Philani is a homeless man in his mid-twenties in Johannesburg, South Africa. Many people in his situation simply stand at corners begging. And that can sometimes meet basic needs…but it certainly doesn’t set a person apart or motivate people walking or driving by to donate.
But Philani does it differently. Every day he takes his ever-changing library to a different corner and sets up a sort of impromptu literary discussion group and bookshop.
For anyone interested, he will review his books…which he has read all of…and then you can buy one from him. In this way, he raises money for himself and his homeless friends as well as spreading happiness. He says…
Reading is not harmful. There’s no such thing as harmful knowledge. This thing is only going to make you a better person.
And if he has a kids book you’re interested in, it’s free, so that you can give it to a child. Because…
They can still take this reading thing and turn it into their habit, their life-long habit.