GMA: Selfless request changes Themba's life

Request from:

Tinyiko Gwambe 

 

Request for:

Themba Leefe Sibisi 

 

Angel:

The Good Morning Angels Fund

 

Sponsoring:

The GMA Fund will donate the outstanding amount for Themba's new, electric wheelchair (R18 000)

 

Background:

Tinyiko Gwambe is a 19-year old student at the University of Pretoria. She has defied many odds in life and celebrates every victory. Tinyiko was born in Venda. She has no limbs. Through the support of her aunt, who never treated her as if she was different, she went to school - in a manual wheelchair that her aunt pushed. Tinyiko got accepted at Tuks - a first step. She stayed in Sunnyside and a friend pushed her to class in Hatfield. However, when he was not available or it rained, she could not attend. She got her bursary grant and her powered wheelchair in October last year. Out of gratitude, she decided to help others with the same kind of need as herself. Tinyiko contacted Good Morning Angels, on the advice of her lecturer, Linda Alston. She's not asking help for herself - she's asking us to assist her friend, Themba Leefe Sibisi - who also needs a powered wheelchair. She has so far raised R2499 for him ... 

 

Original request:

 
I am a student at the University of Pretoria.I had about jacaranda good morning angels from my lecturers after they discovered that I am raising funds for my friend who is disabled. The main reason for the funds is to buy him an electric wheelchair so that he can be able to travel to school everyday without assistance. You will find more information on the document I have attached.
 

Below is my story and my request

Dear Good morning Angels

My name is Tinyiko Gwambe, a 19 year girl from Venda who is currently studying at the University of Pretoria. I was born without limbs. 

After I was born, my aunt chose to take care of me. She taught me how to sit, feed myself, wash my face, reading, writing and to do small house chores. She used to take me as any person regardless of my disability. Though my aunt was taking care of me, I faced challenges in life. Using a manual wheelchair was hard since I had to wait for someone to push me. Sometimes I used to stay in doors for weeks without going out if my aunt was not there. Life became more complicated when my mother passed away. My aunt was moved away by some of my family members. I had to live without her. Things became more complicated and I had to learn to do things I never thought I would achieve. When I was doing grade 12, I decided to apply to a University which would be far from home so that I can have my life back. I got admission to Tuks University even though it was not easy.

When I started my first year, I got accommodation at Sunnyside. I had to travel every day from Sunnyside to Hatfield. I was assisted by my brother Maanda Ratshikombo. It was not easy and I was always tired due to the distance I had to travel every day. I was forced to skip some of the classes due to rain or if my friend was sick. I had no money for transport and had no bursary at that time. The money I was getting from home was insufficient. Due to this, my lecturer blamed me for not attending classes and also told me that my disability should not be an excuse. It made me cry but I always hoped for a change. Life became easier when my bursary was approved. I got my powered wheelchair in October 2014.

Getting a powered wheelchair after all this struggle inspired me to help others who are in need of wheelchairs or any assistive devices. Due to this, I have decided to start fundraising for people I meet who are in need of any device that will change their current situation. The first person I had in mind was Themba Leefee Sibisi who is a good friend of mine.

Themba Leefee Sibisi lives in Mpumalanga; Kwaggafontein. I met him in 2012 through Mxit. We became good friends. He was open to me and felt free to tell me about his disability and all the challenges he has met. We then had the opportunity to meet in person the following year in January. I went to visit him at his home with my sister. We spent two days and came home on the third day. During my vacation, he shared a lot about his past life and how he became disabled. I felt touched and helpless since I was completing grade 11 at that time. However, I kept a promise between me and God that one day I would surely assist Themba.

Themba was born on the24th of October 1989 at HF hospital. He is 25 years old now. He was raised by his mother in Mpumalanga, Kwaggafontein where he was living with his grandfather and his cousins. After some years, his aunt took over when his mom got a job. Themba had some walking issues since birth. Before starting grade 1, he spent almost the whole year without walking. Doctors checked him but could not see anything. He was then booked for an operation. He went for the operation. After the operation, he spent 7 months in recovery. After the 7 months in recovery, he was able to walk again. He then went back to school and started with grade 1. Since the time he started, he had no further problems. He lived a normal life from grade 1 until he became disabled in 2005 after being involved in an accident at ThanduLwazi primary school which was caused by another student. By then he was doing grade 7.
Themba was at school one day during a class period when one student was running and accidentally pushed him. He fell down and his left leg was broken. He was then rushed to the hospital by the teachers. He got feedback from the doctors that promised that he would have a full recovery from his injury and walk again. Unfortunately, 1 month after the injury, his whole body started changing. His hands, body and legs became tiny. Due to these changes, he couldn’t walk again. 

Because of his injury, Themba had to drop out of school in 2005 while he was doing Grade 7 at the age of 16. He did not have anyone to take him to school since he had no wheelchair. Fortunately enough in 2006 he was able to get himself a manual wheelchair. However, this did not solve his problem of going to school because he still has no one to push him to school. The school he was attending was a bit far from home. Themba’s mother is currently unemployed. His father passed away in 2008. The only means of survival that the Sibisi’s family have is from the grant that he receives from the government.

 Although Themba faced all this challenges, this has never stopped him from dreaming. He has always prayed and wished to complete his matric and continue with his studies so that he can study Sound Engineering or Graphic design. However, this can only happen if we can stand together and assist him. So I kindly ask for donation on his behalf so that I can solve his mobility problem by buying him a powered wheelchair and also to find a suitable school for him. Getting a powered wheelchair will assist Themba to go to school independently since he has no one to escort him to school. 

I wish to help Themba realize his dreams to get an education and change his life and also his family’s lives. I would appreciate it if you would assist me in helping this young gentleman achieve his dream. I have already asked donation from friends and family members. I have already made R2499. I still have to raiseR17 501 in order to get a good powered wheelchair.

Donations can be made through the following details:
o   Capitec Bank
o   Account number: 1397130855
o   Account name: Fund raising
 
Yours sincerely
Tinyiko Gwambe