Emile-Josiah Bangura MBE tells Bucks Radio about his mission to give school supplies, sanitary items and even football kit to young people in need - all out of his own pocket.
Bangura was visiting relatives in Sierra Leone at Christmas in 2021 when he was struck by the feeling that he should be giving to those in need. Since that day - when he gave a few items he purchased locally to an orphanage - his charitable work has expanded, with him now shipping up to 40-foot ISO containers full of collected items.
Whilst his work was recognised in the King’s birthday honours list last year, it’s still not enough for Emile-Josiah who wants to do more. With his foundation Hands of Hope set up in Sierra Leone, he now hopes to establish a CIC in the UK to support veteran mental health, following the death of close friend Ryan Tomlin in 2012 whilst the pair were serving in Afghanistan.
Here he told us about receiving his MBE - and how initially he thought he was in trouble!
Bangura reflects on his RAF journey and how he ended up being placed in the same squad he had seen parachute into Sierra Leone when he was younger
Finally, he shares more about his vision for the future of his charitable work
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