Room to Read

Room to Read We partner with global communities to support literacy and gender equality in education. Learn more at www.roomtoread.org.
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Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read is creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality. We are achieving this goal by helping children in low-income communities develop literacy skills and a habit of reading, and by supporting girls to build skills to succeed in school and negotiate key life decisions. We collaborate with governm

ents and other partner organizations to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale. Room to Read has benefitted more than 23 million children across 20 countries and over 40,700 communities and aims to reach 40 million children by 2025.

Africa is home to one of the world’s youngest and fastest-growing populations — and investing in foundational learning t...
05/21/2026

Africa is home to one of the world’s youngest and fastest-growing populations — and investing in foundational learning today is critical to preparing the continent’s future workforce for tomorrow.

In a new feature with Africa , Room to Read CEO Dr. Murali shares how literacy and life skills development can help unlock opportunity for millions of children across Africa and beyond.

Read the full article for more on Room to Read’s growing work across Africa: https://okt.to/Gwb4dZ

05/19/2026

A week later, we’re reflecting on the energy, joy and generosity that filled THE ROOM at our annual New York Gala. ✨

From inspiring stories to unforgettable performances, the evening celebrated the power of community to create lasting change for children around the world. Together, we raised investments that will benefit 69,300 children with foundational learning skills — creating room for more children to read, learn and grow.

Relive some of the moments that made the night so special 🎥: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_7oJQZtCAI (and at the link in bio!)

Learn more about the event: https://www.roomtoread.org/the-latest/the-room-2026/

Last night, THE ROOM came to life at our annual New York Gala. ✨ Together with our global community of supporters, story...
05/12/2026

Last night, THE ROOM came to life at our annual New York Gala. ✨

Together with our global community of supporters, storytellers, changemakers and friends, we celebrated what’s possible when children are given room to read, learn and grow — raising investments that will benefit more than 69,300 children around the world with foundational learning skills.

We were honored to celebrate CVC and Stanley Hainsworth as honorees for their powerful partnership and belief in our mission, before closing out the night with unforgettable performances from Rhonda Ross and Jazzy Jeff .

Special thanks to Amangiri, Amanyara, BCL Entertainment, Blossom Box Jewelry, CK Swett, Clear Communication Academy, ELEMIS, Getty Images, il Buco Family, Quilling Card LLC, Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis, TATCHA, The Hari, London, Room to Read board members and all those who joined us to make it a special evening.

See more: https://bit.ly/4eIGdCo

05/04/2026

Preliminary results show 17.1 million children built foundational learning skills in 2025 through Room to Read’s literacy and gender equality programming. 📚 🎓

That’s 55 MILLION children benefited since our founding. ✨

➡️ Find 2025 results, stories, insights and celebrations at roomtoread.org/2025-annual-report

04/27/2026

And now for our 2025 results in gender equality… 🥁 💪

Preliminary results show that 615,724 adolescents benefited from Room to Read’s gender equality programming in 2025, bringing us to 4.4 MILLION adolescents who have benefited throughout our history.

Also in 2025? ➡️ 4,598 adolescents graduated from secondary school through our comprehensive Girls’ Education Program. That’s 32,967 graduates cumulatively. 🎓

With our expertise in curriculum and content, program delivery, educator training, and research that supports continuous learning and improvement, we help more than 90% of enrolled girls advance to the next grade, and more than 80% secure work or enroll in tertiary education after graduation.

When we support young people to overcome gender biases and build the skills and knowledge to create a gender-equal world, we enable them to pursue lifelong learning and make informed decisions about their futures.

Our 2025 Annual Report is live. 👏 Dive in: https://www.roomtoread.org/2025-annual-report (and at the link in bio)

04/23/2026

Our 2025 Annual Report is live! 📚 ✨ Let’s look at our results in literacy…

Preliminary results show 16.5 MILLION children benefited from Room to Read’s literacy programming in 2025, bringing us to 55 MILLION children benefited since our founding.

With our expertise in building book publishing and content distribution channels, we distributed 1.1 MILLION books in 2025. That’s 45.7 MILLION books distributed throughout our history! And, since our founding, we’ve published a total of 5,166 original and adapted children’s literature titles.

Our programming is driven by evidence. Children in our programs read up to 2.5X faster and answer up to 2.6 more comprehension questions than peers in comparison schools. Few organizations can demonstrate this level of improvement, especially among diverse communities around the world.

The outcomes are clear. We are driving systemic change — benefiting more children, more quickly, with the skills to pursue lifelong learning and make informed decisions.

Explore the full report: roomtoread.org/2025-annual-report (and at the link in bio)

04/10/2026

Weekend plans? You’ll find us at the library. 📖

As many schools around the world break for seasonal holidays and rest periods, there’s no better time to take children to the local library, where they can get lost in a new favorite book… as they continue to strengthen literacy skills and reading habits.

Why are libraries important to a community, and to children’s foundational learning? Visit roomtoread.org to find out. 📚

Rebel Girls

04/08/2026

Thank you for an unforgettable 2026! 👟🔥

We’re deeply grateful to everyone who supported our journey. A special thank you to the 161 charity runners from around the world who ran in support of children’s education. Your dedication, perseverance and generosity inspired us all. With months of training and rallying your communities, you raised the funds to support more than 10,000 children with foundational literacy and life skills.

We’re also incredibly thankful for the 40+ volunteers who brought energy and warmth across the Tokyo Marathon EXPO and race day, welcoming runners, cheering along the course and celebrating at the charity lounge.

From the streets of to the finish line, every moment reflected determination, joy and shared purpose.

We’re excited to continue this journey as a beneficiary of the Charity. For inquiries: [email protected]

Every weekend, he returns home from his residential school to the tea hills of — always with a backpack full of books....
04/07/2026

Every weekend, he returns home from his residential school to the tea hills of — always with a backpack full of books. 📚

Kien lives in a remote village in Thai Nguyen Province, where he helps his mother and grandmother harvest tea leaves. As a young child, Kien was quiet and deeply shy. But through a Room to Read library, his world opened up.

By Grade 4, he was reading 100 books a year, helping younger children navigate the library. 🌟 By Grade 12, he was MCing school events, excelling in literature and dreaming of becoming a teacher.

"Reading has helped me improve my public speaking. I'm more inspiring, more concise. It doesn't take me too much time to prepare anymore."

From a tea field in Thai Nguyen to university to the teacher's desk in a future classroom: This is what happens when a child has access to welcoming libraries filled with books. 💚

🔗 Meet Kien: https://bit.ly/3NNS1Iv

From starring in "We Were Liars" to using his voice to advocate for equality, Shubham Maheshwari understands the transfo...
03/31/2026

From starring in "We Were Liars" to using his voice to advocate for equality, Shubham Maheshwari understands the transformative role stories play in shaping how we see ourselves — and what we believe is possible.

Today, he joins Room to Read as our newest global ambassador to help ensure children everywhere have the foundational learning skills they need to imagine, learn, and lead. 💡📚

Meet Shubham: https://okt.to/OJqrTa

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