LEHAWU – She’s at her prime age where she should be focusing on building a family and acquiring material things that other young women dream of.
But 29-year-old Adelaide Ngema is determined to always extend a helping hand to her fellow community members and ensure that vulnerable people around her never go to bed on an empty stomach.
Amongst many of her good deeds, the young unemployed mother of two feeds 94 people, children and senior citizens on a daily basis, out of her own pocket.
She says that her husband, who works as a shop steward has been supportive and give her money to buy food for the people.
“It’s not that we have more than enough, but we distribute the little that we have and ensure that everyone is happy at the end of the day,” says Ngema adding that she sometimes receives handouts from people who have heard about what she is doing for the community.
Passionate about her community’s well being, Ngema’s daily routines include helping primary school learners cross the street when going to school in the morning, going to the local clinic to assist senior citizens beat the long queue of opening files, cooking for the people and teaching the little ones life skills.
“It is not safe for this children to be crossing the busy street in the morning and since our schools here in the village do not have provision for traffic assistance,I had to stand up and do it.
After realising that elderly people are not treated right when collecting their medication at the clinic, I took it upon myself to help them,” she added.
When we visit Ngema, it is clear that she is a people’s person, with many people,children and the elderly, popping into her yard just to greet her. A few visit her to share their problems with her.
“I will ensure that we take your matters to the social workers, your issues need professional attention,” she tells them.
Her neighbours tell us that she always fight for other people’s survival.
“Adelaide is selfless and she is always available to listen to everyone, even young children. Her household is always crowded with people and she never gets tired of them,” says Ms Thembi Khoza.
Ngema dreams of owning a huge centre that will be shelter to abused and abandoned children and senior citizens.
“When I die and God asks me what I have done on earth, I want to confidently say that I helped someone,” she concludes.
