©InfoWhen Tamila Sakvarelidze, 79, lost her job two years ago she wasn’t sure what life had in store for her, as she lives on her own and has no family.
It turned out to be a perfect example of one door closing and another opening, when she found out about a new social centre being set up by the Georgia Red Cross next to her old place of work.
“In the club we share each other’s sorrow, we take care of each other and that gives us hope,” Tamila says. “It means a lot if you have somebody who cares about you. There are a lot of elderly people in Kutaisi who need our help and support. There are lots of people wishing someone would come to their door, because they are dying of loneliness.”
Helping older people
Most of the older people who attend the social centre are single and have no family. Surviving on the state pension is extremely difficult and certainly leaves no money for socialising, which is why so many become extremely isolated. This is why the Red Cross social centre is having such a huge impact.
“I have been very happy since I came to this club,” Tamila explains. “I am involved in different activities and able to help others, which I enjoy.”
Many of the active older people in the social centre, like Tamila, become Red Cross volunteers and visit other older people who are homebound.
“As a volunteer I visit people and clean their homes,” says Tamila. “I am very devoted to my job and sometimes I clean so hard that I need three or four days to fulfil the duties properly. People are always happy with my assistance and keep asking for my help.”
In their shoes
“In the club, we make handicrafts and sell them at exhibitions. We collect money from the sales and use it to buy food, which we take to those who depend on our help. They are very satisfied with all we are doing for them – they are grateful for just a single match.
“The biggest advantage of the programme is being in touch with elderly people and helping those who are homebound is a great relief for me as well. We should all imagine ourselves in their shoes, as we may find ourselves in the same situation.”
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