Kindness Starts With One®

RAKtivist: Rishika

My name is Rishika Jeyaprakash. I am a kind fifth grader at Mason Intermediate. Kindness is important to me because it always puts a grin on someone’s face. At school if someone is sad, I try to put a smile on their face whether it means to get goofy or to get messy. Whenever I come across people who need help, especially children, it makes me want to give. Since a lot of my friends are like me, I thought I would start a group so that we could all spread kindness together. Thus “Little Helpers” was born on July 23rd, 2015.

Little Helpers is a volunteer team that inspires kids around us to help others too. We are a group of more than 30 kids who do volunteer activities every month. The inspiration starts right at home. My four-year-old sister and her friends get inspired by all our work so much that they start jumping up and down when we mention the name Little Helpers. We have donated $2,100 so far for the needy people around the world. My teammates always support me in any way they can. A couple of my friends and I have also donated our hair to kids who lost it during their medical treatments. 

Last month, on my 11th birthday, I launched “Say Cheese,” a program where we could donate toys year-round to the Cincinnati Children’s hospital. We started this off by donating 44 toys and we are working towards our goal of 1000 toys. To know more about us please visit https://www.facebook.com/littlehelpers2015/

I am also serving as the President of Mason Intermediate’s Kiwanis K-Kids Club, an international service organization which gives me more opportunities to spread the powerful magic of kindness.

For me, kindness starts with one contagious smile.