SINCE the start of Queue for Life, in March this year, Asanda Lisa – whose love for charity started at a young age – helped feed more than 300 families.
She hopes to feed an additional 1 000 Komani residents before the end of the year.
Lisa’s story dates back to more than 32 years ago, when her parents got a divorce.
The divorce led to her father having a mental breakdown and losing his job as a teacher.
Despite various interventions and efforts to assist him, he ended up living on the streets of Komani.
Recalling how she used to support her father, Lisa says, “I used to visit him at the taxi rank and brought him a cooked meal every Christmas. Unfortunately, I was only a high school learner at the time and really did not have the means to help him much.”
While at varsity in 2008, she received a call that her father had frozen to death under a bridge.
“Having experienced the suffering of my father, helping people in need became a calling for me. I was not able to assist my father back then, but giving back to the community is my way of sharing the little I have in his memory,” she said.
Queue for Life
In March, Lisa started the Queue for Life charity initiative, at the Komani Capitec Bank branch she currently works at, as an assistant branch manager.
“With the support of my branch manager, we would hand out sandwiches to the SASSA pensioners queuing at the ATM at our branch,” she said.
“Pictures quickly circulated on social media and in no time we received media traction in local newspapers. I also received a call from a local clothing store who committed to donating 200 masks to our clients.
“The community’s response was also incredible and we received very positive feedback.”
Over the past four months, Lisa has fed more than 300 families through food and fruit parcels, focusing on the elderly community. Her ultimate goal is to feed a further 1 000 families during the course of the year.
Lisa concludes: “For me, being a true C.E.O (client first, energy and ownership) means putting others before yourself. This is encapsulated by my manager, who has been a driving force with all my charity events.
“If it was not for her, none of the initiatives would have been possible. I am ecstatic to be part of a company that supports and encourages me to pursue my passion and has values that make helping other people so much easier,” she said.
