does the trick’.

She revealed that her passion for the elderly care reached a peak when she went overseas, where she experienced the authenticities and skills of mastering an old age home.

Ms Kowa-Ambrose said she then decided to try her luck back home and Kopong responded positively to her mission, where within a space of seven months she had grouped about 108 elders.

“Our intention is to connect our elders with healthcare professionals to attain free consultations. For example, in such scenarios where an elder is tormented by back pain or eye problems yet they do not have money to pay a specialist. Our main focus is on healthy and active aging. We are striving to keep them active so that they could be able to do things for themselves and not to remain idle, thus calling for more bodily strains,” said Ms Kowa-Ambrose.

‘Mmaarona or mommy’ as Ms Kowa-Ambrose is christened by the elders, said for now, Tuesdays were dedicated to BP monitoring and that other non-communicable diseases would follow in due course.

Recently, the foundation introduced literacy day within their schedule, where Wednesday are dedicated to teaching the elderly how to read and write.

“We saw it fit to empower our elders with essential literacy skills to stay connected, independent and confident. Sometimes there are sensitive and private matters that need the owners to keep for themselves, but because most elders are illiterate, they end up forced to engage people on their confidential documents. Some helpers even dupe the elders for their own advantage,” said Ms Kowa-Ambrose, emphasising that education is vital across all ages.

Recently, Member of Parliament for Lentsweletau/Lephepe, Mr Tshenolo Bogatsu visited the foundation. He thanked the Sedibeng Foundation staff for their effort to have come up with an old age home, where elders were able to interact, keep fit, socialise, become literate and be comforted from the burdens that they encountered at home.

MP Bogatsu pleaded with sponsors to give support to the Sedibeng Foundation because despite being at a formative stage, was doing a rare but exceptionally noteworthy undertaking for the nation. Ms Bogatsu whilst the elders said the day care had turned into a nirvana, for there love and peace are orders of the day.

The elders said they were lonely and sick-ridden before Sedibeng Foundation adopted them. Ms Seipato Lekgowe said since she joined Sedibeng Foundation she had realised a positive change in her health.

For her part, Ms Ditso Bonno said she only joined Sedibeng Foundation three months ago, when she was struggling with an acute BP condition, but since becoming a member, her BP read normal and nurses were astonished by her speedy recovery at the clinic.

The elders described the love that they experienced at Sedibeng as divinely-influenced, saying at Sedibeng, love filled the air like mist in a rainy day. ENDS