The Chaeli Campaign was founded on 6 August 2004 by five girls between the ages of 6 and 12. Chaeli Mycroft, her sister (Erin) and lifelong friends, the Terry sisters (Tarryn, Justine and Chelsea) started The Chaeli Campaign to raise R20 000 for Chaeli’s motorised wheelchair. They managed to do this in 7 weeks by selling cards with Erin & Chaeli’s artwork on them and Sunshine Pots (DIY miniature pot plants).
Although Chaeli is the face of The Chaeli Campaign the spirit on which this organisation is based is the teamwork that exists amongst the five founding members.
Our Vision is to mobilise the minds and bodies of children with disabilities and to normalise society through advocacy and education programmes and events.
The Objectives of The Chaeli Campaign are to:
Promote and provide the mobility and educational needs of disabled children under the age of eighteen years, throughout South Africa; Use its facilities and resources to assist the disabled community in any way it sees fit; Work in collaboration with other organisations for the advancement of the disabled community; Act as a facilitator to other centres / organisations / communities in Africa. The Chaeli Campaign aims to change the life of one disabled child at a time in a significant way.
Achievements
The Chaeli Campaign is the only NPO in South Africa (as far as we know) founded by children who are active members of the Management Committee;
Chaeli Mycroft is the youngest ever finalist in the Shoprite Checkers / SABC 2 Woman of the Year Award (10 years old in 2005);
May 2007 – The Chaeli Campaign was awarded the Proudly South African Nation-Builder of the Year Award at the Proudly South African Home-Grown Awards Ceremony;
March 2009 – Winner of the 2009 SASE (SA Social Entrepreneurship) Awards – Youth category
April 2009 – Mayor’s Medal for Community Affairs and Service.
November 2011 – Chaeli awarded the International Childrens Peace Prize.
April 2012 – Chaeli receives Medal for Social Activism at the Nobel laureate Peace Summit.
http://chaelicampaign.co.za/