Ever since learning about Teresa’s situation and realizing that the elderly in many societies are outcast, I wanted to learn more about this special population in Shirati. I know that in the Asian culture, being an elderly person usually endows you with a high level of respect, especially in the familial setting. There is even a different Chinese word for “older brother” vs. “younger brother” which differs from most of the Roman language overall term for brother. I always had to refer to everyone older than me with such a salutation growing up and also serve food or show respects to grandparents before doing so to younger aunts, uncles, etc. Now contrast this with the American culture where every year you gain past your early 20’s is regarded with dread and disbelief. Super old grandparents or parents are considered for nursing homes and not typically revered with great respect.
From my brief understanding, in Shirati, elderly parents are usually independent if the husband is still alive. If the husband has passed away (which happens often and early), the wife can be inherited to her husband’s brother or can be left independently. Most commonly, older parents can rely on their children to help care for them and since the average family size consists of 5 children, this system works pretty well. It seems that once in awhile, typically with older women, if she only bears few children and they either die or move away, she can be left alone defenseless. I wanted to learn if there are other people in similar situations today. So I started with a new translator, Mary, a fellow 23 year old that just returned from college in Arusha. We start in Mary’s subvillage, Obeke, which is a new village that I have not been to.
We interview a total of 8 elderly people in Obeke mixed in with a single mom and parents that want their child to be sponsored for secondary school. Some of the elderly people I interviewed were living with their children and being cared for. The families requested for some assistance to care for their parent or in-law. I meet one woman who is slightly younger at 55 years old named Lucia. She lived in a small hut and had a few friends visiting her. She was paralyzed from the leg down, apparently from a TB infection. Her daughter went away to school and her husband has long passed away. She can’t work and depends on neighbors and friends to give her food which means she does not eat everyday. I asked if she felt lonely and she answered yes. Her main request for help is to fix the straw roof of the hut because the rain enters.
Another woman named Anjelina is 75 years old and living alone. In her long lifetime, she had 5 children die. She used to live with her daughter but no longer does (unclear about the reason). She also sometimes goes without eating and relies on friends and neighbors. Much like Lucia, Anjelina requests to have her roof fixed and possible food and to see a doctor. She tells me that the roof fixing costs about 5,000 Tsh which equates to $3.33. I make a physical and mental note about Lucia and Anjelina and think about ways that RFC can help. Maybe a feeding program. How would the food get there and who would be given the money? Perhaps a neighbor would be given a small stipend to help provide meals for these women every day. And if I keep the cell number or have these women visit the SHED office to verify receipt of meals, this could ensure accountability. But, how will we find funding for this program? RFC has barely any money and Mel and I are not financially comfortable enough to be taking on any more. How will this program be self-sustaining…probably not ever financially since it’s a complete hand-out. Maybe if we have sponsored kids, they can have a small obligation to visit designated elderly. In the end, my thoughts wander back to the fact that I can’t do nothing about this. I know that whenever I am able to return to Shirati, the same women will be facing the same hunger issues unless there is an intervention…this is the part that affects me deeply and makes me realize helping them feels more like an obligation than an extraneous thought.
No comments:
Post a Comment