Shoprite's #HumansofNOAH

“I am the one who oversees things here at the NOAH service centre. I like to bring people together. I organise the people from the community who can sew or who have different skills to come to the centre and contribute. I like to organise and oversee the activities and I make sure that everything runs smoothly.” - Nomsikelelo, 78 #HumansOfNoah

“I love music. I love singing. I used to conduct a choir and I miss it. It’s in my blood, honestly. It’s a good thing to render music to say thank you. I want to sing. I don’t want anything else.” - Boyce, 75 #HumansOfNoah

“I smiled when I walked through the street. If the others had something to say, I’ll smile. I don’t give in.” - Allan, 78 #HumansOfNoah

“I gym every day and that is why I’m so happy! It makes me stay young. The exercise is the best part of coming to the NOAH service centre in Khayelitsha. I also sing in the choir and when we get together we jive!” - Regina, 77 #HumansOfNoah

“I am a pirate, a full blown pirate. I have that seagoing spirit. I often visualise the olden days when merchant ships came to trade in South Africa. It must have been fantastic in that period to be on the sea. And can you imagine a whale coming up and tapping you to say, ‘You are in my place, please leave’.” - Roger, 69 #HumansOfNoah

“I enjoy spending time with my friends … taking time to share and to talk. I like feeling part of the community, the togetherness of people sharing. It makes me feel like I’m part of something bigger and that is a good feeling. A feeling everyone should have.” - Tiki, 77 #HumansOfNoah

“Here on the pictures I was still young. I played in a band for a long time. We toured Johannesburg once for a whole week, played in lots of places at lots of festivities. Now I still play the keyboard and I sing a little too. And right next to the pictures of my band, is the pictures of my beautiful daughters. I look at these every day.” - Navinchandra, 77 #HumansOfNoah

“I’m a cricket fanatic for the past 60 years. And there’s only one team. But the Proteas are making changes too often and not working out for them … The secret to life is to be adaptable. If you want to make it, you have to adapt. Even here at NOAH, it’s communal living, 11 people in our house from different backgrounds. I say, you have to use the three L’s. You’ve got to look, you’ve got to listen and you will learn.” - Joyce, 79 #HumansOfNoah

“We all need something that motivates us to get up in the morning. It gives me a sense of purpose to get up in the morning and work in the bakery with the other bakers. It’s a good feeling to know I can support myself by selling the bread.” - Mbada, 70 #HumansOfNoah

I lived in this neighbourhood all my life, 30 years in the same house down the street from here. Five years ago my husband died and I’ve been selling clothes at NOAH’s Trestle Table for the past 2 years. You get everyone coming in and looking for something. Young and old. And the one thing I’ve learned, that I also taught my kids: Don’t judge a book by its cover and don’t forget where you come from. That’s all you need in life.” - Marotia, 77 #HumansOfNoah

“I love to crochet! I even crochet my own hats. When I came to NOAH last year the manager saw that I was good at it and asked me to crochet bags for the soaps we make here at NOAH. I love working with the other woman who make the soap and it makes me feel very proud to see the soaps we make being sold in my bags. I have always loved to work. Making the bags keeps me busy and makes me feel very proud, because I can see how much the people like it.” - Eunice, 70 #HumansOfNoah