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Cinderella's resilience, growth, and transformation.
A Cinderella Story
At just 23, Cinderella Mazwi from Cowdray Park, Bulawayo, is proving that living with Down syndrome is not a limitation but a path to resilience and purpose.
“I used to feel like I was not good enough,” she recalls. “At school, I was laughed at. Some parents acted like my disability was contagious—like their children needed to be kept away from me, as if I was some kind of threat.”
The rejection forced her out of school, and with limited resources, her mother could not afford special education. Still, Cinderella found joy in beauty. “I used to watch my sister put on makeup. I would help shampoo her hair, and that made me happy,” she says.
Her mother believed she had talent in hairdressing, but fear of discrimination held them back—until April 2025, when they discovered Young Africa’s Skills for Youth Resilience Programme.
Cinderella enrolled in the cosmetology course on April 8th. Nervous at first, she expected ridicule, but instead found kindness and support. “They didn’t laugh at me,” she says, still surprised. “They helped me.”
Attending classes daily with her mother, she works hard and proudly notes, “Yes, my mother helps me, but sometimes I help her too. If she misses something, I remind her. I may be slow, but I understand.”
Her commitment has impressed trainers. “She is resilient and committed to the training,” a staff member shared. Her trainer adds: “She’s a strong young person with a dream who is not willing to give up. She’s even taught me patience and care. She’s a wonderful young woman.”
Now in her fourth month, Cinderella has transformed from a shy, withdrawn girl into a confident, determined young woman. “Now I do my mother’s makeup. I do mine too. When we go to town, I can choose the right cosmetics, and I feel proud,” she says.
Her dream is to open her own beauty salon in Bulawayo, equipped to serve all clients. “Don’t be afraid,” she advises other young people with disabilities. “You can do anything. And to the parents—believe in your children, like my mother believed in me.”
From rejection to resilience, Cinderella’s story shows that with the right support, belief, and opportunity, no dream is too far out of reach.
How You Can Help
Empower Youth with SERVE’s Skills for Youth Resilience Programme
Set Up a Monthly Donation: A recurring donation helps SERVE continue to support programmes like this one.
