Story

About Room to Read

Approximately 250 million of the world’s children and youth are not in school and only 3% of global humanitarian aid is spent on education.

Room to Read is a global education nonprofit creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality through education.

We are achieving this goal by providing support during two of the most critical time periods in a child’s education: primary school for literacy acquisition and secondary school for life skills acquisition, particularly for girls.

Room to Read’s Literacy Program supports children of all genders to develop reading skills and a love of reading, helping young readers become lifelong learners. The program trains and coaches teachers, creates quality books and curricular materials and establishes libraries filled with diverse children’s books in local languages that can be enjoyed at school or home

Our Girls’ Education Program, centered on a multi-year life skills curriculum, supports adolescent girls as they improve learning and life outcomes, helping them graduate with the resilience and the ability to lead, collaborate, think critically and make decisions that they need to address pressing challenges. We do so by providing girls with positive role models, life skills classes, opportunities for mentorship and peer support, and family, school and community engagement.

Room to Read collaborates with local communities, partner organizations and governments to test and implement innovative models that can be integrated into the education system to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale.

Key data

To date, Room to Read has benefited more than 45 million children and has worked in more than 213,000 communities and 24 countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Grenada, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, United States, Vietnam and Zambia.

Dubai Marathon

Imagine lacing up your running shoes not just for a personal goal, but to change the world! When you run for Room to Read at the Dubai Marathon, you aren’t just running to cross a finish line—you’re running to unlock the potential of millions of children across the globe.

Room to Read invite runners to support our mission to provide quality education and promote gender equality for children and teenagers around the world.

As Dubai grows as a center for philanthropy, Room to Read represents a meaningful cause that resonates with the marathon’s diverse, international participants. A partnership with Room to Read would strengthen Dubai’s role in shaping a better future for children across the world - particularly those most impacted by inequality and poverty.

With this campaign, Room to Read wishes to highlight the critical need for access to quality education in underprivileged communities, where millions of children, particularly girls, are deprived of learning opportunities.

Room to Read aims to engage a global audience, leveraging the high-profile event to inspire donations and building a brighter, more equitable future. All funds raised will go toward Room to Read - wherever the need is greatest.

Room to Read: World Change, one step at a time! 

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