BB Citizenship Project*Literacy*

LCP Max Ang, LCP Nicholas Peck, LCP Brandon Mok

What is literacy?Literacy is the ability to read, view, write, design, speak

and listen in a way that allows you to communicate

effectively. It can also mean to have the knowledge and

competence on a subject, an example could be computer

literacy.

John Wood -- Room to ReadRoom to Read was set up by social entrepreneur Mr John Wood and this programme seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education.

Develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children, and support girls to complete secondary school with the relevant life skills to succeed in school and beyond.

How did it start?

Mr John Wood was having a vacation in Nepal to destress from overwork

Discovered that the few books available were so precious that they were kept under lock and key. Only a few books were available for more than 450 students. He was brought to a poorly furnished school where the headmaster of the school requested for a donation of books.

How did it start? (created in year 1998 - 2000)

Mr John Wood contacted friends to donate used books and returned to the the following year with <3000 books the following year.

Grown into Room To Read, an award winning non profit organisation

What was established and done?Established over 12,500 libraries

Donated and published 10 million books

Built and established over 1,500 schools

Supported more than 13,500 girls so they can graduate from secondary school with the skills they need to succeed.

In total, Room to Read has benefitted the lives of more than10 million children worldwide

Impacts

You are able to see the increasing trend of the number of children that has benefitted and was given a chance to education and literacy.

Screenshot from: https://www.roomtoread.org/impact-reach/#Children-Benefited-from-Our-Literacy-Program

What was inspiring?

Social entrepreneur Mr John Wood resigned from his prestigious position in Microsoft to devote his time, effort and resources to start up Room to Read and to provide the less fortunate with education and basic literacy skills. He displayed a strong sense of empathy as he decided to help the children when he noticed the harsh reality of being illiterate confronting these children. Mr John Wood not only donated books which was the initial request by the school headmaster but instead he took a step further to develop the education system by setting up numerous libraries in several places such as Nepal, Cambodia and Vietnam to allow the children to have access to enhanced educational materials and upgrade their literacy skills.

Credits/Sources

Room To Read Official Website: https://www.roomtoread.org/impact-reach/

Leaving Microsoft: http://www.leavingmicrosoftbook.com/author.html

Photos:

https://hongkongvolunteer.wordpress.com/tag/room-to-read/

http://thelightbox.net/2012/01/09/room-to-read-cambodia/

http://www.springtrek.com.au/roomtoread/