Changing the world – one child at a time

Vincent Tshisevhe is a 22-year-old journalist and editor from Thohoyandou in Limpopo who believes that getting back to basics is what will make the difference in South Africa – starting with young people.

Tshisevhe has launched a reading programme in his hometown after receiving some 1400 books from Rotary Books and has started distributing them to the local schools. “A while back I realised how society, slowly but surely, has started neglecting the importance of reading. Having taken up the call made by the values based organisation Heartlines to bring about change by living out my positive values, I decided that I wanted to contribute through a reading programme.”

A call to Rotary Books provided the books, which are couriered to him by Postnet, and at least once a week he visits a school and hands out the books to the children. “I am very passionate about making a difference in someone’s life and I constantly feel that I should share the little benefits that I have with people who are less fortunate than myself. Giving is who I am naturally and I am blessed and honoured to be making a difference – even if it is a small one,” he says.

Heartlines Chairman, Dr Zolile Mlisana, commended Tshisevhe saying this was what the organisation intended when they called on South Africans to Random Acts of kindness during the screening of the mini-series Hopeville on SABC 2 earlier this year.

Heartlines Director, and social change expert Dr Garth Japhet explained that in order to build the society South Africa wants to be, rebuilding healthy relationships at every level of society is key. “And the building blocks for healthy relationships are good values lived out every day.”

For Tshisevhe it is all about sharing what he has with those around him. “I don’t expect anything back. I know though that if we help our children to read, we help them secure their future.”