READ Global partners with rural villages in Nepal, India and Bhutan to build Community Libraries and Resource Centers (READ Centers) that offer knowledge, information and opportunities to villagers to thrive and prosper in their own communities.
It is estimated that more than 70% of the world’s poor live in rural areas. In order to make true progress toward global poverty alleviation, a focus on economic growth in rural areas of the developing world is crucial. The lack of educational, economic and social resources in rural villages is the root cause of poverty and political instability in many developing countries. For most villagers, agriculture is the only livelihood option, but this rarely provides individuals with an income that allows them to take care of their families. Due to a lack of resources and opportunities in rural communities, many individuals are forced to leave their loved ones behind in search of more promising livelihoods. This results in increased economic disparities in developing regions and creates an even more urgent situation in rural communities.
READ Global believes that empowering rural communities is critical to alleviating global poverty. We envision a world where individuals, families and entire communities have access to the knowledge, resources and opportunities necessary to build more prosperous futures. READ partners with communities in rural Asia to create vibrant places to live and thrive. Our proven and replicable model focuses on Community Libraries and Resource Centers as a vehicle for social and economic transformation. Combining education, enterprise and community development, READ collaborates with rural communities and has built 55 libraries and has helped to start more than 82 for-profit enterprises to ensure the success of communities in the long run.
In 2011, READ is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The organization plans to build 30 new READ Centers during the next five years in Bhutan, India and Nepal. Today, READ Centers reach more than 1.8 million rural villagers.
Our goal is to raise approximately USD$1M per year. All funds donated go toward in-country program expenses. Here is what your donation can provide:
*$50 buys 50 children’s books for a READ Early Childhood Development Program;
*$100 buys software and audiovisual materials for a READ computer lab;
*$250 provides a villager with life-changing literacy and health education classes;
*$500 trains a woman “master trainer” to educate women on ICT, health issues, literacy;
*$1,000 provides 1,000 books for a READ library;
*$5,000 funds an entire Women’s Empowerment Center within a larger READ Center;
*$10,000 seeds a small business that generates revenue and creates jobs to support the READ Center.
READ Global believes that empowering rural communities is critical to alleviating global poverty. We envision a world where individuals, families and entire communities have access to the knowledge, resources and opportunities necessary to build more prosperous futures. READ partners with communities in rural Asia to create vibrant places to live and thrive. Our proven and replicable model focuses on Community Libraries and Resource Centers as a vehicle for social and economic transformation. Combining education, enterprise and community development, READ collaborates with rural communities and has built 55 libraries and has helped to start more than 82 for-profit enterprises to ensure the success of communities in the long run. 
*$50 buys 50 children’s books for a READ Early Childhood Development Program;
