South Lakes High School’s new club the “GlamourGals Clubs,” sparks interest among the student body for putting the elderly in full glam. More importantly, however, the club aims to build companionship amongst the elderly across the nursing homes in the Northern Virginia community.
Zahra Nikzad, a junior, is the founder of the club. Originally Nikzad was “looking for volunteer opportunities and saw that GlamourGals was a nonprofit.” GlamourGals foundation, founded in 2000 by Rachel Doyle, In honor of her grandmother, Doyle started the organization; in the last 25 years the foundation has reached nationwide, with chapters in 18 states, with three being Virginia.
Inspired by the foundation, Nikzad decided to form a chapter here at South Lakes. Nikzad herself can’t visit her Grandma due to her living in another country, so she decided to take this as an opportunity to “reach out to others in our community.”
While the GlamourGals foundation gained its popularity for their efforts of putting elderly women in makeup, the foundation does more than that. The foundation brings young people who volunteer to spend quality time with senior citizens at nursing homes and other facilities similar. Through this, students gain mentorship skills, compassion, more wisdom and different perspectives. Moreover, the cause is vital for the overall well being of seniors, reducing isolation and building connection, which many seniors in nursing homes lack due to their families either apathetic towards their elderly or not having the financial resources to support them.
South Lakes’ chapter, while only in its first year, has already gotten the ball rolling. When I interviewed Nikzad, she said her goal of starting the club was “to provide companionship to our elderly.” This mission statement has been executed. With monthly planned visits to senior homes. So far they have met three times, additionally they had their first volunteer event on 12th of October at Great Falls Assisted Living. Nikzad had set up at the senior living home “an arts and crafts activity that relates to Halloween and fall, like painting pumpkins.” Through these crafts Nikzad hopes “to leave something for them” in order for them to feel remembered and community.
Nikzad, when asked if “GlamourGals is something young people should care about?” stated “definitely, our elders are underappreciated and have gone through a lot of experience.” Through joining the South Lakes chapter of GlamourGals, you won’t just be gaining volunteer experience, you will work with some of the most underrepresented people in our community and give them a voice to feel seen and heard. For more information on meetings and events contact Zahra Nikzad at [email protected].
