Granny Virginia Tshivhase was born and grew up in severe poverty, but this did not deter her from living a fulfilled life. She turned her experiences, pain and suffering into a charitable path of good deeds.
Passion and generosity, brewed over four decades, were compounded by the establishing of the Leaders of Society Foundation NPC as a vehicle to achieve her dreams.
The foundation focuses on changing people's lives through charitable deeds by aiding differently abled persons, providing educational support, alleviating poverty through job creation, providing girl- and boy-child hygiene programmes, as well as environmental sustainability programs.
To commemorate the chairperson's 70th birthday, the foundation organised a charity launch, in collaboration with the Tshivhase Dynasty, led by Mailausumbwa Kennedy Tshivhase, the Ngovhela Traditional Authority, bikers, civic association, religious sector and the community in general.
The event, themed "Charity Begins at Home", was held at Tshivhase's home at Ngovhela, and graced by Dr Tshifhiwa Muligwe of the Rhema Kingdom Life church, Lesedi FM's Phinel Sefatsa and many other esteemed guests.
Charity activities that took place on this day, included the painting of Mamali Sikhwivhilu Primary School, food-parcel handouts to 100 beneficiaries and sanitary products given to 100 disadvantaged girls. The outstanding teachers at Mamali Sikhwivhilu Primary School were also rewarded for the good job they are doing. Tshilidzini Special School's kitchen staff received full uniforms and awards, and two wheelchairs were also handed to differently abled persons.
The highlight was when Granny Tshivhase was handed a brand new car to run her charitable errands.
In his inaugural lecture, Vhamusanda Vho-Dumbumazikule Ndivhuwo Tshivhase of the Leaders of Society Foundation said that the foundation was to capitalize on research-based solutions to socio-economic challenges faced by society. He pointed out that hunger and poverty knew no boundaries and as such the scope of the foundation to improve people's lives and making changes was not limited or restricted by boundaries.
Granny Tshivhase reflected on her life journey of poverty, hunger and inequality, which resulted in her illiteracy. Her story is a testimony of a path from poverty. "I know what sleeping on an empty stomach is. Sleeping with the goats, chickens and food, all in the same house. I do not want others to go through what I experienced," she said.