Tigrian senior met on Saturday 12 February 2023
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by
admin
Funded by the city Council of Maribyrnong
On Saturday, February 12, 2023, 18 senior Tigrian men and women gathered at the Queen
Shaba restaurant on Nicholson St. in Footscray to interact with people who share their
cultural heritage, maintain ties to their community, and, most importantly, lessen social
isolation and promote social well-being.
The main purpose of the program was to encourage and support the older age group in our
community in reducing stress, feeling good about themselves, maintaining their health and
ties to the community, boosting confidence and self-esteem, and providing an opportunity for
them to form social and communal relationships with other participants.
Of course, we human needs social networking and connection to exist since we are social
beings at our core. Relationships, whether at the individual, family, or societal levels, are
essential for one’s physical, mental, and emotional health. Lack of social interaction has a
substantial negative impact on one’s overall health and fitness. The senior attendees at this
event expressed their happiness at the opportunity to converse, listen, and share their wisdom
and experiences with people who share their cultural background and live in Maribyrnong.
They had the opportunity to establish relationships with others in their community and social
circles, which had the added benefit of boosting their self-esteem and confidence.
The program was surrounded by laughter, Tigrinya joke, discussion about aging and
caregiving needs, and even a story telling demonstration.
After the program’s closing, many stayed to enjoy much-missed conversations with newly
created friends and reconnect with familiar faces to catch up for the first time in a long time.
