Rania Zuri: Spreading the Love of Reading

Imagine a world where every child can dive into exciting stories whenever they want. Sounds great, right? Well, that’s exactly what Rania Zuri is working to create!

Born in 2005 in West Virginia, Rania grew up loving books. But when she was 13, she learned something shocking: many kids don’t have any books at home. This discovery lit a fire in Rania’s heart, and she decided to do something about it.

Rania’s big idea? The LiTEArary Society. It’s a clever name that mixes “literacy” (which means being able to read and write) with “tea.” Why tea? Because Rania came up with a brilliant plan to host tea parties where people donate books. It’s like turning a fun get-together into a way to help others!

Thanks to Rania’s creative thinking, The LiTEArary Society has grown bigger than she ever imagined. In just a few years, she’s managed to give books to kids in all 50 states of America. That’s thousands of children who now have stories to read and adventures to go on, all because of one teenager’s determination.

But Rania didn’t stop there. She wanted more people to know about this problem of kids not having books, which some people call “book deserts.” So, she started speaking up. Rania has been on radio shows and even gave a special talk called a TEDx Talk that over 40,000 people have watched online. She’s spreading the word far and wide: every kid deserves to have books!

Rania’s voice has reached some pretty important people. She did something incredible – she wrote a document called a Senate Resolution. This is a big deal because it’s like writing a letter that the whole country’s leaders read. Rania is the youngest person ever to do this! Her resolution created a special day to remind everyone how important it is for young kids to have books and learn to read.

All of Rania’s hard work has earned her some amazing recognition. She was named a U.S. Presidential Scholar, which is one of the highest honors a high school student can get. She even got to visit the White House, where First Lady Jill Biden called her a “Girl Leading Change.” Rania also received an award named after Princess Diana, and Prince Harry himself introduced her at the ceremony. How cool is that?

But for Rania, the best reward isn’t the awards or meeting famous people. It’s knowing that she’s helping kids discover the magic of reading. Every book she gives out is like handing over a key to a world of imagination and learning. Rania believes that reading can change a kid’s life, opening doors to new ideas and opportunities.

Rania’s story shows us something really important: you don’t have to be a grown-up to make a big difference in the world. She saw a problem and came up with a creative solution. Now, she’s inspiring kids and adults all over to help others in their ways.

So, what about you? Could you be the next Rania? Is there something in your school or neighborhood that you’d like to change? Remember, big changes often start with small steps. Maybe you could share a book with a friend who doesn’t have many, or organize a book collection at your school.

Rania’s journey reminds us that books are more than just pages with words. They’re tickets to far-off lands, keys to new knowledge, and tools that can change the world. By making sure every kid has books to read, Rania is helping to write a better future for all of us.

Let’s join Rania’s reading revolution! Together, we can turn the page on “book deserts” and make sure every kid has the chance to fall in love with reading. After all, every great story needs heroes, and in this story, heroes like you and Rania are writing a happy ending for kids everywhere!

Bidisha Ghosh, Staff Reporter