Cynthia

From a young age, Cynthia discovered the challenges of being different and embracing one’s uniqueness. Cynthia, a 32-year-old South African, was born deaf and non-verbal and endured many forms of bullying throughout her life. Throughout her adult years, she held onto a personal dream of becoming a mother - despite encountering strong disapproval from her immediate family and community. A few years ago her dream became true with the birth of her daughter. Cynthia chose the name Buhle for her little girl, which, in Xhosa, translates to Beautiful. It is Cynthia’s legacy and dream for her daughter that she will always remember her own beauty, even when faced with challenging situations or judgmental people.