How a new pair of glasses changed Xiniah Lewin’s life and dance dream

Help nine year old Xiniah Lewin reach her dream of competing in a prestigious international competition in New York City next year by donating to her Backabuddy fundraising campaign. For nine-year-old Mitchells Plain tween Xiniah Lewin, the world was once a frustrating blur. Today, it is a stage.

In a story of remarkable resilience, the young hip-hop dancer has been selected to represent her country at a prestigious international competition in New York City next year – a feat she achieved just six months after joining a new dance school. However, the road to the Big Apple has been anything but smooth. For years, Xiniah’s mother, a dedicated single parent, watched her daughter struggle.

Despite being a bright and energetic child, Xiniah began to fall behind in her schoolwork. The confidence that usually radiated from her started to dim as she became the target of playground teasing. Her mom Chantel said: “It broke my heart to see her confidence fade.

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She was being picked on, and we couldn’t understand why this bright child wasn’t performing well.” The day Xiniah received her glasses, her world shifted. “Suddenly, the world came into focus, and so did her dreams,” said her mother.

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