Makgosi needs our help

My friend Makgosi hates asking for help. 

For the past four years since losing her job she's tried really hard to find new work. In a tough economy, and as a disabled person, this has been extremely difficult. A staggering 90% of people with disabilities are unemployed in South Africa.

Makgosi has been a wheelchair user since 2016, when a case of spinal tuberculosis left her gravely ill and, ultimately, paralysed her from the waist down. She's undergone physical rehab and worked hard on her own to regain some use of her legs, as well as mitigating many of the side-effects of her disability. She's done this with no stable income: she receives a monthly disability grant from the government that amounts to R2090 (or about US$110) each month, and some friends and supporters donate as they're able to. 

But, like I say, Makgosi hates asking for help. So I'm doing it on her behalf (with her full knowledge, permission and input) by setting up this fundraiser. We hope to raise around R100,000 (that's about US$5200, 4100 Pounds or 4900 Euros) to support her through the next six months. The money will cover:

*rent

*transport (particularly to and from hospital and clinic visits)

*food and general living expenses

*disability accommodations

We'll provide regular updates throughout the duration of this fundraiser.

I cannot express enough what a kind, brilliant and tenacious person my friend Makgosi is, and how proud I am to know her. She does an enormous amount of work around disability rights, raising awareness and pushing for the basic rights that are enshrined in our country's Constitution. Your donations will help to give back to somebody who is always giving of herself.