Indian-Origin Siblings Help Texas Children Access Books
Indian-origin siblings Rohan and Anya Satija have turned a small fundraising initiative into a nonprofit organization supporting education and mental health among children across Texas. Through their Austin-based Let’s Learn Foundation, they have distributed 100,000 books, 125,000 learning supplies, and thousands of mental health kits. According to figures reported by Global Indian, the organization has directly reached more than 15,000 students and partnered with 13 Texas school districts, hospitals, and youth centers.
The initiative began in 2018 after Rohan, then 10, learned about “book deserts,” communities where children have limited access to age-appropriate reading materials. Having moved from New Zealand to Austin with his family, he experienced anxiety and panic attacks while adjusting to unfamiliar surroundings. Reading offered him comfort and helped him navigate the transition, inspiring him to make books accessible to other children.
With support from his younger sister, Anya, Rohan initially raised money by selling lemonade and homemade cookies in their neighborhood. Within nine months, their grassroots campaign had developed into a registered nonprofit focused on reducing educational inequality.
Over time, the foundation expanded its mission beyond literacy by introducing programs that promote emotional well-being. Its mental health kits provide students with resources to better understand and manage their emotions. The organization also launched the Vibrant Voices Project at the Hays County Juvenile Centre, using creative writing and theater to help young people in detention express their experiences and address mental health challenges.
Partnerships have helped strengthen the foundation’s reach. Collaborators and supporters include Scholastic, Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation, Dell Children’s Hospital, Active Minds, and SAFE Austin.
Rohan has also become involved in youth mental health advocacy, serving on the Texas Children and Youth Behavioral Health Subcommittee and the Williamson County Child and Youth Behavioral Health Taskforce. He has additionally led workshops at mental health conferences, including the 2023 NAMI Texas Conference.
Despite their growing recognition, the siblings continue organizing donation drives and distributing supplies to schools. Their future plans include reaching more communities across central Texas, particularly rural areas and underserved urban neighborhoods with limited library access.
By combining literacy, emotional support, and youth advocacy, Rohan and Anya are demonstrating how a simple childhood initiative can develop into a sustained community effort that helps young people learn and thrive.
