11-year-old singing prodigy needs support to continue attending prestigious Choir School

11-year-old singing prodigy needs support to continue attending prestigious Choir School

From a young age, Ethan Palagangwe (11), a talented singer from Mitchells Plain, Cape Town has been drawn to music.

Inspired by his songstress mom, he could often be heard around the house, singing songs by his favourite musicians such as Chris Brown, Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber.

“Ethan started singing around the house at the age of 8. When he started singing for our friends and family at gatherings, we realized that he has a God given talent that we needed to nurture.” says Ethan’s mom, Candice.

The Palagangwe family from left are Cade, Kagisho, Ethan, Candice and Kaycee. Picture: Plainsman

When Ethan’s parents saw that the prestigious Drakensberg Boys Choir School in Kwa-Zulu Natal was having an open call to auditions, they signed him up, in hopes that he would be given a once in a lifetime opportunity to sharpen his singing skills and receive a world-class education.

Performing one of his favourite songs, “Ben”, by Michael Jackson, Ethan soaked up the spotlight and was one of only 30 students, out of 1600, to receive an acceptance letter to enrol at the private school.

 

 

Unable to cover the cost of his schooling, which amounts to approximately R 175 000 for his first year, Ethan’s parents launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy that has thus far raised over R113 000. 

With support from 48 donors both locally and internationally, Ethan has been able to attend the prestigious Drakensberg Boys Choir School in KZN and has been excelling in his studies.

“Being accepted at the school has also driven him in aiming high and to excel in all the academic and social activities that are being offered at the school. I am pleased to say that despite all the challenges he and his parents have faced, he still gives his best to achieve academic excellence for himself.”

 

 

Unfortunately due to the unforeseen Covid-19 pandemic, many of the individuals and businesses that pledged to contribute to Ethan’s education have experienced financial hardship, leaving Ethan’s family with over R53 000 in outstanding school fees.

Unable to come up with the funds, Ethan will, unfortunately, need to return home to Cape Town and put his dreams of becoming a singer on hold.

“We as a family have witnessed Ethan’s personal development, education, and musical growth to be phenomenal, and we would not want to deprive him of this chance. Since it is mid-year and amid the pandemic, many schools are restricting their enrollment, so we are in a tough position to secure Ethan a new school.” 

Update about Ethan’s progress: 

Ethan is currently in his second year at the world renowned Drakensberg Boys Choir School.  He is in Grade 6 and continues to flourish in this fast paced environment, where hard work, talent, discipline and team work culminate to create magic in the form of the most beautiful music. He worked hard to complete the gruelling New Boy Programme and earned his “Concert Status” in August last year.
Ethan has proven to be a true Drakie, his energy and passion makes him a pleasure to watch perform, his face lights up the stage and his natural rhythm makes you want to jump up and dance.  He has fully entrenched himself in all the school has to offer, seizing every opportunity, be it academically, in the sporting arena or in the music field.  Ethan is thriving at the school and loves to be surrounded by the majestic mountains, he loves hiking, swimming in the rivers and mountain biking – on the bike he was gifted by a fellow pupil.
Ethan comes from a very humble background, his Father Kagiso, works in law enforcement and his Mother, Candace works as a teachers aid.  His hard working parents want the best for their son, the sacrifice they make to ensure that Ethan is given every opportunity to achieve his full potential is enormous.  They need the continued financial support to ensure that Ethan is able to stay at the school that is recognised as a National Treasure.
Ethan successfully auditioned to be in the Schools latest music video “Butter”.   “Butter” was released on the 15 July and was filmed in Umhlanga, Ethan was given a solo part and viewers got to see some of his slick dance moves!
As a fellow parent at the school, we would love to help the Palagangwe family.  Any financial assistance you are able to offer this young man would be greatly appreciated.” – says Megan Dittberner

Make a donation to Ethan’s campaign here:

https://www.backabuddy.co.za/ethan-palagangwe

Donate Via Snapscan

https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/ethan-palagangwe

*As per the campaign creator’s request, funds raised will be paid directly to the school*

Create a crowdfunding campaign

South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far risen over R260 Million.

