Alexia Grousson
A worrying need emerged in the wake of the pandemic. Many seniors feel lonely and isolated. They no longer have a social life and no longer leave their homes. This has negative consequences for their mental and physical health, and several illnesses can result. To address this problem, on August 17, the Congolese Community of Hamilton (CCH) organized a walk followed by a barbecue at Bayfront Park.
“As a public health expert, I know how important it is to live a healthy life. The social stress we see in our seniors can lead, for example, to blood pressure problems or rising rates of diabetes. That’s why, together with our community, we decided to create a project to fight isolation, in order to support our seniors and raise their awareness of these issues and of the benefits of physical and social activity,” says Jean-Jacques Somwe, president of the CCH.
The organization’s members met at Bayfront Park at 10 a.m. for a walk of about two hours. Along the way, they stopped several times to take in the scenery. “This place is beautiful, and it’s important to take the time to reflect on what we see,” he adds.
At the same location, the CCH social committee continued the activity with a barbecue of assorted meats served with salads and fruit. The message was meant to be clear, even through the food: eating healthily is also an important part of overall health.
After the meal, the participants played quiet games. Some were more intellectual, like checkers, and others more physical, like tossing a ball into a distant hole. “The goal of these games was to have fun while socializing. We wanted to encourage team spirit rather than competition. With the nice weather, I can say it was a success,” the CCH president continues.
To feel united, the social committee had asked participants to wear a white T-shirt for the day, white being the symbol of health. For those who didn’t have one, the committee brought one along.
“We wanted to recognize one another and be seen in the community. It worked. For example, a woman came up to us to ask what we represented. A francophile, she would have liked to join us. That gives us ideas for future activities. We could open the walks to other communities and have more people by our side,” concludes Jean-Jacques Somwe.
Photo (CCH): All the participants wore a white T-shirt.
Source: Le régional.com
