"Today, thanks to the centre, I feel better and have regained a taste for life."
These are the words of Manuel, 81, a resident of the São Tomé and Príncipe Red Cross welcome centre for the elderly, where volunteers work every day to bring a smile and hope to some of the country's older population.
Set up in October 2005, with funding from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the welcome centre has been run by the São Tomé and Príncipe Red Cross for nearly 20 years.
Residents of the São Tomé and Príncipe centre for the elderly sit outside the entrance to the centre, chatting to one another, in 2019.
Photo: São Tomé and Príncipe Red Cross
Today, volunteers are taking care of 18 residents – people from all walks of life who have come upon hard times and need a little extra help to get by.
In Manuel’s case, it was a story of great tragedy that brought him to the centre.
He had worked for the Portuguese Embassy for a long time. But financial difficulties meant he was unable to build the house of his dreams – the one where he hoped to spend his old age. When the time came for him to retire, he had to leave his house to move in with his daughter.
Manuel, left, sits with his friend in the welcome centre where he is a resident and receives daily support and care from the São Tomé and Príncipe Red Cross for his health, mental health and wellbeing.
Photo: São Tomé and Príncipe Red Cross
One night while they were at home, an enormous fire broke out. Manuel lost everything, including his precious daughter.
Distraught and completely lost, he found support and comfort in the Red Cross centre after being approached by a volunteer in his community who had noticed his distress.
"Today, thanks to the centre, I feel better and I’m getting back to life. I have the support of a doctor, a roof over my head, a meal every day and friends to talk to.”
Manuel
Resident
The centre has evolved a lot during the past 20 years.
"The initial project was to provide a home and basic assistance for older people who had been rejected by their families. But over time, we transformed it into a proper welcome centre where we take care of more complex needs of our residents,” says Filippa Fernandes, volunteer and director of the centre.
"We strive to provide them with an environment where they can flourish by taking care of their physical and mental health," she added.
Friendship and conversation are an important part of supporting the mental health of older people in the community. So the São Tomé and Príncipe Red Cross also runs a social centre nearby which opens its doors every day, letting all older people in the community come and socialize with one another.
Two men sit at a table together playing cards in a social centre run by the São Tomé and Príncipe Red Cross.
Photo: São Tomé and Príncipe Red Cross
Together, all visitors can spend the day in a safe and peaceful place where they have access to basic amenities, such as food and washrooms.
Ronaldo, is one of the seven volunteers who work to keep the social centre active. As manager and cook, he manages the day-to-day business inside the centre, but also heads out into the community to deliver meals to people with limited mobility.
Ronaldo, a São Tomé and Príncipe Red Cross volunteer, stands in front of a social centre for the elderly where he volunteers as manager and cook.
Photo: São Tomé and Príncipe Red Cross
"We try to do our best to make sure that no one is left behind.”
Ronaldo
Red Cross volunteer
Too often in societies around the world, older people are underserved, cast aside or viewed as a burden on a country's resources. But thanks to the kindness of Red Cross volunteers like Ronaldo and Filippa, older people in their community are being treated with the dignity, respect and care that they deserve.
São Tomé and Príncipe Red Cross Head of Communications, Cristiano, hugs an older man and gives him a bag of food items during a community event in 2019.
Photo: São Tomé and Príncipe Red Cross
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The welcome centre for the elderly receives funding from local churches and associations, as well as members of the diaspora. The social centre was initially set up with funding from the joint IFRC and ICRC Empress Shôken Fund. In 2022, the IFRC provided water, sanitation and hygiene kits to all residents.
If you are a donor and are interested in learning more and supporting the IFRC’s work in São Tomé and Príncipe, please read our IFRC network country plan here which includes contact details for our cluster office in the region.
You can also click here to learn more about the IFRC’s work supporting healthy ageing.