 

MJ is a gender anarchist, a multidisciplinary historian, occupied with confronting intersecting social relations of power. Queer-ing

MJ is a gender anarchist, a multidisciplinary historian, occupied with confronting intersecting social relations of power. Queer-ing

Mammetja Mogotlane (27), works towards building a sustainable eco-community, playing chess with capitalism.

Born in Johannesburg, Gauteng, they have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pursue their master’s degree at The School of Oriental and African Studies University of London (SOAS) and urgently need help to fund their studies.

Mammetja has already graduated with a Masters of Sciences (MSc) in Politics of Conflict Rights and Justice. Earning an advantage through SOAS university is a teachable opportunity. They are empowered and motivated to work towards life-enabling systems fostering room for African queer people to be change-makers in their communities.

By attending the prestigious SOAS campus, Mammetja hopes to build on their understanding of transformative justice whilst centring their experiences with African women, queer people, and neuro-divergent people. They are honouring their love-informed, childhood dreams.

“Growing in communication means, learning to speak the many languages of your loves. The fluidity of Indigenous practices reminds us to engage the senses available to us, to listen.  The Earth is crying, and climatic shocks devastate people in their indigenous homes, especially those un-housed.” – says Mammetja. 

“Purposefully ignored communities need systems rooted in radical love, promoting indigenous knowledge production and a reality where African queer kinfolk can be fully self-determining and uninhibited by systemic violence. Community-informed lenses frame sustainable accessibility to health care.

 

This yearning is a future I espouse and have committed myself to strive towards Encouraged by my love partners, I quit my survival-required job, and leaned into community care, did the background work, had several (re)drafts, and radically sent in my application – to thrive” – says Mammetja. 

To cover their tuition fees estimated to cost R465 000, Mammetja has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy that has raised R17 000 through 12 kind contributions. 

“Being a historian creates space for intersectional forms of healing, and communally centered holistic health care. Love offers the capacity to pursue my goals” – says Mammetja. 

Let’s help support Mammetja Mogotlane in pursuing this well-deserved opportunity.

Donate to Mammetja on Backabuddy 

https://www.backabuddy.co.za/mammetja-mogotlane

Alternatively, donate via Snapscan 

https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/MammetjaMogotlane

Create a crowdfunding campaign

South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far risen over R330 Million.

 

 

SA woman keeps a decade-long promise by running 295km to support student’s final year

SA woman keeps a decade-long promise by running 295km to support student’s final year

Nickey Seger (48), a fitness specialist and wellbeing coach from Strubensvalley, Johannesburg, is honouring a decade-long promise she made to a student close to her heart.

In 2005, while working at Scuba City in Ferndale, Nickey met Goodwill Khuzwayo (41), a charming man who through a near-fatal taxi accident became disabled 4 years earlier.

“Goodwill was travelling to Zimbabwe to visit family when the taxi’s tyres burst. The taxi rolled and Goodwill fell out the vehicle, and was caught under the taxi. He had suffered head and spinal injuries,” Nickey told News24

 

9 years ago: Goodwill, with his wife, Edna and little Nellie.

Inspired by his resilience, Nickey wrote to Radio 94.7, hoping that her colleague would be chosen during their annual 947 Xmas Wish. After 3 years of reaching out to the radio station, Nickey’s persistence finally paid off!

The radio station kindly agreed to grant Goodwill’s wish, sending his bright and bubbly daughter, Nellie, who was in grade 2 at the time, to MacLaren College, an upstanding private school in Cosmo City.

While Nellie thrived in her new environment and loved her new school, unfortunately, Goodwill was unable to cover her school fees for the remainder of her education and had no choice but to send her back to the government school she had previously attended.

Making a promise

Concerned that Nellie wouldn’t get the quality education she deserved, Nickey stepped in to lend a helping hand, promising the young student that she would do her best to cover the cost of her schooling until she matriculated.

“It was important to me to help Nellie with her schooling because education is the key to unlocking the world. It helps us in all aspects of our lives. To me, education is the gateway to success. Success can be achieved when people have knowledge, skills, and attitude. All these things can be gained only with the help of education.” -says Nickey.

