ILANIT CHERNICK
“In many cases some bobbas or zaidas haven’t even met their grandchildren,” said UJW’s social worker Ingrid Woolf. “Last year’s winner had never met his grandchildren aged 18 and 21.”
The UJW Johannesburg is calling on all moms, dads, grandsons and granddaughters, to nominate their bobba or zaida for the competition and afford them the chance to take part in this opportunity. The competition closes on May 15 and the winner will be announced in June.
Any grandparent within the community from the Johannesburg and Pretoria areas are allowed to enter the competition.
“However a bobba and zaida who are married can also be entered and win as a couple,” Woolf said.
Winners are given a plane ticket overseas, walking shoes, some luggage, spending money and many other surprises.
Woolf is working together on this initiative with fellow UJW Johannesburg conveners Bev Cohen and Elaine Katz.
To enter, applicants can contact the UJW Johannesburg on (011) 648-1053. Forms are also available from the UJW Johannesburg offices at 1 Oak Street, Houghton.
According to Woolf, many bobbas and zaidas in South Africa cannot afford a trip to visit their families overseas and their grandchildren are also financially unable to manage the trip.
“We have had at least eight winners,” she said, “Most were well into their seventies and even eighties and for most it was probably their last chance due to their age and stage to travel.”
In its first few years the competition was initially sponsored by an anonymous donor who has since passed away. Before he died, he made sure that the competition was organised and provided the ticket. “In his memory it continues and today we have anonymous donors who help sponsor the trip,” she said.
