Imagine having to have someone dress you every day, carry you onto your regular bus so you can settle in for a two, or even three, hour ride in bumpy terrain. It's hot and you're sweating through your uniform. This is all before you even arrive at school, to a cold breakfast, in a wheelchair that's too small for you or on braces that are too short.

I volunteered with an exclusively black, Xhosa speaking school called Tembaletu, in the township of Gugulethu, while studying abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. Most of the students at Tembaletu have cerebral palsy, spina bifida, or congenital deformities, but the school also offers support for kids with learning and speech disabilities. I worked in a pre-K class and the time I spent there, with these students and their teachers, truly changed everything. They'll never know how much they've impacted me or the course of my life. Now, it's my turn to give something back to them. Please help me raise $2500 for Tembaletu students, and others like them, for my 25th birthday. It only takes $59.20 to give one student a NEW wheelchair.

Several years later...
The Free Wheelchair Mission partnered with the Hillsong Africa Foundation to provide wheelchairs to students in need. From there, the Hillsong Africa Foundation pulled a team of experts together to start the Tembaletu Project. They're building a new campus and dormitory for students, the most important thing on Principal Franse's wish list. They're not done yet. The project needs funding and many students at Tembaletu and across the country are desperately in need of new wheelchairs.

I'm usually an advocate for a hand up, not a hand out, but sometimes they're the same thing when other options don't exist. We help when we can, where we can, because we can. Please help. I know you can. Whether it's five, ten, twenty or one-hundred dollars, whatever you are able to give will help the Free Wheelchair Mission and the Hillsong Africa Foundation reach students at Tembaletu and beyond. WATCH: http://hillsong.co.za/tembaletu

The Free Wheelchair Mission can accept donations through Crowdrise, but the Hillsong Africa Foundation isn't easily set-up for American donors yet. The best way to support them is to donate $10 to the Tembaletu Project by texting IHEART to 85944 and reply with the word yes to confirm your donation. (Please leave me a comment if you go this route, so I can update our total!)

Thank you so much in advance for supporting this effort. I'm confident we can raise $2500 for Tembaletu, and other South African students, for my 25th birthday!

Taylor

My class: Ananda, Ntsikelelo, Zusiphe, Sanelisiwe, Luzuko, Sanele, Simbabalwe & Themba

More information about disability in Africa:
http://www.independentliving.org/docs5/SANatlDisStrat1.html

Hillsong Africa Foundation/Tembaletu Project: http://hillsong.co.za/tembaletu
*Donate $10 to the Tembaletu Project by texting IHEART to 85944 and reply with the word yes to confirm your donation.

What a wheelchair means to them: http://allafrica.com/stories/200908271060.html
*Simbabalwe Jozi was in my class in 2007