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Busisiwe is a single parent of a teenage son and a daughter in primary school - help us after a long illness

After a long illness, Busisiwe is raising a teenage son and a daughter in primary school alone and needs $1,350 to stay afloat for 5 months.

🇿🇦 Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa1,318 views
Busisiwe R. Cloete
Email verified
Pretoria
Last March I went through a long illness, and I'm now raising a teenage son and a daughter in primary school on my own. I work as a retail cashier, but my income doesn't cover rent, childcare and groceries. I'm retraining as a bookkeeper in the evenings, which will triple my income by June, but I need to bridge the gap until then. Some weeks I skip meals so my children can eat. I have never asked anyone for help like this before, and I'm doing it for them. Once I finish my course, I'll pay it forward. Money goes toward rent, groceries, after-school care and the cost of my course. I'll give a monthly update with receipts. Where the $1,350 goes: • Rent top-up: $520 • Childcare and after-school care: $420 • Groceries and school meals: $210 • Course fees and exam costs: $200 I never thought I'd be the one asking, and I'm grateful for every bit of support.

Updates from Busisiwe

  1. Update from Pretoria: I made the first payment toward childcare and after-school care. We're at 38% of the goal. Thank you for believing in us.

  2. Quick update: $357 raised so far (26%). the first invoice got paid this week. Receipts coming as soon as I have them.

  3. Update from Pretoria: I made the first payment toward groceries and school meals. We're at 5% of the goal. Thank you for believing in us.

  • Anonymous 🇨🇦 · $5
  • David G. Whitmore 🇺🇸 · $3.50
  • Huy Hậu Hoang 🇻🇳 · $50
  • Rahayu Yuni Effendi 🇮🇩 · $30

    “You got this. From Bekasi with love. - Bekasi”

  • Sarita Joshi 🇳🇵 · $20

    “Be well. Hope the June deadline works out. - Bhaktapur”

  • Cristiane Ana Rodrigues 🇧🇷 · $50
  • Salim Mazen Radwan 🇪🇬 · $50
  • Sade Favour Balogun 🇳🇬 · $25

    “Happy to help. Hope the June deadline works out. - Badagry”

  • Samuel Lacson 🇵🇭 · $10
  • Riccardo Neri 🇮🇹 · $200
  • Mohit B. Bisht 🇮🇳 · $32
  • Taslima Zaman 🇮🇳 · $5
  • Anonymous 🇧🇩 · $50

    “All the best. Please keep us posted. - Cox's Bazar”

  • Valentina K. Contreras 🇲🇽 · $50

    “Every little bit. Thought of Busisiwe all day after reading this. - Iztapalapa”

  • Anonymous 🇨🇦 · $10
  • Anonymous 🇵🇱 · $10

    “Happy to help. Small amount but sent with love. - Radom”

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  • this could happen to any of us. I have a 13 year old who wants to send good wishes too.

    • Wishing you the best, Busisiwe. Shared it with a few friends. It's not much but it's yours.

      • Stay strong. Gave what I could, wish it was more. Thinking of Pretoria.

        • can I help in a way that isn't money? I'm near Pretoria

          • Thank you. If you're in Pretoria I'll say if something practical comes up. For now sharing this is great. I'll keep the page updated.

        • Hang in there, Busisiwe. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. Sent it to 35 people at work.

          • Lucky Nnamdi NwosuQuestionPhoto verified

            Is there a list of costs somewhere? Just curious how it adds up for Busisiwe

            • Sure. The biggest one is rent top-up, $520. The rest is in the list at the bottom of the post and I'll upload receipts as I pay each one. Let me know if you want more detail.

          • Take care. Shared this with my family. I went through something like this 6 years ago and strangers helped me out. Thinking of Pretoria

            • Hope it all works out. Shared this with my family. Thinking of Pretoria

              • how is Busisiwe doing now?

                • gave what I could, wish it was more. Wish I lived closer to Casablanca so I could bring a meal. God bless

                  • Nancy Sarah BakariPhoto verified

                    Sending good thoughts, Busisiwe. Your post was clear and honest. We lost years of savings to something like this so I get it

                    • Rooting for you, Busisiwe. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did.

                      • A secure home matters so much. Hope you're settled soon. I went through something like this 9 years ago and strangers helped me out

                        • Praying for you. A secure home matters so much. Hope you're settled soon. Blessings.

                          • Rooting for you. I hope things turn around soon. Love from Bogotá

                            • Wishing you peace, Busisiwe. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. After 7 years in hospitality I know how hard it is to ask for anything

                              • Gave what I could, wish it was more. Put this on a community board in Karachi this morning. God bless

                                • Stay strong, Busisiwe. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes

                                  • Best of luck, Busisiwe. Your post was clear and honest.

                                    • Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. My husband and I read this together. Thinking of Pretoria!

                                      • Stay strong, Busisiwe. It takes guts to ask. Well done. My cousin had a similar thing happen so this one hit home. All the best.

                                        • Praying for you, Busisiwe. I hope things turn around soon. We're a small family in San Antonio but we're thinking of you. Blessings.

                                          • Thinking of you and your family, Busisiwe. Rent stress is the worst. Hope this helps. I'll check back for the next update. God bless.

                                            • wishing you the best, Busisiwe. Hope this works out for you. Our whole street has been following this since the weekend

                                              • Sending good thoughts, Busisiwe. A secure home matters so much. Hope you're settled soon. I went through something like this 11 years ago and strangers helped me out. Thinking of Pretoria.

                                                • Thanks for sharing this, Busisiwe. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. Put this on a community board in Granada this morning. Take care.

                                                  • Keep going. Hope this works out for you. Wish I lived closer to Dhaka so I could bring a meal. Love from Columbus

                                                    • Praying for you, Busisiwe. Shared this with my family. After 22 years in teaching I know how hard it's to ask for anything. Love from Wollongong.

                                                      • praying for you, Busisiwe. Shared this with my family. Take care.

                                                        • Lidia Lidia FrolovVerified organizationPhoto verified

                                                          Take care, Busisiwe. I hope your landlord gives you a bit more time while this comes together. I told my book club about it and three of them are giving too. All the best

                                                          • Rent stress is the worst. Hope this helps. Greetings from Sydney.

                                                            • Wishing you the best. Hope this works out for you. My daughter saw me on my phone and now she wants to give her pocket money. Thinking of Pretoria.

                                                              • I hope things turn around soon. I'm in social work myself and wanted you to know we're cheering for you. Thinking of Pretoria

                                                                • Hope things get better soon, Busisiwe. Hope you get there. All the best.

                                                                  • Sending love, Busisiwe. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. Greetings from Kelowna

                                                                    • Wishing you the best, Busisiwe. This could happen to any of us. I'm in public service myself and wanted you to know we're cheering for you. All the best.

                                                                      $600.50 raised of $1,350

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