Redmond High School student inspiring change through the power of books

Sometimes the greatest impact begins with a simple idea. For Arjun Nair, a freshman from Redmond High School (RHS), that idea was to bring the joy of reading to children who need it the most. With a passion for reading and a desire to make a difference, Arjun started a remarkable book drive, where he collected approximately 3,400 books to benefit refugee and immigrant children in the Seattle area.

These books will be donated to Grassroots Projects, a nonprofit organization who is committed to helping underserved children with access to books that can open doors to new worlds, ideas and opportunities.

What makes this effort even more impactful is the collaboration with elementary students from Mann Elementary. Fourth and fifth graders involved in the Horace Mann Reading Advisory partnered with Arjun, helping to promote the drive and assist in sorting the donated books by grade level ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade. Their participation not only made the distribution efficient, but it also fostered a sense of community and shared purpose among the young learners.

 “As someone who enjoys reading,” said Arjun, “I can acknowledge that books are crucial to learn and understand the world around you. I want every kid to enjoy themselves by reading, which would also provide the opportunity to grow and thrive.”

He continued, “I am passionate about helping people, and this experience showed me the impact I can have on creating an inclusive and equitable community for children, regardless of where they are from.”

The book drive also included involvement with Mann’s librarian, Shannon Leonard. She highlighted the importance of culturally diverse books, including those in different languages; such as Chinese, Russian, Japanese, French and Spanish. She explained these books reflect themes of perseverance, kindness and courage – values that resonate with children, and where they can see themselves and others in stories that celebrate diversity.

 “This experience and the stories Arjun shared helps provide a gateway to discussing refugees and immigration with our students in meaningful ways,” said Leonard. “As advisor of the Reading Advisory, we are always looking for opportunities to help develop empathy and promote the joy of reading. The entire Mann community demonstrated great generosity as we were successful in collecting over 3,400 books that will help families during their transition and foster a sense of belonging for many children served by Grassroots Projects.”

Arjun’s story is a testament to how one individual’s passion, combined with a supportive community, can create waves of positive change. His book drive not only supplies children with reading materials, but it also builds bridges of understanding, empathy and hope. Arjun’s initiative reminds all of us that even small acts can make a huge, meaningful difference.