Desire to help sees student write book about refugees
DETERMINED: Nicole Mampuya published her book on the plight of refugees in South Africa
Monday, 29 September 2014
In between her studies, brushing up on English and getting to grips with life in a foreign country, Biomedical Sciences student Nicole Mampuya has also been writing a book.
For two years Nicole has been capturing the stories of refugees from across the African continent and recently published her work in the form of an E-book on Amazon.
The 23-year-old says a desire to help alleviate the plight of refugees is what motivated her to embark on the book entitled ‘Black Shades of Tears and Hope’.
Tapping into her own network of friends from across the continent she spent every spare moment collating the stories of refugees who travelled to South Africa in search of a better life.
“It was really challenging getting people to trust me. They would allow me to interview them then a few hours later tell me to delete their stories,” says Nicole.
Using pseudonyms and working for months to gain her subject's trust Nicole eventually managed to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the terror of war crimes, rape and the hope for a better life that drive thousands to South Africa.
Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and a native French speaker, Nicole had the challenge of writing the book in her third language- English but says her pastor’s motivation kept her going.
“He was the one who mentored and encouraged me. I am going to translate it into French soon so that my family can read it too,” she says.
Black Shades of Tears and Hope is available for purchase for less than R100 on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=node%3D154606011&field-keywords=Black+Shades+of+Tears+and+Hope&rh=n%3A154606011%2Ck%3ABlack+Shades+of+Tears+and+Hope
Written by Lauren Kansley
Tel: +27 21 953 8646
Email: kansleyl@cput.ac.za
Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.
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