REACH club aims to buy books for Indian students
November 10, 2009
By Christopher Huber
By Christopher Huber
Tosh Aslamy and Adi Kurian, both Eastlake seniors, like to sit in a group and talk about controversial issues after school.
They both also have a deep-seated desire to help less fortunate students abroad do the same thing.
Aslamy and Kurian each say they understand how fortunate they are to come from well-off families and live in a place like Sammamish. They say they also understand the value of education and giving.
So, the two combined those ideas in fall of 2008 to form the Representing and Educating Across Continents from Home (REACH) club.
“We both feel, like, connected to other people around the world because of our cultures,” said Aslamy, whose father comes from Afghanistan. Kurian is of Indian decent and moved to Sammamish from England three years ago.
The club’s goal is to gather students in a café-style atmosphere to have intellectual conversations and debates about issues in politics, culture, movies, music, literature and the arts, Aslamy said.
The group eventually developed a second purpose: to buy books for poor students in places like Bombay, India.
They meet Wednesdays at 12:40 p.m. in the Eastlake library.
“It’s good to, kind of, expand kids’ intellectual horizons,” Kurian said.
Kurian said they the school needed an outlet for the outspoken students who weren’t interested in sports, music or the plethora of other well-supported activities at the high school.
Last school year, the club brought 10-15 students per meeting. Now, the group draws about 40 members on a given Wednesday.
“People are really passionate about what they believe,” Aslamy said. “There’s so many wonderful things that I’ve found that have come out of this club.”
Last year, the group raised about $800 to buy books for Indian students.
Working with Mercer Island-based Vishal Himalaya Foundation, REACH was able to purchase about 1,600 books, which the foundation purchases for 50 cents apiece in India, the boys said.
This year, they aim to raise $10,000 through a series of benefit concerts and other fundraisers.
The goal is so ambitious that Aslamy and Kurian decided to turn the fundraising efforts into their senior projects.
“Now, it’s gotten to the point where we don’t even have to promote it,” Kurian said.
Aslamy is heading up the marketing aspects of the benefits and fundraisers.
Kurian said he works closely with the Vishal Himalaya Foundation and helps plan the events.
He plans to travel to India over spring break to help buy and distribute the books, which are printed in each area’s respective language.
“As small as I am in this world, I still can make a difference,” Aslamy said.
With the cost for one book so low, they said it would be a shame not to reach out and help provide books to those who need them.
“I have a very clear opportunity,” Kurian said.
The upcoming concert at Redmond’s Soulfood Books will be free and will feature
Eastlake and other local bands.
Aslamy and Kurian said people will be able to donate at the door. Every 50 cents counts.
“It’s not like we’ll turn down the quarter if someone gives us that,” Kurian said.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.
Tosh Aslamy and Adi Kurian, both Eastlake seniors, like to sit in a group and talk about controversial issues after school.
They both also have a deep-seated desire to help less fortunate students abroad do the same thing.
Aslamy and Kurian each say they understand how fortunate they are to come from well-off families and live in a place like Sammamish. They say they also understand the value of education and giving.
So, the two combined those ideas in fall of 2008 to form the Representing and Educating Across Continents from Home (REACH) club.
“We both feel, like, connected to other people around the world because of our cultures,” said Aslamy, whose father comes from Afghanistan. Kurian is of Indian decent and moved to Sammamish from England three years ago.
The club’s goal is to gather students in a café-style atmosphere to have intellectual conversations and debates about issues in politics, culture, movies, music, literature and the arts, Aslamy said.
The group eventually developed a second purpose: to buy books for poor students in places like Bombay, India.
They meet Wednesdays at 12:40 p.m. in the Eastlake library.
“It’s good to, kind of, expand kids’ intellectual horizons,” Kurian said.
Kurian said they the school needed an outlet for the outspoken students who weren’t interested in sports, music or the plethora of other well-supported activities at the high school.
Last school year, the club brought 10-15 students per meeting. Now, the group draws about 40 members on a given Wednesday.
“People are really passionate about what they believe,” Aslamy said. “There’s so many wonderful things that I’ve found that have come out of this club.”
Last year, the group raised about $800 to buy books for Indian students.
Working with Mercer Island-based Vishal Himalaya Foundation, REACH was able to purchase about 1,600 books, which the foundation purchases for 50 cents apiece in India, the boys said.
This year, they aim to raise $10,000 through a series of benefit concerts and other fundraisers.
The goal is so ambitious that Aslamy and Kurian decided to turn the fundraising efforts into their senior projects.
“Now, it’s gotten to the point where we don’t even have to promote it,” Kurian said.
Aslamy is heading up the marketing aspects of the benefits and fundraisers.
Kurian said he works closely with the Vishal Himalaya Foundation and helps plan the events.
He plans to travel to India over spring break to help buy and distribute the books, which are printed in each area’s respective language.
“As small as I am in this world, I still can make a difference,” Aslamy said.
With the cost for one book so low, they said it would be a shame not to reach out and help provide books to those who need them.
“I have a very clear opportunity,” Kurian said.
The upcoming concert at Redmond’s Soulfood Books will be free and will feature
Eastlake and other local bands.
Aslamy and Kurian said people will be able to donate at the door. Every 50 cents counts.
“It’s not like we’ll turn down the quarter if someone gives us that,” Kurian said.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.
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