SCASD Equity and Inclusivity

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When State High sophomore Kian Oziemblowsky visited Sri Lanka as a young child, his cousins invited him to their schools. His tours left a lasting impression.

“Despite the country’s beauty and the tourism, there’s a lack of resources,” he said. “Their schools are a very competitive environment. I saw the eagerness of the students to elevate themselves to a higher level of education, especially in rural schools. I made a mental note at the time that I would come back eventually and help the Sri Lankan youth.”

This summer, Kian fulfilled that promise.

He and his sister, Kayleen, a Mount Nittany Elementary third-grader, collected 1,000 books and sent them to rural elementary schools and orphanages in Sri Lanka. They organized the book drive as part of the Upakara Foundation, a charitable organization run by Kian and other youth of Sri Lankan descent. Foundation members then partnered with the nonprofit Sri Lanka-United Nations Friendship Organization (SUNFO) for a month-long youth delegation to Sri Lanka.

It was an unforgettable trip, one that validated both the book drive and his decision to join the foundation at the invitation of friends from his previous hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. Sri Lanka’s recent crippling economic crisis, as well as its lasting damage from a 26-year civil war, spurred him to help his mother’s homeland.

“I have dual citizenship,” he said. “It’s my duty as a citizen. That’s my culture. I had an obligation to help them out in this time of need.”

During the trip, Kian and his companions read some of the donated books to children, as well as planted coconut trees, helped schools develop gardening programs and taught yogic breathing. The planting and yogic breathing related to the foundation’s goals of “Life on Land” and “Wellness,” while the books represented a third goal, “Quality Education.”

At a SUNFO award ceremony honoring their contributions, the delegates also met Sri Lanka’s president, Ranil Wickremasinghe, and the U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung.

“That was one of the most memorable days of my life,” Kian said. “The day of the award ceremony, my sister and I proudly represented SCASD by wearing school pins at the ceremonies and meetings with these world leaders.”

Not even a dislocated knee from slipping while visiting a stupa could diminish a month of thrilling experiences. For all of them, he expressed his gratitude to MNE librarian Dustin Brackbill, Director of Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Tonya Black, and others in the district for supporting him as he strove to keep his youthful pledge.

“I first came to Sri Lanka when I was 9,” he said. “I had seen people struggling since then. When I came back to America, I even told my Mom, ‘I want to be someone who can help these people.’ Now that I'm older, I have more opportunities in life. So, finally, I’m able to take that chance to really help my people for once.”

By Chris Rosenblum