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The group known as C2010, a name derived from the year the students enrolled with the referral hospital, donated a four plate stove, a deep freezer, cases and boxes of food, lotion and detergents.
Handing over the donation, a representative of the group, Ms Ellen Nqobizitha Ncube said their course involved geriatrics, which focuses on caring for the elderly, which then prompted them to lead by example.
“We are a group of 59 students from UBH and we were taught how to take care of the elderly. This pushed us to source funds through street collections to help the elderly. If we had known the situation at this place, we could have done more than this,” said Ms Ncube.
She said they would strive to continue sourcing funds to help the needy in the society.
Accepting the donation, one of the elderly persons Mrs Priscilla Nsimbi commended the efforts of the students saying they had brightened the elderly people’s day.
“We thank God for giving us such caring children, who used their money to bring us these provisions. May God bless them so that they continue with their good work,” she said.
Entembeni Old People’s Home matron Mrs Cathrine Chiponda said the home needed assistance from the community.
“We are supposed to be getting funding from the Social Services, but we are always told that there is no money and we have been relying on donations from churches, banks and international organisations. Sometimes we run out of food and end up even drinking black tea without sugar,” she said.
Mrs Chiponda said they usually do not get donations between January and December, as organisations and communities think about the needy during the festive season.
The old people’s home was opened in 1967 by the Bulawayo City fathers and draws inmates from across the world.
After the donation, the students, who were accompanied by their tutors, Mrs Esnath Moyo and Mr Admore Maweni, toured the home.
They also shared food and danced to music with the elderly.
Online Reporter