Pairing the old with the young

Pairing the old with the young

Scores of Sadie Curtis Primary School students, teachers and administration were paired with the elderly at Pat Moxey’s Senior Citizen’s Day Care and Home on Good Friday, in an effort to give back to the senior residents who were referred to as the “nation’s oldest gems”.

Malaya Davis, a student of Sadie Curtis, said it was an invaluable experience.

She encouraged more people to give back.

“Today, I read my favorite books to the older people and my experience was amazing,” she told Eyewitness News Online.

Rotalya Williams, teacher and Miss World Ocean Cay 2019, who spearheaded the initiative said it is her mission to instill moral and “civic habits of the heart” within her students.

“It is so important to instill into young children to go out into the community and give of themselves,” she said.

“We want it to be second nature.

“I don’t want to have to tell you to go out and make a difference or impact.

“If we learn this from young, I believe the world will be a better place and we will have better citizens in The Bahamas.”

Paul Clare Jr., a father who participated in the event alongside his daughter, told Eyewitness News Online that he has sought to ensure she understands the importance of civic duty at a young age.

“The whole thing is about spreading love like how Jesus Christ taught us and anything we can be a part of to spread more love within our country, I will be a part of,” Clare said.

The retirement home which houses over 20 residents, is home to Abigail Rolle, a centenarian.

She said it is God who has kept her and allowed her to see 105.

“Sometimes you’re going to meet it rough, because my Lord met it rough a lot of times,” she said.

“But, that’s just telling us that we have to go through some roughness to see Him – to live with Him.

“We don’t only want to see Him; we want to live with Him after death.

“I love the Lord. He’s the only one to love. Anytime you find a way clear, the Lord did it.”

About Matthew Moxey

Matthew Moxey is a broadcast reporter with Eyewitness News and also serves as the station’s morning radio news anchor for 103.5 The Beat. He joined Eyewitness News as an intern, which led to him becoming a full-time broadcast reporter with the news station. Some of his notable work includes his correspondence with international networks such as CNN, FOX and NBC; his reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic; and his live coverage of monster storm Hurricane Dorian.