Emihle Bande
Women Nurturing in the Community
Nominee's Province:
Eastern Cape
Project Name/Description:
Humanitarian
At the tender age of 18, Emihle Bande’s sacrificial approach to uplifting others is heart-warming and will undoubtedly inspire others to follow in her footsteps. She is the personification of selflessness that is rare in any society. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic early last year, Emihle has sold her valuables – clothes, jewellery and whatever had a lot of value to her – to feed at least three families in her community. She also collects sanitary towels once a month to give to orphans. Emihle inherited her spirit of philanthropy from her parents who led by example through teaching her to always “keep her hands open”. She grew up watching her parents regularly donating their clothes to the poor. “This taught me a lesson that I could also do the same. I believe in planting a seed everywhere I go,” she says. Her exceptionally giving nature in her community has earned her a nomination for the Assupol Museum of Heroes. Although barely out of her teens, she is already regarded as the “mother of the community”.
