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Overview

READ Global has set out to change the world—one country, one village, one individual at a time. Since 1991, when READ was launched in a remote Himalayan village by Dr. Antonia Neubauer, the organization has dedicated itself to developing and implementing a replicable model for sustainable rural development. Instead of a hand out, READ provides a hand up, partnering with villagers to build self-supporting library community centers that become the nexus of regional activity.

Mission

To empower communities by increasing literacy and access to education through the creation, advancement and leveraging of a replicable library-based model for sustainable economic development.

Program

The success of the READ sustainable rural development approach is its ability to empower people, enabling them to comprehend their social, political and economic position, confront their situation and pursue change collectively. The READ model features three components: Educational Development through the construction of self-sustaining rural library community centers; Economic Development through sustaining projects that provide infrastructure and jobs in villages; Community Development through improved communication channels, linkages with other NGOs, delivery of needed services and greater opportunities for individual and group empowerment.
The performance of every partner in the READ project continuum—from the local communities, in-country staff and board, to the READ Global administrative staff and Board of Directors—are guided by standards and best practices, which encompass project ownership, accountability, sustainability and collaboration.
The effects are far-reaching, as communities begin to increase their understanding of information and education, causes of their own poverty and marginalization, and the linkages between power and resources.

Impact

READ Global has demonstrated that sustainable rural development model, properly executed, can give hope to many for a different future, change a country and has the potential to change the world. READ Nepal, beta site for the READ model, features a well-functioning network of 45 libraries. The program was honored with the 2006 Access to Learning Award from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The award’s million-dollar prize supported further expansion of the successful model throughout the Himalayan country.

READ Global was also won a four year replication grant to expand its programs to other parts of the world. READ now has programs running in India and Bhutan to empower rural villagers there with its unique model.

CEO

Carol A. Erickson has dedicated her professional career to improving access to information for researchers, students, and the general public. She spent over 15 years working in and traveling throughout the former Soviet Union, administering Fulbright programs and assisting PhD candidates and post-doctoral researchers to get access to library and archival material throughout that region. As a Senior Program Officer with the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX), Ms. Erickson helped to establish one of the first American non-profit offices based in Moscow. Ms. Erickson was the Director of International Relations of the American Library Association, where she worked to establish a number of programs to improve information access to immigrant communities in the United States, including formal partnerships with the Guadalajara International Book Fair and Zimbabwe International Book Fair. As a Senior Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation she directed efforts to provide public access computers and Internet access in public libraries serving low-income communities throughout Canada, Chile and Mexico.

Board

Dr. Dina Bangdel
Mr. Raphael Bemporad
Ms. Loretta Faye Cooper
Mr. Adnan A. Durrani
Ms. Rachel Golden
Mr. James J. Hodel
Mr. Lawrence Neubauer
Sen. Omer L. Rains
Mr. Mal Warwick

Countries

Nepal, Bhutan, India

States

District of Columbia

Contact

900 19th Street, NW
Ste. 400
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (800) 670-6984
www.readglobal.org
EIN: 23-2656376


A Gift Card

Countries and Regions

Supply A Library

Computers for Nepal

Join READ Global in its quest to change the world—one country, one village, one individual at a time. Your contribution will outfit one of READ Global’s library community centers with a technology hub that includes three computers and basic software for word processing, spreadsheets and bookkeeping. Your gift of a technology center for a rural Nepal READ library will be provided by READ Global.

$9,240.00

Educate Women

Books for Nepal

Join READ Global in its quest to change the world—one country, one village, one individual at a time. The self-supporting library community centers created by READ offer a women’s literature section and provide a supportive environment for the women’s associations and other women-only activities that encourage female empowerment. Your contribution will provide new literature and educational materials for women anxious to learn. Your gift of...

$100.00

Educate A Child

Books for Nepal

Join READ Global in its quest to change the world—one country, one village, one individual at a time. READ’s self-supporting library community centers each include a Children’s Section with books, educational toys and furnishings designed just for the younger set. Your donation will help to stock the shelves with new books written just for children. Your gift of children’s books will be provided by READ...

$50.00

Equip Libraries

One technology center

Join READ Global in its quest to change the world—one country, one village, one individual at a time. Your contribution will outfit one of READ Global’s library community centers with a technology hub that includes three computers and basic software for word processing, spreadsheets and bookkeeping. Your gift of a technology center for a rural Nepal READ library will be provided by READ Global.

$1,500.00

Share the World

One World Book set

Join READ Global in its quest to change the world—one country, one village, one individual at a time. Your contribution will ensure that World Book International’s contribution reaches a new library community center in a rural region of Nepal where it can transport children and adults into a world they’ve never experienced. Your gift of shipping a World Book Encyclopedia set to Nepal will be...

$225.00

Support A Librarian

One month's salary

Join READ Global in its quest to change the world—one country, one village, one individual at a time. When READ Global helps a community to build and outfit a library community center, the organization also helps to recruit and train a librarian who will help villagers make the most of their new facility. Your contribution not only supports the salary of an invaluable librarian—it makes...

$75.00

Inform Rural Areas

Newspaper subscription

Your gift will provide one year of a national newspaper subscription for a library in rural Nepal. Join READ Global in its quest to change the world—one country, one village, one individual at a time. Your donation will bring national and international news to remote rural communities in Nepal. The newspapers will be delivered to one of the self-supporting library community centers in the READ...

$10.00

Teach A Child

Learning toys in Nepal

Join READ Global in its quest to change the world—one country, one village, one individual at a time. The self-supporting library community centers created by READ each feature a section designed just for children, with kid-size furniture, books for toddlers to teens and toys to make learning fun. Your contribution will provide new educational tools with appeal for young minds anxious to learn.

$25.00