Disability Rights South Africa Project #69176

The Gift of Sound

by Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss in Southern Africa

Project Report | Oct 6, 2026
The Gift of Sound: A Child Still Waiting to Hear

By Erika Basson | Project Leader & Organisation Manager

Dehan Joubert is excited to receive his device

The Gift of Sound project exists to give children living with profound hearing loss the opportunity to access sound, communication, education, and a more independent future. Through this project, we identify children who could benefit from cochlear implants and other hearing interventions and work to secure the funding required to give them this life-changing opportunity.

We are deeply grateful to our donors, supporters, and partners who have made it possible for us to help so many children this year. For many of our beneficiaries, we submit applications across different platforms and approach numerous potential donors and funding partners. This ongoing fundraising effort, together with the generosity of those who support our work, has allowed us to assist children who would otherwise have had very limited access to hearing care.

However, one child is still waiting.

10-year-old Minenhle ("Minnie") Mahlangu from Embalenhle, Mpumalanga South Africa, remains our identified beneficiary for the Gift of Sound campaign on GlobalGiving. Minnie was born with an underdeveloped cochlea and has lived with severe hearing loss since birth. She communicates primarily through sign language and has very limited access to sound despite the use of hearing aids.

Our goal is to raise the funding required for her cochlear implant, surgery, hospital care, specialist support, and rehabilitation. Unfortunately, despite our previous appeals, the GlobalGiving campaign has received only US$81 to date, leaving US$21,153 still needed before we can proceed with helping Minnie.

This means that Minnie is still waiting for her gift of hearing.

We cannot move forward with her treatment without the necessary funding. While we continue to receive applications from other children in need and actively seek support for them through different funding opportunities, Minnie's project remains dependent on donations made specifically through her GlobalGiving campaign.

This is our heartfelt plea to the GlobalGiving community and to everyone who believes that every child deserves the opportunity to hear: please consider supporting Minnie with a donation, sharing her campaign, or telling someone who may be able to help. Every contribution, no matter the amount, brings her closer to the treatment she desperately needs.

Minnie has already waited long enough. She deserves the opportunity to experience sound, to communicate more freely, to learn, and to participate more fully in the world around her.

We do not want to fail her. But without further support, we may eventually have to consider taking her case to other platforms and seeking assistance elsewhere. Our hope, however, is that the GlobalGiving community will come together and help us reach the finish line for Minnie.

There are many children waiting for the Gift of Sound. Minnie is one of them, and right now, she needs us to stand with her.

We remain committed to this project and to our broader work of helping children with hearing loss access the interventions they need. With the support of donors around the world, we can continue turning applications into opportunities, and opportunities into life-changing moments.

For Minnie, that moment is still waiting to happen.

Please help us give Minnie her gift of hearing.

Also fundraising for Kgotso's Gift of Hearing

Orion's Cochlear Implant Switch-on

Qiana receives her hearing device

Quinton hears first sounds

Kganya responding to sound

Bontle will be switched on next week

Leah show us her Cochlear Implant

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Jun 19, 2026
The Gift of Sound: Every donation brings us closer

By Erika Basson | Project Leader

Emily-Grace Jelley can finally hear!

Minenhle Mahlangu, awaiting her chance to hear the world

We would like to thank every donor, supporter, and advocate who has helped keep the Gift of Sound project moving forward. Your generosity continues to bring hope to children living with profound hearing loss and to families who dream of a future filled with communication, learning, and connection.

While we have not yet reached the full funding goal needed to provide a cochlear implant for our first identified beneficiary, 10-year-old Minenhle ("Minnie") Mahlangu from Embalenhle, Mpumalanga, we are making steady progress. Every donation received brings us one step closer to changing her life forever.

Minnie was born with an underdeveloped cochlea and has lived with severe hearing loss since birth. Despite her determination, the support of her family, and the use of hearing aids, she has limited access to sound and relies primarily on sign language to communicate. A cochlear implant would give her the opportunity to experience sound in a way she never has before, opening doors to greater independence, communication, education, and social interaction.

The journey toward a cochlear implant is significant. Beyond the device itself, funding is needed for surgery, hospital costs, specialist care, rehabilitation, and ongoing therapy. For families without medical aid or access to private healthcare, these costs place the procedure far beyond reach. This is why projects like Gift of Sound are so important.

Although Minnie remains our primary beneficiary, the need continues to grow. We receive regular referrals of children who could benefit from cochlear implantation and hearing interventions, reminding us that there are many young lives waiting for the same opportunity.

We invite you to share Minnie's story with your friends, family, colleagues, and networks. Whether through a donation, social media post, or word of encouragement, every action helps raise awareness and moves us closer to our goal.

We remain committed to seeing this journey through and ensuring that Minnie receives the cochlear implant she needs. We believe that, together, we can make the moment she hears sound for the first time a reality.

Thank you for standing with us and for believing that every child deserves the opportunity to hear, communicate, and thrive.

Together, we are creating a future filled with possibility—one sound at a time.

Kiara Kempen received her gift thanks to donations

Leah received a second implant thanks to donations

Zuan finally received his 2nd implant

Kgotso still waiting for donations

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Mar 9, 2026
Continuing the Journey to Bring the Gift of Sound

By Erika Basson | Project Leader & Organization Manager

Kgotso Simelane,another beneficiary awaiting funds

Since launching the Gift of Sound project, we have continued working steadily toward our goal of helping a child in need receive a life-changing cochlear implant. Although we have not yet raised the full amount required to fund the entire procedure for a child without medical aid, the project remains active and continues to gain awareness and support. We remain hopeful that this goal will be achieved.

In the meantime, we have been able to assist several other children who have partial medical aid support, thanks to additional donations coming in. We cannot keep these children waiting, and every contribution helps us extend support to as many children as possible.

Fundraising efforts continue through multiple channels, including community engagement, donor outreach, and partnerships with individuals and organizations who share our vision of giving deaf children the opportunity to hear. Every contribution received toward this goal brings us closer to success and keeps this vital initiative moving forward.

Our first identified beneficiary for this project, 10-year-old Minenhle (“Minnie”) Mahlangu from Embalenhle, Mpumalanga, remains our priority. Minnie was born with an underdeveloped cochlea and has lived with profound hearing loss since birth. While she currently uses hearing aids and communicates primarily through sign language, a cochlear implant would give her access to sound and significantly expand her opportunities for communication, learning, and social connection.

The total cost of a cochlear implant includes the device itself, the surgical procedure, hospital costs, and the critical rehabilitation and therapy that follow implantation. As Minnie’s family does not have medical aid and cannot access private healthcare, fundraising support is essential to make this procedure possible.

While the funding journey takes time, we remain committed to this mission and continue working to secure the resources needed for Minnie’s implant surgery. We are maintaining contact with her family and monitoring her progress so that we are ready to proceed as soon as sufficient funds become available.

We are deeply grateful to every donor, supporter, and advocate who has helped share this project and contributed toward the Gift of Sound. Your generosity keeps hope alive not only for Minnie, but also for many other children who are still waiting for the opportunity to hear.

With continued support and awareness, we believe the day will come when Minnie experiences sound for the very first time - a moment that will truly represent the Gift of Sound.

Also raising funds for Kiara Kempen's hearing

Orion needs funding for his evaluation

Charl hearing his first sounds

We finally raised enough for Emily-Grace's hearing

Also raising funds for Jody's hearing

Regoratile hearing his first sounds

Thoriso hearing his first sounds

Tristan hearing first sounds through his device

Unathi shows her device

Still busy with fundraising on Global Giving

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