Teljoy supports Reagola Home on Mandela Day
Reagola Home assists the community to alleviate poverty.
The Teljoy team handed over a huge collection of foodstuffs and household products to Reagola Home to celebrate Mandela Day.
Teljoy CEO Rami Sassen said in recognising the everyday heroes in communities this Mandela Day they identified Lilian Sebeela (66) who runs Reagola Home in Ebony Park.
Reagola Home feeds and clothes about 160 elderly people and 300 children.
“The people who come to Lilian’s door are from Kaalfontein, Ivory Park, and Ebony Park. Lilian doesn’t have much, but she makes do with what she has. Sometimes the electricity runs out at Reagola Home, her house-turned-care centre.
“But she carries on. She has carried on for 18 years. She assists with everything from feeding them to giving them clothes or blankets.
“As the need for care increased with the number of children left alone after their parents’ deaths, Lilian began reaching out to fellow community leaders,” said Teljoy communication co-ordinator Anelisa Salavu.
Many came forward with food parcels and other supplies, including retailer Teljoy, who sought to assist where they could.
“I started doing house-to-house visits in 2000 for parents who were HIV positive and couldn’t get adequate medical care. I started looking after their children after their parents had died.
“That’s how I started looking after people,” said Lilian.
She said the children would end up going to school on empty stomachs and they would be so hungry that they’d faint.
“I asked people in the area to help me feed them and started making soup and other foods to take to the schools to feed them,” said Lilian.
The 66-year-old community worker acknowledged that it’s through the kindness and generosity of those around her that she’s able to continue helping people.
“Her determined selflessness is why Teljoy made Lilian the focus of their outreach efforts, including this Mandela Day. We returned to Reagola Home today because Lilian’s generosity is the true embodiment of Madiba,” said Sassen.
He said Lilian is something of an unsung hero.
Sassen added that Lilian just quietly helps those who need her most and this is Teljoy’s small way of honouring that.
“When I see that I can help and that it does help people, that motivates me,” said Lilian.
“That’s how I keep going.”
