During his spring break, 17‑year‑old Kian Raja swapped the familiar sidewalks of Oakland for the crowded streets of New Delhi, where he set out to deliver physical‑education equipment to children who rarely see a basketball court.
The effort began as a school‑mandated volunteer hour, but for Kian it quickly became a personal mission to honor his Indian roots and to give back to marginalized communities. Having played basketball since age four, he founded a modest coaching venture, Kian's Coaching, to raise the funds needed for a permanent court and new gear in a small Delhi village.
To make the logistics work, Kian teamed up with the local nonprofit Each One Teach One, an organization that connects volunteers with community projects. The collaboration exposed him to relentless heat, language hurdles and sudden monsoon rains, each obstacle sharpening his resolve.
Two years earlier, his older brother Kyal Raja had taken a similar path, focusing on computer literacy and establishing a college fund for youth in the same region. Their parallel experiences underscored a family commitment to uplift the same neighborhoods they once called home.
Both brothers say the trips deepened their connection to their heritage and offered a fresh perspective on the privileges they enjoy in the United States. Kian continues to coach in the Bay Area while funneling earnings back into the Delhi program, ensuring that the basketball classes keep running year after year.
A Legacy in the Making
Looking ahead, Kian plans to major in construction management as he navigates college applications, hoping his technical training will one day help him design and build sports facilities that serve communities both here and abroad.
His story illustrates how a single spring break can evolve from a classroom requirement into a lifelong commitment, bridging continents and generations through sport and service.