She thought about telling the social worker about the way she was treated. But through all her struggles she never forgot to pray, asking help from God.

Nompumelelo was a girl who was an orphan at an early age. Her father died of HIV/AIDS and her mother had died of cancer. But before her mother died she found Nompumelelo a social worker named Lulutho. Lulutho was a very kind person, who loved her job as social worker. Lulutho found a big, happy family for Nompumelelo to stay with.

When Nompumelelo arrived at the house with Lulutho, she was scared because she did not know what to expect and she had never met these people.

She was introduced to the lady, Andiswa, who was going to look after her and become her new mother. Andiswa had two children which were twin girls, Zandile and Zimasa, very cute but with naughty eyes.

Andiswa sat down with Nompumelelo and told her the house rules. The rules included that she was not allowed to bring in any boys in the house, she was not allowed to have a cellphone and her duty was to keep the house clean at all times. Nompumelelo was so afraid of her new mother.

Andiswa treated Nompumelelo differently from Zandile and Zimasa. She abused Nompumelelo emotionally by calling her names. The twins would laugh at Nompumelelo when their mother shouted at her. Nompumelelo would cry quietly because she didn’t want to be shouted at for crying. Her new family treated her like a slave. She did all the cleaning and made food for everyone, food that she was not even allowed to eat. Nompumelelo slept crying every night. She thought about telling the social worker about the way she was treated. But through all her struggles she never forgot to pray, asking help from God.

When Lulutho came to visit Andiswa, Andiswa would tell Nompumelelo to put on the only new clothes that Andiswa had bought her. Andiswa said that she must tell the social worker that she was happy living with them. Nompumelelo would pretend that she was happy when the social worker came to visit her.

But one day she couldn’t pretend anymore. She went to visit Lulutho by herself without Andiswa knowing.

She told Lulutho about how Andiswa was treating her but Lulutho did not believe her and asked Nompumelelo to bring evidence to prove what she was saying. Nompumelelo went back home and thought of a way to prove to the social worker that she was treated like a slave and was abused emotionally.

She made a video, which showed Andiswa shouting at Nompumelelo and telling her to clean the whole house. Lulutho then went to the police and Andiswa got arrested. Zandile and Zimasa ended up with a family member and had to cook and clean for them.

Nompumelelo found a new home with a loving family who sent her to school. When she finished school she promised that she would look after them.