Feeding the Hungry, Clothing the Needy: Jacob Madisha Shares Mission of Hope

Photos Supplied by Jacob Madisha

Driven by a deep-rooted empathy for those less fortunate, Jacob Madisha’s selfless dedication has transformed the lives of many.

Pretoria, South Africa (26 August 2024) – Feeding and clothing those without has become the drive and purpose of Ponelopelo Community Development founder Jacob Madisha.

From providing essential food and clothing to offering emotional support, Jacob’s organisation has become a symbol of compassion and resilience.

Good Things Guy connected with the man who leads a team of selfless volunteers who wake up before the crack of dawn, brave cold mornings, and tirelessly knock on doors for assistance to help the less fortunate in the community of Atteridgeville, a township in the west of Pretoria.

Jacob, who is also a local motivational speaker, formally registered Ponelopelo Community Development NPC in 2019 after realising the difference he was making in helping others from his own pocket and efforts.

“I started off collecting school uniforms, second-hand clothes, food, blankets and furniture and distributing them to destitute families. We make sure that the clothes are clean and in decent condition as we wouldn’t give away something we wouldn’t wear ourselves,” Jacob said.

With volunteers waking up as early as 2 am, the NPC’s breakfast programme feeds an average of 250 children in local schools most mornings.

Facing numerous challenges, including limited resources and the gruelling task of securing sponsorships, Jacob remains unwavering in his commitment. To obtain the funds needed to keep this programme running, Jacob and his team also juggle cooking meals to sell to the general public in the area.

He also highlighted the harsh realities of life in Atteridgeville, where informal settlements are prevalent and the threat of fire-destroying shacks is a constant concern. In these tragic situations, Ponelopelo Community Development swiftly responds by providing essential aid, including blankets, pre-owned furniture, and other necessary items to support affected families.

Asked what keeps him going despite the hardships he faces in running Ponelopelo Community Development, a resilient Jacob said:

“My motivation is not wanting to see innocent children going through what I did growing up. To make sure they have better opportunities, and better nutrition so that they can be better people.

“I grew up in poverty, so I know that it can limit people from expressing themselves, participating in school or even pursuing friendships. I hope that one day we will be able to eradicate poverty and empower individuals to overcome adversity.”