Last month I introduced you to some of the members of the Minority Ethnic Elders Group (MEEG). This month I am going to introduce a few more of the members that make up part of this group. As a reminder this group is open to both men and women and they meet up in Kneller Road in Richmond twice a week. It is a social gathering and they take part in exercises on a weekly basis. They also have access to a range of classes and activities.
Here are some more of the members who shared their experience of going to MEEG and what it means to them:
Meet Pervin who used to Work at Scotland Yard
Pervin is 77 years old and was born in Karachi in Pakistan. She moved to India when she was 4 years old. She qualified and worked as a lawyer in India but moved to England as her husband was there. She started working in the UK as a legal secretary and then did other secretarial jobs before working for the Metropolitan Police at Scotland Yard for 16 years
I live on my own so MEEG is a nice communication hub. If it didn’t exist I would go swimming but I would miss it if of course.
At MEEG I have learnt a lot about health and I have got a lot of great general advice from the Police, Fire Brigade and Citizens Advice Bureau. There was a health check once where they weighed us and took our blood pressure.
Dee has been at MEEG Since Day 1
Dee moved to the UK from Pakistan in the early 1970s when she was in her 20s. She had a few accountancy jobs before setting up her own business, a health and slimming clinic. She is now retired but is a volunteer at MEEG.
Its a social get together and if I wasn’t here I would be at home bored. There are activities which are good not just for the body but also the mind.
Dee has been with MEEG since its first started in 2003.
Some people are lonely and their families live far away. There are a few outings per year and there are dance classes as well as other courses on different aspects which means that it keeps people occupied.
I asked Dee how she would feel if MEEG no longer existed…
I would feel awful. I look forward to meeting my friends, playing cards and chatting. I meet some people outside of MEEG and we sometimes go for lunch.
Aruna was Depressed before MEEG
Aruna came to the UK in 1972 after getting married. She spent time raising her children and then teaching language support helping people to learn English. Aruna attends MEEG twice a week.
I was depressed before coming to MEEG. I used go the park but no one was available during the day. I also used to go to the library but I really missed the social aspect of meeting other people.
Her husband had a spinal injury and passed away two years ago. Going to MEEG has helped Aruna in so many ways.
It has helped find me new friends and learn about other nationalities and cultures. It’s been good for outings, good for the mind because of all the knowledge I have gathered. My mother died of dementia and I have a fear so therefore I want to keep my mind active and fresh.
Malti used to run a Pub
Malti originally travelled to Birmingham when she first arrived from India in 1966. Her fiance was already in the UK so she came to get married. She used to run pubs and did this for 17 years for two different breweries as a tenant. She is 78 years old.
She goes to MEEG twice a week
Before coming to MEEG I was working in Tesco. I retired and then started coming here.
What would life be like without MEEG?
If there was no MEEG life would be ‘short’ as you suffer inside. People are social animals and like company. You would go mad or insane as it helps to keep your mind occupied.
Malti finished by making an interesting point.
Tolerance is the main thing and you do this by mixing with other people.
Thanks for taking the time to read the stories of the ladies that come to the MEEG support group. I know all these ladies fairly well but I learnt quite a lot about their past lives and their personal stories. I thought Malti made a fantastic point at the end regarding tolerance and this applies to all facets of life.
If you want to know more about MEEG please visit our events page and you can also email or speak to Surinder on 020 8893 9555.
Ravi
