Internstudents from Makerere and Kampala International Universities were oriented by Community Hive Organisation on how to conduct a SALT visit in Sitabaale village targeting older persons

[Nsubuga Godfrey]

Activity 2.1: Conducted Stimulate, Appreciate, Learn and Transfer (SALT) visits

CHO staff, community youth and internship students from Makerere and KIU universities conducted SALT visits to the households of older persons in Sitabaale village. The purpose of the SALT visits was to find out how older persons live with their families and community people. Secondly how they survive and also ascertain the hygiene and sanitation conditions of older persons. Thirdly, SALT visits aimed at building relationship between the community and the older persons for future assurance of increased community support and care of the older persons.

A number of issues that were shared with older persons included; older persons were stimulated and were able to appreciate and share what their strengths were that made them survive, what they were proud of, and what they hoped for the future despite their old age. Older persons were appreciative of God’s mercy that without God they would not be around by this time. Others were grateful of some community people who once in a while visit and support them with food and fetching water. Through conversations, some older persons revealed to the team that they have land as their strength but their relatives and children are making them squatters on their own land. One older person said had no hope because she had never had a child in her life, and that all her family relatives had died which she said stresses her so much. Namutebi Catherine added ‘your visitation to my house and all that you have done shows that I also have people who care’.

[ABEDNEGO KITHEKA MUTUNGWA]

This must have been a good salt visit experience ,the fact the older people have hope ,and the feel that they are part and connected to  the families where they belong is huge .

it is an inspiration to us especially in communities where we come from ,we can borrow and practice this !

[Rituu B. Nanda]

Thanks for this blog. What is your experience has motivated the young students to work with older people?