One of the programmes supported by FIAM is providing support to 18 elderly people, each of whom is widowed and essentially abandoned by their family, leaving them with nowhere to call their home. The 18 live as part of a larger community of 30, and it was a delight to visit them all today. The residents all live together and have a live-in carer who is there for them and oversees the running of their home. They are also supported by a lady who comes each day to cook the meals.
Accommodation is simple and very communal – one of the bedrooms had about 8 – 10 single beds in it, and the others looked similar. Cooking is just on gas hobs, and it is all ground floor. But there is a sense of camaraderie between the residents, and a definite sense of family, which was so lovely to experience.
On a recent visit to the community, it was humbling to be able to greet the residents, and help with serving lunch of rice, banana curry, and a local orange for afters. The residents age from 60yrs up, so it was also poignant to recognise that in another life I might soon be taking my place as a fellow resident.
In a similar vein, the community of individuals who have had leprosy is another example of simple but supportive cooperative living. In this community, each of the members has some degree of physical limitation due to the affect of leprosy, mainly seen on fingers and or toes. However they are all living independently within the community, and have their own rooms including space to cook alone if they prefer. Communal cooking also takes place, as arranged between themselves, and there is a central ‘day room’ for group activities, including their weekly church service.
Two things stood out in particular to me on this visit. First was the joyous and enthusiastic welcome that I got. I had been to the community about 10 – 12 years back, and remember sitting with the residents and taking part in some singing and very simple conversations (due to lack of language overlap). On this visit, the residents remembered me from back then, and so welcomed me like an old friend – very special. The second thing was the location – I had forgotten that this little haven is situated right next to a rubbish heap. This in part due to the stigma associated with leprosy, and so the local authority weren’t willing to give any prime land for use by the residents. Instead, they got a piece of land that, back in the day, was near to a small piece of wasteland. Now, that wasteland is covered with waste – making it smelly, fly-ridden, and generally not very nice to be near. It’s a sad reminder of how these beautiful people are viewed by the wider society, and I give thanks to God that FIAM are demonstrating an alternative way of viewing and interacting with them – as beloved children of God.
