07/08/2026
✨ "Earlier, I used a thumbprint instead of a signature. I was too shy to face people... Now, I sit confidently in meetings and write my name." — Hira
Fast-forwarding from our 2003 origin story to 2010, we are thrilled to share Part 2 of our 35-Year Throwback Series celebrating READ in Nepal! 🇳🇵
At age 37, Hira learned to read and write through her local READ center. Before that, stepping up in her community felt overwhelming—whenever asked to attend meetings in her husband's absence, she would hide or ask her sister-in-law to go on her behalf.
Learning to write didn't just give Hira a signature; it gave her a voice and a place at the table.
By 2010, READ Nepal was rapidly scaling from single libraries into a multi-faceted network of self-sustaining community hubs. Hira’s transformation is a powerful reminder of what those hubs were truly built for: dignity, confidence, and community leadership.
🎥 Watch Chapter 2 of our evolution series here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FCauMxTXwg
What does literacy mean to you? Let us know in the comments below! 👇
READ empowers women by providing access to educational resources an...