In Oudtshoorn, a small town in South Africa’s Western Cape, 36-year-old singer Genevieve Maya is bringing music to her community. With no local music school, she started a free, non-profit drumming program, giving children and adults the chance to explore rhythm, confidence, and creativity.
She first got the idea after moving from Cape Town in 2017 with her husband.
“Music has always been part of my life — I’m a singer, my husband plays multiple instruments, and both our fathers were musicians too,” she says. “Our town didn’t have a music school, so we decided to start one.”
The early days were tough. Donated drum kits arrived in poor condition — cracked drum skins, too few drumsticks, and missing parts. “It was heartbreaking when someone had to just watch instead of play,” Genevieve says.
Looking for a solution, she turned to Temu, an online platform she had used for personal shopping, and discovered affordable drumsticks, covers, and replacement skins. “Quality covers and drum accessories in our town are very expensive, so it was far more affordable to get them from Temu,” she says.
A recent survey found that 46% of South African shoppers save more than half their budget by using Temu, making it a popular choice for local creatives like her.
With fresh drumsticks and repaired instruments, the class finally came alive.
“Nobody was left out. The whole class lit up that day,” Genevieve says.
Today, her sessions bring together 26 learners, 22 children and four adults — for short, focused lessons that blend rhythm and teamwork. Parents say their children come home calmer, more confident, and more eager to learn.
“There were kids who didn’t even know they possessed musical talent,” Genevieve says. “This program helped them discover it.”
The class has also become a place where diversity thrives, uniting kids from different backgrounds through the shared language of music. And with the help of affordable supplies from Temu, Genevieve hopes to expand and find a permanent home for the program and inspiring even more young musicians.
“Temu has already helped us in small but important ways — giving us access to quality materials we couldn’t otherwise afford,” she says. “That’s what keeps us going.”
