Room to Read is an organization that believes the world should be a place where all children can "pursue a quality education that enables them to reach their full potential and contribute to their community and the world".

In doing this, they focus on literacy and gender equality in education in developing countries by teaching kids how to read and supporting girls to complete secondary school with the life skills needed to succeed in school and afterward.

John Wood founded Room to Read after traveling through Nepal, where he visited several local schools. While he was impressed by the effort put forth by the students and teachers, he was astonished at the lack of resources in the schools.

Saddened by the situation, Wood created a team to go into rural villages to implement solutions. He used corporate business practices to help kids in the developing world gain access to education and other oppotunities.

Room to Read establishes Reading Rooms, or libraries, and stocks them with books written in the local language, as well and games and furniture. They also partner with communities to build schools where kids can lean in a safe environment. The organization helps local writers and illustratos by publishing books with their content instead of outsourcing. And finally, Room to Read provides long-term support for girls to pursue and complete their secondary education.

Room to Read’s influential work has been honored with many distinguished awards and has been featured in prestigious newspapers, magazines, and television shows.

For more information, visit http://www.roomtoread.org/Page.aspx?pid=183