9-year-old needs help to go to New York
Ironically, like other young girls before her, Ntombikayiso Nhlapo’s dreams could go up in smoke if she doesn’t raise at least R100 000 for her trip to America. Sedibeng Ster has learned that more than 20 young girls failed to make it to the competition due to lack of funds.
SEDIBENG.- A nine-year-old from Meyerton could represent South Africa at Talent America. The event is scheduled to take place in New York City in the United States of America from July 5 – 14.
Ironically, like other young girls before her, Ntombikayiso Nhlapo’s dreams could go up in smoke if she doesn’t raise at least R100 000 for her trip to America. Sedibeng Ster has learned that more than 20 young girls failed to make it to the competition due to lack of funds.
She will be competing in four categories: swim wear, casual, formal wear and run-away wear. Ntombi’s worried mother, Lerato Manyedi who is a single parent visited Sedibeng Ster’s offices to plead for help from the Sedibeng community.
During a heart-to-heart interview with Sedibeng Ster, Manyane said she has knocked on every door for help, but with no success: “I don’t know what to do anymore because I went to every company that we thought would help us but I was told come back tomorrow and when I came in the next day I wouldn’t find that particular person. This could be the last chance for my daughter to go overseas. Please, people of Sedibeng, help my daughter to go and make South Africa proud in New York City.”
To date Ntombi, as her friends call her, has participated in the Casual and Formal wear category of the Talent Africa Pageant in Roodepoort Civic Theatre on March 26. She was crowned Miss Talent Africa and 2nd Princess in the overall category, allowing her to represent South Africa in New York, the United States of America.
The family’s spokesperson Boitumelo Leboko said it will be sad if her cousin becomes another statistic among those young girls who in the past failed to go to the competition due to lack of funds.
Despite frustration, this journalist joked to Ntombi’s family, “If the people of Sedibeng fail to help this young beautiful girl, I will sell my house to finance her trip.”Good Samaritans interested in helping this young girl can call the following numbers: 081 895 4412, 084 454 1101 or (016) 590 1339 or 079 732 24444.
ZNa
