Help me get to Australia!

My name is Xolile Mabuza, and I am a 21-year-old poet from South Africa. I began writing and performing three years ago out of love for the written and spoken word.

Growing up, I was always quiet. I believed that my voice did not matter, which encouraged a fear in myself, in my voice. I could not trust my words. But then I started writing and performing poetry. I started speaking. I write about things I couldn't talk about: the pain, the lessons, and experiences that have brought me to where I am now. I'm healing myself through my work, and it has always been my dream to share my healing, my voice with the world.

This year I have been invited to take part in the Story-Fest2018 in Australia, a poetry festival. It is a dream come true. It is an opportunity to share my words with the world, trusting myself with them, growing in faith with them.

My accommodation and expenses throughout my stay in Australia will be covered by the Word Travel, and the only thing I need is funds for my flight ticket. So I would like to ask you to help me raise those funds, to make my dream of healing, sharing and building through poetry come true.