Transforming Lives

We all know that education is the most important factor in changing the life of a disadvantaged child and this is the very ethos that drives non-profit organisation Room to Read. They are working towards a world where every child can reach their full potential and participate fully in society due to a great education.

However, the challenges to overcome to achieve this are great:

• 750 million people in the world are illiterate
• 2/3 are women and girls
• 262 million children aren’t learning in primary school.

Room to Read transforms the lives of millions of children in low-income communities by focusing on literary and gender equality in education. Working in collaboration with local communities’ partners and government, they focus on improving literacy and encouraging children to find a love of reading and make this a part of their lives.

They have developed a number of programs in order to achieve this ambitious goal including a Literacy Program and Girls’ Education Program. The Literacy Program ensures that schools have libraries and access to plenty of books in local languages, along with teachers and librarians who are skilled at engaging classrooms of children. Importantly, they combine the science of learning to read with the magic of loving to read in early primary school children.

The Girls’ Education Program focuses on girls in secondary school and provides them with life skills training, mentoring and need-based material support and advocating for girls’ education. Local women are hired as mentors, encouraging girls to continue their education and acquire important life skills so that they can achieve this.

Some of their amazing achievements are below and every year, thousands of students and schools help Room to Read work towards their goal. The Students Helping Students network has established school clubs, hosts read-a-thons, and many other activities that support this work.

16.8 million children have benefited from Room to Read’s work since 2000

More than 26m children’s books have been distributed including more than 1,750 titles published by Room to Read, and donated English and local language books.

More than 10,000 teachers have been trained on average each year in literacy and reading best practices.

More than 95,000 girls are supported by Room to Read’s Girls’ Education program. Participants have a 95% advancement rate.

Room to Read’s Girls’ Education program has more than 6,200 graduates, with 70% going on to tertiary education or employment.

If you’re inspired by this and would like to find out more or donate you can visit their website here.