 

Keeping a promise 

For the last 9 years, through personal challenges and the many ups and downs of her business, Nickey kept true to her promise.

Nellie is now 18-years old, and has grown into a soft, kind, focused, and determined young lady who aspires to become a nurse to serve her community.

“I want to become a nurse so I can fix my daddy, so that he can walk again. I want to be the one to nurse him back to good health. And I’m so eternally grateful to every donor that has contributed to my schooling,” Nellie told News24

Dressed for success: Nickey and Nellie share a special bond

Due to the unforeseen and devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has affected Nickey’s business, like so many others in South Africa, Nickey, for the first time is unable to cover Nellie’s school fees on her own – but she isn’t planning on giving up!

 

To raise the R75,600 ($5000) needed to cover Nellie’s final year of school, Nickey has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, and is pledging to complete 14 consecutive half marathons, a total distance of 295,4km, to get Nellie to the ‘finish line’ of her schooling career.

 

The challenge, which is Nickey’s labour of love, will begin on the 1st of February and end on Valentine’s Day, the 14th February 2022, symbolically, in front of Nellie’s school, Ruimsig Montessori.

 

Blown away by generous supporters

With overwhelming support from 116 local and international donors, over R135 000 ($8800) has been raised towards Nellie’s education in anticipation for Nickey’s challenge.

On Thursday, 27th of January 2022, Nickey shared an emotional message of thanks to everyone who has made this dream come true.

 

 

“I am reaching out to all South Africans to help Nellie finish her schooling while demonstrating to the country that “the power of a promise matters” no matter your circumstances, one can always rise above it and make a plan and maintain one’s integrity. With my challenge I hope to cover Nellie’s school fees and give a new spin of what love can look like during the month of love.” – says Nickey

 When Nickey called Goodwill to tell him the news, he burst into tears

“I had no words. I just covered my eyes with my hands, and I burst out crying. I am so humbled. I still get emotional when I think about it. My child will be able to finish her matric year and go study to be a nurse next year. This is any parents’ dream, and I am overwhelmed with the many good, kind-hearted people living among us,”

“My daughter is still in shock, but it’s definitely a happy shock. As long as she’s been alive, she’s been telling us she wants to become a nurse, and now she’s one step closer to fulfilling her dream. We are so happy. We will forever be thankful to the many hands that donated,” Goodwill told News24

 

Make a donation to support Nellie’s education:

https://www.backabuddy.co.za/nellie-khuzwayo

Alternatively, make a donation via Snapscan:

https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/nellie-khuzwayo

 

As this campaign is now fully funded, additional funds will be used to cover Nellie’s University fees.

 

WATCH: Nickey shares special moments from her “Power of a Promise” challenge

Update

Nellie finished writing her Cambridge Matric exams the beginning of June 2022 and is now awaiting her results which will hopefully be out during the 1st week in August 2022.

 

She also attended her Matric dance on Friday 24 June and she looked absolutely gorgeous. Her dress was sponsored by Alicia Van der Merwe from Ali Cia Couture and the Photoshoot sponsored by Louise Olivier from Wanitta’s Photography. It was certainly a beautiful highlight in Nellie’s Matric year.

 

Nellie has applied to Netcare as well to start her studies next year as a student nurse, we are just awaiting her results.

Empowering young women

As South Africa’s first female Navy Diver, 4 time Iron Man finisher, and someone who has represented South Africa in the long-distance World Triathlon Championship in Germany in 2010, Nickey hopes to teach young women a life lesson:

 “Throughout my life, I have been exposed to and pushed back against gender norms and stereotypes. From a young age, I made it my mission, to prove that women can do anything they put their mind to, I hope that this will inspire others to do the same”

Create a crowdfunding campaign

South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far raised over R290 Million.

Legally blind Cape Town Mom dreams of seeing her children again

Legally blind Cape Town Mom dreams of seeing her children again

Shireen Hermans, a 29-year-old mother from Mitchells Plain, Cape Town, has an eye disease called keratoconus, a condition which causes extremely blurred vision and light sensitivity.

