The Power of Perseverance: A Story of HopeAs Nelson Mandela says succinctly yet eloquently: "Give a child love, laughter and peace, not AIDS". HIV/AIDS is one of the worst diseases a person can have; the enormous emotional toll it takes on the individual and their family members has lasting effects throughout their lives. In South Africa, “there are an estimated 7.52 million people living with HIV, with a fifth of women in South Africa of reproductive age [15 to 49 years] HIV positive, and total deaths are to 115,167 in 2018” (Maromo). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Looking at the 2015 statistics, “9 out of 10 poor people in South Africa (93%) were black” (Wilkinson). Faced with severe, damaging hardship, both physically and mentally, Mvelo has endured more than most others have endured in their entire lives. To demonstrate the extent of mental strength someone can possess and the endearing determination for life they can remain in the face of adversity, the character of Mvelo was introduced by Futhi Ntshingila as a symbol of hope and perseverance. As seen in Futhi's We Kiss Them With Rain, Mvelo is meant to represent the unstoppable force of unwavering perseverance battling against the immovable object of debilitating obstacles such as poverty, illness and psychological despair. In this ongoing battle between these forces, the end of the peaceful resolution gives an optimistic message that with the power of perseverance and hope, any obstacle in life, no matter how difficult, can be overcome. Mvelo was supposed to be the strongest character in We Kiss Them With Rain and it was Futhi Ntshingila's full intent to make this known. We are introduced to Mvelo as a young girl who has many parallel and mirror qualities to her mother Zola. Both have had to overcome numerous obstacles in their lives. Despite the similarities, Futhi Ntshingila intended Mvelo to be his unstoppable force. This is foreshadowed in “Chapter 2” when Futhi Ntshingila wrote: “She dreamed of being chased by a monster. She was terrified, until she remembered a flashlight in her pocket. He stopped and faced the creature, shining his light upon it. His actions were calm and deliberate. He told himself that he would enlighten the beast until he robbed it of its power. He was taken by surprise. Now she was no longer the prey. She was the hunter." Whatever Mvelo encountered, he had to prove that he could overcome any obstacle and continue living. She was supposed to be the light that continued to shine brightest, no matter how dark the world around her became. Throughout Mvelo's story, he learns that perseverance is the strongest and most resilient quality someone can have to overcome poverty and psychological despair. “Mvelo's downward spiral began” with his feeling of abandonment when Nonceba had to return to the United States upon hearing the news that his “grandmother had died of old age” (Ntshingila 98). As illustrated in “Chapter 8,” “Mvelo had adapted to living in the shacks,” which forced her to transcend feelings of abandonment (Ntshingila 83). In another tragedy, Mvelo faces the death of Sipho after losing his battle with HIV/AIDS. As Futhi Ntshingila put it, “at least he could look at Sipho as a father.” In what could be considered her most emotionally traumatic ordeal, Mvelo had to overcome the psychological despair resulting from her rape at the hands of Reverend Nhlengethwa. As Futhi Ntshingila described this terrifying event, "What happened next was like a bad dream for. 2018.