You can be whatever you want to be

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A local author and advocate, Ms Lucia Mundalamo, is living testimony that one can be successful in life, irrespective of one’s background.

From using newspaper and toilet paper as sanitary towels to going to bed hungry and dropping out of university because of financial constraints, she did not allow adversity to prevent her from becoming an advocate. "I had knocked on different doors to look for opportunities to get help, but some of them wanted sex in return. I turned down their offers and suffered big time. I survived what might have turned into rape. I thank God for the South African National Defence Force. It is through this department that my dream of becoming a lawyer was fulfilled. I managed to settle my outstanding balance and continued with my studies," Mundalamo explained.

In her recently published motivational book, It is part of your story, this village girl unpacks her scars in order to help the readers heal their wounds. "Challenges are part of your story. They shape you and position you. You have to go through them in order to achieve your dreams," she said. "This book will arm you with the strategies to conquer the world. Did your dream die a premature death? Is your dream dying? This book carries all the dead dreams’ resurrection tools as well as resuscitating tools for all the dying dreams. I am a testimony that you can be whatever you want to be."

The 35-year-old from Mulodi village said she had seen people give up on their dreams, commit suicide and allow challenges to knock them down. "I had witnessed people's dreams dying prematurely due to the lack of the necessary protection required for such dreams. Based on my personal experience and everyday observations, I learnt that our lives are like a novel. Whatever happens to us is part of our story, and so are the challenges."

Whether we like it or not, challenges will come with or without our permission, she said. "Challenges hit us and leave us wounded. Many people are wounded and still battling to heal their wounds; as a result, the pain and hurt that come with the wounds make them give up. I therefore feel obliged and compelled to show my scars in order to help them deal with their wounds. If I am to give one of my experiences, I am that village girl who personally experienced poverty. I dropped out of university but still became what I have always wanted to be, an advocate. I feel as if I owe it to the world as to tell how I did not allow my dream to die during these challenges."

The mother of twins explained that it took her seven years to complete this book. The book was published by Ako El Echad Publishers. R20 from each book sold will contribute to making a difference in the lives of the disadvantaged. For book purchases, she can be reached on 071 429 9236.

By: Mbulaheni Ridovhona

The 22-year-old Mbulaheni (Gary) Ridovhona has been passionate about journalism to the extent that he would buy himself a copy of weekly Univen students' newsletter, Our Voice. After reading, he would write stories about his rural village, Mamvuka, and submit them to the very newsletter for publication. His deep-rooted love for words and writing saw him register for a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies at the University of Venda, and joined the Limpopo Mirror team in February 2016 as a journalism intern.