When news of the 2004 tsunami devastation reached the United States, most American teens didn't pay much attention. But biology major Sarasi Jayaratne '12, a high school freshman and Girl Scout at the time, started planning ways to help rural Sri Lankan children most affected by the turmoil and a three-decade-long civil war.

Her efforts have evolved into founding the Keep Reading Foundation, which has shipped more than 15,000 children's books to 48 schools in rural Sri Lanka for small classroom libraries to promote English literacy. By giving presentations to school principals, churches and community leaders and by generating media attention, Jayaratne collected books from libraries, families, churches and schools in her home state, Virginia.

Her goal now is to reach 100 schools and organize workshops for teachers to encourage reading at a young age. English is a second language of Sri Lanka, where most people speak either Sinhala or Tamil, but rural children rarely acquire proper English knowledge.

"There are so many cultural barriers, and I feel like English is a main area we can use to establish common ground," said Jayaratne, whose parents were born in Sri Lanka and moved to the United States in 1984. "Using English on a daily basis is what I'm aiming for. ... It takes little steps at a time," said Jayaratne, adding that about 20 desktop computers have also been donated to the cause.

Over winter break, for the first time since the civil war ended in May 2009, Jayaratne will return to Sri Lanka with almost 2,000 more children's books and 350 pairs of eyeglasses; the Cornell junior, who hopes to become a physician, also will visit schools and volunteer in hospitals to get an impression of another side of the communities.

At Cornell, Jayaratne is learning Sinhalese to facilitate interactions with the Sri Lankan people and to conduct a Sinhala-into-English workshop. She is also planning ways to establish a legacy for the Keep Reading Foundation at Cornell.

Meanwhile, she focuses on communication and coordination with volunteers in Sri Lanka. "Communication is a key ... to make sure everything goes well when doing such a huge book donation. Everything is done by phone, so arranging meetings and events takes a while," she says.

The work hasn't always been a smooth sailing. During Jayaratne's third visit to Sri Lanka in 2007, for example, the village where she stayed with a host family was protected by security forces in shifts during the nights because it was "at the peak of the three-decade-old civil war," wrote Pushpa Piyasoma, senior coordinator for Keep Reading Foundation in Sri Lanka. "Crossing one checkpoint to another with the support of local villagers and protection provided by security forces, Sarasi courageously visited several underprivileged schools deprived of basic educational facilities and volunteered English tutoring for children. It is remarkable for someone from the United States to stay and provide community services in such a dangerous place under most difficult living conditions."

Upon returning home, Jayaratne said she was shocked to hear about a bombing of the same village she had inhabited only weeks earlier. Nevertheless, she continues to put in time for her native country. Reflecting on her experience, she said: "If you feel like that there should be a change in this world, you don't have to wait for a leader. You can be the leader. You never realize how much potential you have unless you try."

Amanda Lomanov '12 is a writer intern for the Cornell Chronicle.