Creating a better community for all

Founder of Rysky Foundation Annamaria Lechki was selected as the winner of NEWS and Westpack Lifestyle September Hero of the Month Competition.

Nominated by Jackie Allen, Annamaria, an Edenvale resident who assists those in need and uplifts the community, was described by Jackie as a ‘humble, down to earth woman with a heart of gold’.

Registered in 2019, the charity organisation provides meals to those in need and has several outreach programmes, which include reading programmes, early childhood education, improving circumstances for the elderly and cleaning up informal settlements and other areas in Ekurhuleni. 

Helping others is something that comes naturally to Annamaria, whose family fled Hungary in the 1980s to escape communist rule.

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Annamaria explained her parents wanted a better life for their family and after fleeing Hungary, became refugees under the United Nations and were taken in by South Africa.
Annamaria said after arriving in SA, her parents slowly built themselves and their family a better life through hard work and determination.

“Being a helpful person is a big part of who I am. I have always believed in helping others.”

From a young age, Annamaria would help others where she could.

While in school she would take what she could from the family home and share it with the less fortunate.

“I remember, once I took some meat and wanted to share it but forgot about it and it stank up the place.

“I remember getting in so much trouble for that, not for taking the meat but that it went to waste,” said a smiling Annamaria.

Annamaria, a proud foster mum of nine years, said the foundation was named after Ryan, her foster daughter’s late father, and Sky, her foster daughter.

Although the NPC was founded in 2019, Annamaria has been assisting the community for far longer.

She explained that it all started seven years ago when she partnered with Kismet Bakery and began collecting baking offcuts from the business and distributing it to NGOs and those in need.

Since then, the Rysky Foundation has grown, partnering with several other businesses and community members who support it by either providing prepared meals or ingredients for the foundation’s beneficiaries.

Annamaria explained once forming a relationship with a business it becomes more than just collecting donations.

She said Rysky Foundation and the sponsor try to grow together, building and strengthening their relationship.

“I am very blessed and grateful to be associated with the businesses and community members who assist the foundation.

“I rely a lot on the community for support.”

Annamaria said the meals provided to the foundation’s beneficiaries are always hearty.

“We will not serve the beneficiaries meals which we would not serve our families.

“Every meal is prepared with and served with love.”

Even though the foundation prides itself in assisting others, its objective is not to create a reliant society.

“The work the foundation does is a hand-up, not a handout,” highlighted Annamaria.

Annamaria said although the pandemic had an effect, the foundation was able to keep operating during the hard lockdown as it is registered as an essential service for food.
Last year the foundation partnered with the KaraCares project to support households in need.

“Because of our essential service status, we were able to move freely under the hard lockdowns and other organisations umbrellaed underneath us so they could keep working.”
Annamarie highlighted that hunger is an ongoing issue.

“When it comes to hunger, there are no public holidays, hunger doesn’t take a break. Our beneficiaries don’t want to hear it and our sponsors don’t want to hear it.”

Besides providing meals to its beneficiaries the foundation works closely with communities in need.

Annamaria said the foundation is working with Makause informal settlement to create a community centre and clean an area to create a playground for the children of the community.

The foundation recently partnered with Tops and Tags and provided a 14-year-old disabled Makause resident with a wheelchair.

Although she was humbled to be selected as the September winner, Annamaria said the true heroes are the foundation’s beneficiaries.

“They are the ones who fight the fight, they are the ones who get up every day. They have more courage than the rest of us.”

To learn more about Rysky Foundation visit its Facebook page or contact Annamaria on 073 453 9666.

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