Shaunya Kumar is a sophomore at Shakopee High School in MN, and hopes to study and work in international human rights. I met her through the Indian Philanthropy Alliance network and her passion for philanthrophy was evident when she spoke about the non profit she started.

Where did the inspiration come from to start your own non profit?

I love working with people, which is why the world of philanthropy has opened so many doors for me. After participating in India Philanthropy Alliance's essay contest last year, and then having the incredible opportunity to meet big-shot philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and givers in Palo Alto, I realized I could implement my dream of founding and leading a non-profit today. I started expanding my network and connecting with professionals in the philanthropy field. I'm an intern and volunteer at India Philanthropy Alliance, Dalit Solidarity, and India Association of Minnesota. Staff and board members at all of these nonprofits have supported me in initiating this library project, whether by mentoring me in building a website, sponsoring my first pilot projects, or connecting me with donors. I am so grateful for the people I've met and am excited to continue working with them!

How did this idea of a library first come up?

Saying that reading has changed my life is an understatement- my novels and stories provide me safe haven constantly and inspire me to be resilient every day. I discovered my first role models and ambitions through reading, and without them, I would not be where I am today. I believe every kid should be able to explore and meet their literary role models, discover their fantastical sanctuaries, and find representation through reading. 

I moved to America when I was 8 with my family, and have since visited other family members in India several times- I've seen the disparity and undervaluation of literary resources firsthand. Today, the average philanthropic book donation in India (already rare in rural regions) relocates curriculum textbooks or test prep workbooks to underfunded government schools. Obviously, this can leave substantial impacts on students who gain access to materials necessary for performing well in academics. However, reading should go beyond just studying. Reading should be a cherished activity, and everyone should have the opportunity to read memorable things. Diverse literature is essential for supporting diverse minds and dreams.

So, the vision I've held within me for years now was to build libraries that showcase a myriad of diverse genres: from pop magazines to action mystery novels, from coming-of-age stories to comic books and science encyclopedias, from narratives on overcoming sexual violence to resources on improving public speaking, etc. Furthermore, I hope that these libraries contain inclusive reading materials for all abilities- from digitalized audiobooks in local languages to accommodated books (like in Braille). Now that I've started Rural Literacy Empowerment, my mission can be more than possible- to ensure every child has access to such a library where they find literature that resonates with their interests, experiences, and dreams. 

Tell us more about what has been done so far

 The first steps required a lot of patience. As I'm a high schooler in America with little to no connections with rural government schools in India, and no means to actually build libraries physically (as I'm not in India to supervise the allocation of money and facilitate the construction), I couldn't do RLE without substantial help. Luckily, Benjamin Chinnappan, the executive director at Dalit Solidarity, a 501(c)(3) in California focused on uplifting marginalized communities, agreed to sponsor my first two pilot schools. We met with the local volunteers virtually, conducted workshops with the students, and discussed with staff members what they wanted from the potential library. After this needs-based-assessment, Dalit Solidarity helped me purchase and allocate books and set up furniture and technology infrastructure (like computers, a TV, internet access, and speakers) in these two pilot schools. 

At the same time, I was constantly cold-emailing other established non-profits for collaboration. When director Girish Ramachandra from Right to Live Foundation agreed to sponsor my initiative, I was ecstatic. I began building Rural Literacy Empowerment's domain and website, applying for grants, creating a crowdfunding page, and researching critical empowerment novels, magazines, and how to maximize our impact. Right to Live Foundation has helped me identify our next three pilot schools, and we're excited to work with the students and teachers there. 

If you were to change one thing about the future what would that be?

 I envision a digital leap of Rural Literacy Empowerment in the future, with a dedicated e-book platform, developed with our partners. This would include producing audio versions of books to cater to those with visual impairments or those who prefer auditory learning. I also want to eventually begin a Community Civic Empowerment Program via RLE to elevate local civic awareness and encourage political participation among rural communities in India. RLE has the potential to provide comprehensive education on democratic processes, rights, and responsibilities to students and their families. Promoting civic education is essential to increasing political participation among rural communities, ultimately empowering the democratic fabric of their communities. However, before RLE attempts any of these, I need to establish a dependable donor pool. I've started building a social media presence and hope to gain a wide follower base on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. If you are interested in donating, please donate here or reach out to RLE!

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