We have hundreds of Chinese seniors in our community, they don’t speak English, they know nothing about our community center’s activities, they don’t know how to take part in these resources. In the winter, they have to stay home, because except their family, they almost have no friends and the feel lonely and homesick.
This project saw project leader Lili and friends, help them. The plan was to bring them together, let them know each other, have them share their hobbies and see whether they can find the same and become new friend.
One of the events was a presentation by high school students about the Dragonboat Festival. In addition to the presentation they made Zongzi, traditional chinses food eaten on Dragonboat Festival. Some of the seniors made the first Zongzi in their lives and they were so all happy to come and feel some sense of belonging to live here in the West Vancouver community, because although they are far away from hometown, still they can find friends of same culture background to spend together the traditional festival. We shared Zongzi with some staff of United Church of West Vancouver as well and thanks for their support too!
They all expressed their thanks of West Vancouver Foundation for the grants to bring them together, Not only they took home many Zongzi, but also they made friends and can go out for a walk or buy groceries together, didn’t feel that lonely any more.
Overall there were more than 50 people to come and some of them expressed their willingness to attend some dance, Taiqi activities and they also wanted to learn some basic English to get more involved in the community. We recommended they become a Senior Center member to enjoy more local seniors activities, for example, there is a Majon Game at the Senior Center, they don’t need too much English to play the game with others.
Personally I think this project was successful. Thank you so so much for West Vancouver Foundation, with this neighbourhood small grant, we can connect not only the Chinese seniors but also their families.
