Meals on Wheels South Africa Media: Escourt News feature 2014

Climbing the beanstalk of success

The 29-year-old describes himself as a young, outgoing, God fearing South African driven to make a positive change in the community

Danielle Greaves | 17 May 2014 16:33

Meals on Wheels Community Services - Estcourt Director Samkelo Mlambo.

The Estcourt News was lucky enough to interview this busy body.
Samkelo Mlambo is the Director of Meals on Wheels Community Services – Estcourt (MOWCS – E).
Samkelo is also known as “Sam” by many of his friends, family and co-workers.
The 29-year-old describes himself as a young, outgoing, God fearing South African driven to make a positive change in the community.
Doing exactly that, Sam is living his dream .
This bubbly soul grew up in Ntabamhlophe “a deep rural area,” he adds.
He attended Edilini Primary School and a few years after that matriculated at St Oswards Secondary School.
Sam is married since 2007 and met the love of his life in 1999.
Wanting to de-stress one day, Sam attended a drama in Durban.
Not knowing he’d stubble upon his wife to be.
“Sthembile was one of the Sarafina popstars at the show,” Sam gives off warm giggles reminiscing on the memory.
Her angelic voice is what had Sam sitting of the edge of his seat that day.
Sthembile was a student at Mbongeni Mgema Academy at the time.
A friendship blossomed as Sam found that she is a Christian and shares the same respect for God as he does.
That blossomed friendship resulted in the couple having three little girls, Andiswa (5), Ziyanda (4) and Annesu (8 months).
During Sam’s years in Ntabamhlophe he realised that there’s a great need for community involvement.
Taking an initiative he joined an organisation – S.A Youth.
Sam having a soft spot for those suffering allowed him to become part of Meals on Wheels.
Meals on Wheels gave Sam the platform to empower the disadvantaged and make that transformation.
Whether it is a shortage of food at home, lack of jobs or even the inability for a parent to purchase a uniform for their child, gave Sam sleepless nights.
If Sam is aware, Sam is on it.
This warm-hearted man seems to be putting everyone else’s needs before that of his very own.
Sam eats, sleeps, breathes, thinks and speaks Meals on Wheels.
Sam is Meals on Wheels.
He was also awarded the Community Hero Award.
The motto Sam lives by is “touch and transform lives”.
From Sam’s various experiences in life he has learnt to be humble, and that respecting others will take you to the next level in life.
Sam works straining hours so when he does get spare time he enjoys watching the news, or taking time away from the busy life and going on a holiday with his family.
Meals on Wheels Community Services part takes in drives such as poverty alleviation, health programmes which focus on illnesses and the pandemic of HIV/Aids, youth development programmes, job creation, generating income to ones self and one of the new drives is Adopt an Orphaned Student.
The Meals on Wheels Community Service welcomes all donations, which could help MOWCS-E bring about a meaningful transformation in lives.
Call Meals on Wheels on 036 352 3875/5400 or 076 296 9902.
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Photos: Meals on Wheels South Africa
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