click here to donateThese stories are real-life examples of how your clicks are helping children around the world. We hope you enjoy learning more about how you, Room to Read , and First Book are working to make the world a better place.
Room to Read
Our Mission Room to Read partners with local communities throughout the developing world to establish schools, libraries, and other educational infrastructure. We seek to intervene early in the lives of children in the belief that education is a lifelong gift that empowers people to ultimately improve socioeconomic conditions for their families, communities, countries, and future generations. Through the opportunities that only an education can provide, we strive to break the cycle of poverty, one child at a time.
Books for Children The time has come for more exciting and relevant children's literature in their local languages so that children in the developing world have the same opportunities that many of us had growing up surrounded by children's books, either at home, at school, or in our local public library. Our Local Language Publishing Program provides children with materials that will inspire them to read, to expand their minds, and to develop a lifelong love for reading and learning. Many of the books we publish are bilingual English/local language children's books and are especially beneficial to children because they can be used throughout a child's development.
Building Schools Adequate schools are often scarce in the rural areas of the developing world, a factor that contributes to continuing poverty and lack of economic development. It is not uncommon for young children to walk several hours each way just to attend school. Through our School Room Program, Room to Read partners with local communities to build several types of schools to meet the specific needs of each village and culture. Our model of community ownership produces a deep sense of commitment and a lasting impact on education in rural areas.
To learn more, please visit: Room to Read .
First Book
Since its launch in November 2004, visitors to The Literacy Site have helped generate over 1.6 million new books for children from low-income families. Our non-profit partner First Book helps convert clicks at The Literacy Site into actual books in the hands of children.
In September of 2007, The Literacy Site hosted a Back to School Click Challenge to provide even more books for children in need. Visitors to The Literacy Site rose to the challenge and generated an additional 20,000 brand new books, donated by First Book and Pi Beta Phi, to disadvantaged children in the St. Louis area.