MAKONDE - At the tender age of 19, Virginia Nemavhola has written a Venda novel, but her dreams could be turned into a nightmare if a good samaritan does not come to her rescue.

A Grade 10 learner at Silemale Secondary School, Virginia does not have money to publish her book, because of her poor financial background. Her novel, Wa ngoho ndi nnyi? (Who is the truthful one?), is still handwritten in an exercise book, because she cannot afford the money for typing and proofreading and publishing.

Virginia told Mirror: “I need someone who can assist me with typing costs, proof reading and publishing. Many people have told me that it is not easy to have a book published, but I strongly believe that someone will assist me in having my book published. I have knowledge that I would like to pass to other community members through my writing skills and I will never allow my poor financial background to stand in my way. It is my dream that my book will be prescribed one day and I need someone who can assist me to realize that dream.”

Virginia said her love for writing started way back in 1998. “I used to write short stories and my friends were impressed with my ability. I then took it seriously until the birth of my first novel, Wa ngoho ndi nnyi. I decided to write a novel because I have a lot of experience that I would like to share with the community and I felt that I would not be able to express myself fully in a short story.”

The book is about Lindelani, a male adult who could not get someone to marry. He tried his luck with different ladies, but with no success. He also organized three weddings in succession with different women but they disappointed him by pulling out at the eleventh hour. He ended up consulting a sangoma, who told him that he would get the right lover within a month. At the same time, he also went to church where he asked the priest to pray for him so that he could find someone to start a family with.

He ended up meeting the love of his life, who agreed to marry him and start a family, but in the end he was not sure whether he had been assisted by the powers of the sangoma or by the prayers of the pastor.

“The moral of the story is that everything comes to an end. The main character in the novel was hopeless and thought he would never get someone to love. But his dream of having a good family was realized when he married someone who was prepared to give him love,” said Virginia.

She also encouraged other youths to utilize their talents to the benefit of their communities.

“It is important to use our skills while we are still young because that could be the foundation of our future. Mine is an inborn talent but my success is coupled with hard work, determination and a positive attitude. I also want to prove the fact that success does not depend on whether one comes from a disadvantaged rural area like me, but it depends on one’s ability to use the available limited resources profitably.

Despite running short of the finances to publish the book, Virginia has started writing her second novel, which she hopes to finish in December.

For those who would like to assist her, Virginia can be contacted at 072 721 1464 or 072 351 0164.