Shalom Old Age Home Finally Open!

The opening of Shalom Old Age Home for the Deaf on the campus of NID took place on Friday 14 March with great joy and a wonderful sense of peace. Joy for a facility where the aged Deaf can live amongst people who can understand them, or as one of the residents , Oom Voges, expressed himself 'where he can stay until gone'.

A sense of peace because they know that there is a place for them, and that they can live a full caring life.

It was pouring with rain when Shalom's first resident moved in! Today there are 16 residents. Mr Lewies van Aswegen (60) was transferred from Lewensruimte and was Shalom's first resident, he brought his two budgies with him and although he cannot “hear” them sing they bring a lot of pleasure to him and his roommate!

Mr Nols Pretorius (67) arrived in Worcester by bus out of the blue from an old age home for hearing persons in Pretoria. He had “heard” that an old age home for the Deaf had been built in Worcester and even though the building was not yet completed, he pitched his tent next to the manse and waited patiently to move in!