I am thinking of starting services and activities for our local desi seniors in collaboration with the masjid. Just like there are senior centers which offer pick and drop services from homes of the elders, take them for groceries, to the Mall, etc…and have hobby classes, Bingo, etc..at the centers, I think our desi senior might enjoy some socializing with people their age as well. So I think we could organize knitting meets, darz e Qurans…other activities 2-3 days a week.
Any other suggestions?
I feel our elders that are living abroad may feel the need for social interaction due to the drastic change in their lifestyles when they come here, and they are totally dependent on others to do things for them. This way, they get to do “their own thing” and make new friends.
will they come out and add to your ideas or just put them down? i would think the elders would need to play an active part in the whole process too. and that starts with contributing positively.
great idea, btw.
sometimes these desi "community gatherings" start out great and then its becomes about a couple of social families..who are already social and meet each other regardless. desis form cliques really soon.
Really awesome idea! Elders can get together and go for a walk on a trail or something. It'll benefit their health and they might like the social outing.
Other then that you can do pot-lucks etc. sounds fun
Really nice idea :) can i also suggest maybe English lessons, many of our elders despite having lived in english speaking countries for years are not at all fluent in it. And also maybe for the ladies in particular, some sort of class on healthy cooking?
That’s a smashing idea and one that could be really rewarding and make a change in the life of these uncle/aunti jis. A book club? Gardening?Sher-o-shairi? I, for one, would like to hear how it goes. Best of luck.
I have been thinking along similar lines but it seems like a huge thing and a lot of effort and time is needed. We could really do with one in our community.
p.s. Out of interest how would you manage the groups in terms of gender? I mean keeping in mind that in desi social events aunti/uncle jis usually keep a distance and don’t mingle so openly, do you think they might hesitate if it was a mixed one?
I love it!!! I wish something like this was available in our community! Or maybe we could start one here too...I just dont know how to knit thats all. :(
I thinking that I’d start off with just the aunties. If the idea works we can ask the men’s side of the masjid to look into it as well.
So far, the older aunties have expressed interest in:
Learning tajweed so they could correct their Quranic reading
Have a darz of some sort.
Have potlucks
Hobbies
We could definitely do field trips as well.
I will need help and I know of a couple of friends who would like to help me out for sure. This will only be for aunties in the 5 mile radius or so, so we could schedule picks ups.
Phil, you may be right . Let’s see how it works out.
Another suggestion! My mum used to go to a asian ladies lunch club every friday at a local community centre. The women would all read jummah namaz together, with someone leading the prayers and sometimes there'd be a maluvani who was local to the area to talk about various islamic subjects. After this, they would all sit and have lunch together. The lunch wasnt very healthy though. lol. Anyway just an idea for you :)
great idea! at our masjid... they have these quran recititation he classes where anyone can come and learn the pronounciation and all. Mostly elderly women come and later they have a lunch at the masjid where everyone brings a lil something to eat and drink. I wish it was at a more convenient time so alot more ppl could come. It is on wednesdays at 1 so its a bit hard to get there. Hmmm the ladies having rides would be nice too because normally I get stuck with providing rides. I dont mind but now I have college so alot of the ladies cant go. Plus the teacher is soooo mean so I dont like going. She always keeps looking at her watch and calls ppl out. oh well. Its better than nothing. Atleast they get to be a lil social! good luck!
. Let’s see how it works out.