Life is exceptionally challenging for Shireen, who has less than 8% sight in only one eye and is considered legally blind.

Behind her beautiful smile, gentle nature, courageous and resilient spirit, Shireen feels isolated and depressed due to her condition, which has interrupted her life and made simple tasks very difficult.

Shireen yearns for the simple pleasures in life – like seeing her daughters’ faces and helping them with their homework.

“For Shireen, sight loss means she can’t walk her young daughters to school or safely catch a bus with them. She simply can’t see the pavement or read the signs at the bus stop. It’s not safe for her to venture out alone. Living with keratoconus is like life in permanent lockdown.” – says Amanda Seccombe, Founder of The Eyes2Eyes Foundation.

Giving Shireen her sight back

At this stage, Shireen’s corneas (her eye’s outermost lens) are irregular, with steep troughs and cones.

As glasses and ordinary contact lenses will not restore Shireen’s sight, the only way for her to achieve functional vision and avoid total blindness is to receive costly custom-fit scleral lenses.

In November 2021, Shireen was referred to The Eyes2Eyes Foundation, an organisation dedicated to providing individuals the gift of sight, as corneal disease is vastly underfunded and under-resourced in public hospitals in South Africa.

Hoping to receive support from the public, the Eyes2Eyes Foundation, has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, with a fundraising goal of R25 000, which will allow Shireen to receive specialised lenses that will be designed and manufactured for her in New Zealand.

Funds raised will also cover the cost of Shireen’s fitting process which will be done in Cape Town, her monthly optometrists appointments and training on how to use the life-saving lenses.

“Restoring my vision will mean I can recognize the faces of my family and friends – not just their voices. I will be able to read to my girls. I wouldn’t have to rely on my daughter to read me prices at the stores and guide me with things all the time. Having my sight restored means I can get back to work and help with our financial problems at home. I will get my confidence and independence back and stop living a blurred depressed life, where I have to pretend everything is good” – says Shireen

Support this campaign on BackaBuddy:

https://www.backabuddy.co.za/eyes2eyes-shireen

Alternatively, donate via Snapscan:

https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/Eyes2eyesShireen

 

Create a crowdfunding campaign

South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far risen over R330 Million.

Caught In The Crossfire | Shooting Leaves 29-year-old Bolt driver Paralysed for Life

Caught In The Crossfire | Shooting Leaves 29-year-old Bolt driver Paralysed for Life

Jenny Tshuma (29) from Soweto, Johannesburg, who works as a Bolt driver has become a victim of a brazen drive-by shooting which occurred in Rosettenville, Joburg South on 30 April 2022.

Caught in the crossfire, the husband and father of 2 young children was shot in the back. The stray bullet, which exited through his stomach, has now rendered him paralysed.

Currently, Jenny is in the ICU at Baragwanath Hospital, recovering from serious injuries. While he is finally off the feeding tubes and is recovering well, he is still struggling to stand on his own, and doctors are unsure if he will walk again.

“Our lives have changed in such a short space of time.  It is truly painful to think that Jenny might not be able to walk again and will have difficulty finding work to support our children, Kwazinkosi (7) and Samuel (3) who are so little”– says Jenny’s wife Victoria.

 

Upon hearing the news of the tragic incident, non-profit organization, The Angel Network, launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, to support Jenny during this devastating time.

Jenny, who was head of his household and the sole breadwinner of his family, now has no means of earning an income to cover the cost of a carer, his mounting medical bills and the extensive physical and emotional therapy he will require.

Since the launch of the campaign, more than R8000 has been donated to Jenny and his family, who are reeling in the wake of this trauma, through many kind donations on the platform.

All donors who contribute to Jenny’s campaign are eligible for a Section 18A tax certificate issued by The Angel Network.

Support Jenny on BackaBuddy: 

https://www.backabuddy.co.za/tragic-shooting-leaves-jerry-paralysed

Alternatively, Donate Via Snapscan:

https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/SupportJerryTshuma

Jenny with his wife Victoria