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April 2nd, 2007, The Gogo Appreciation Day, by Kathleen Paton
We had our first “gogo appreciation day” on March 15th, and it was a very much enjoyed and successful day. We invited 100 gogos (grannies), but far more than that came – 180 we think. Gogos were in their 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Some needed transport to the centre and others walked. They came with great enthusiasm and appreciation.
The gogos of Ndawana are a vital part of the community. They are so strong and have remarkable spirits. Many gogos have dealt with very hard times, losing their sons and daughters to HIV/AIDS, and many are now the caregivers of many children.
We started the day with a prayer and a song, led by our nurse Nosipho. She also gave a talk on arthritis and provided advice on home therapy. We gave out prizes in many categories, such as the gogo with the most grandchildren (the winner had 43), the best Zulu dancer (who gave quite a performance), the gogo with only one leg (two gogos qualified), etc. We had underestimated the number of prizes we needed, but in the end most of the gogos went home with something to remind them of their day. The grand prize (a food parcel from the Spar grocery) went to the oldest gogo, and this developed into quite a performance because many gogos don’t know when they were born. In the end we gave the prize to a gogo who we believe was 95.
We were then provided with a fantastic and nutritious meal, cooked by the team and community health workers, who had to stretch the food to go around, but did so beautifully. Many congratulations to them for making the day memorable.
The gogos sang and danced, and left hugging everyone in a great spirit of appreciation. All are very enthusiastic about having another gogo day in the near future.
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