HANKEY,Eastern Cape – For one young boy from Hankey, the thought of missing his matric dance because his family could not afford a suit was something he had already accepted.

He had achieved excellent results but knew there was little his family could do to help him attend the milestone event.

The boy told Ziyanda “Lady Zee” Kilimani, founder of A Dream Come True MD by Lady Zee, that he knew his mother, had she still been alive, would have found a way to make sure he attended.

Although he said it with a smile, Kilimani could see the disappointment behind it.

“He said it with a smile, but I could see the pain in his eyes. That night I couldn’t sleep. I thought, how many children are hiding their disappointment like that?” Kilimani said. “That’s when I said, I need to do something, no matter how small.”

From one act of kindness to nine learners

What started as a small act of kindness in 2024 has since grown into an initiative that has helped nine matriculants from across the Kouga between 2024 and 2026.

The initiative assists learners who have worked hard to reach the end of their school careers, but whose families cannot afford the costs associated with attending a matric dance.

For Kilimani, the initiative is about much more than providing a dress or a suit. She believes it gives young people from disadvantaged backgrounds a sense of dignity, confidence and belonging at a milestone that their peers are also experiencing.

One learner who was assisted in 2025, remains particularly memorable to Kilimani. The girl came from a child-headed home and lived with family members who depended on pensions, and she had never owned a new dress.

After being selected, the learner was dressed for her matric dance, with her hair and make-up also taken care of. “When we dressed her, did her hair and make-up, and showed her the photos, she just cried quietly and said, ‘I feel like a princess today,’” Kilimani recalled.

The learner went on to pass matric well and is now studying. For Kilimani, her reaction demonstrated why the initiative extends beyond providing clothing for one evening.

“That moment reminds me that we are not just giving clothes; we are giving dignity,” she said.

Giving young people a sense of belonging

The reactions from learners and their families have also stayed with Kilimani. Parents have called to thank her for taking a financial burden off their shoulders, while one mother hugged her for a long time after fearing that her son would be left out of his matric dance.

Another moment involved an unemployed father who arrived with a small packet of sweets to thank her for helping his child. “He said, ‘This is all I have, but thank you for making my child equal.’ I will never forget that,” Kilimani said.

For learners from disadvantaged backgrounds, Kilimani believes being able to walk into a matric dance feeling confident is about more than having an outfit that looks good.

“It means everything. For these learners, it’s not about showing off. It’s about belonging,” she said. “When you come from a poor background, you often feel less than others. When we dress them and prepare them, they walk in with their heads high.

They feel seen, equal, and proud,” she said, adding that this confidence can extend beyond the dance and into the examination room and later life.

There is also a deeper meaning behind the initiative’s name. “The dance is just one night, but the confidence we give them carries them into their future. So A Dream Come True MD means My Dream has come true,” she said.

Protecting dignity while celebrating milestones

Learners are referred to the initiative by schools, parents, community members or through self-referrals.

Their circumstances are then verified, with the initiative focusing on learners from disadvantaged backgrounds, child-headed homes and families who are unemployed or unable to afford matric dance expenses.

Kilimani said she meets the learner and family before a decision is made, with each case treated confidentially. “We never expose a child’s poverty; we celebrate their milestone,” she said.

She also wants learners who may be too proud or embarrassed to ask for assistance to know that seeking help is not something to be ashamed of.

Having experienced what it means to have dreams without the means to achieve them herself, Kilimani said she understands why some young people may hesitate to ask.

“My child, asking for help is not shameful; it is brave. We all need Ubuntu at some point. I was once a young girl with dreams but no means,” she said.

“Don’t let pride steal your memory. Your matric dance is a once-in-a-lifetime moment, and you deserve to experience it.”

Support helps dreams become reality

The initiative has been supported by Intle Boutique Lodge, Thornhill Hotel, Bulela Foundation, uMfazi WomXhosa and Vuka Mavusi Company. Kilimani said the support from these organisations has shown her the impact that can be made when businesses and community members choose to invest in young people.

“What makes me proudest is that we started with nothing, no funding, just a heart and a WhatsApp status, and today we have helped nine learners,” she said. Kilimani now hopes to expand the initiative beyond Kouga and reach more matriculants who may otherwise miss the opportunity to celebrate this milestone.

Support can include sponsoring a dress or suit, transport, make-up, shoes or photography. For Kilimani, however, the ultimate goal is that the learners remember more than what they wore on the night. “I am proudest that these nine children will never forget that their community stood for them,” she concluded.

For more information about her initiative, contact Kilimani at 067 986 1738 or email at kilimaniziyanda@gmail.com.

ALSO READ: Dress It Forward initiative makes matric farewell dreams come true