Help Lehlabile pursue her Master's degree [UPDATE]

ALTERNATIVE

1. Venmo: Lehlabile-Davhana

Reaching out to ask for help does not come easily to me, as those who know me can attest. I pride myself on being resourceful and resilient. And, I have also come to learn that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but of strength. As such, I have created this GoFundMe because I have a dream that I have worked hard to pursue and yet, find myself at a critical juncture in pursuing it. Hence, I am putting this out there.

My name is Lehlabile Davhana. I was raised in Alexandra Township, South Africa and attended African Leadership Academy, where I honed my love for theater. I went on to Trinity College in the U.S., and graduated with a BA in Theatre & Dance (honors) and Mathematics. In my senior year, I wrote and directed a play for my thesis about the South African youth protest movement #FeesMustFall , and I was awarded the Frank W. Whitlock Prize for outstanding achievement in playwriting.

Pursuing my passion for impactful storytelling and amplifying underrepresented voices is something close to my heart, and I wish to grow in that space. I was recently admitted to Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) for an MA in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Directing and Playwriting. A two year program, the total cost for this program per year is $51 026. I was awarded the Dean’s Fellowship Award worth $18, 513, and a Theatre Coordinator Assistantship worth $13, 500. However, this leaves me needing to cover $19 013 for the remaining cost of the upcoming academic year.

My undergraduate studies were funded by the Mastercard Foundation, without whose support I doubt I would have been able to attend Trinity College. I was raised by my sister after my mother passed on 12 years ago. Given the responsibilities she was faced with having to raise my brothers and I, scholarships were a much more feasible option for me to explore to further my education. Due to a complicated bureaucratic situation that landed me abruptly back in South Africa, I am currently unemployed. Thus, I am unable to cover a huge chunk of the outstanding fee. It is for this reason, I am appealing to your kindness.

Your contributions -- of what ever size you consider -- will afford me the opportunity to attend this incredible institution, and further advance my passion and commitment within the Theatre Space. I want to use these skills to empower young people, mostly in previously disadvantaged communities, of which I am a product of. As you consider assisting me, I can assure you that I will pay it forward in some way.

Thank you so much for your generosity.

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