Girl reading at International Literacy Day in Zambia | Photo courtesy of Room to Read

Instead of the usual formal sit-down event, Room to Read, a global non-profit organization focused on literacy, wants to start a discussion for change. To commemorate its 15th anniversary, the Vancouver chapter plans to host a series of events instead of one big one. Room to Read is aiming to reach its 10 millionth child in 2015.

In collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments, Room to Read develops literacy skills and reading habits among primary school children. The organization also helps girls complete secondary school with the necessary life skills to succeed in school and beyond.

“Locally, we focus our efforts on raising funds and awareness each year. This includes establishing and maintaining donor relationships, building a network of supporters and hosting events that create dialogue around our global programs,” says Megan Rendell, co-chapter leader, who works in sponsorship marketing.

Empowering girls

Room to Read focuses on gender equality as well as literacy, and offers scholarships to the girls to address global poverty.

“We know that if you educate girls, there is an immediate result. Educated women don’t hold their children back from going to school,” says Sharon Davis, a financial investor, who founded the Vancouver chapter in 2007 and is also a co-chapter leader.

The young girls who receive an education grow in confidence and find their voice. There are challenges, such as some fathers who wish for their daughters not to go to school because they want them to get married, explains Davis.

“I specifically want to give young girls the opportunity to choose a different life besides one, for example, of early marriage. And I think education and literacy is the most impactful way to do that,” says Davis.

Room to Read now has seen more than 94 per cent of the girls it supports remain in the program and graduate high school. And 72 per cent go on to pursue tertiary education.

“Once we get them, they live and breathe to go to school,” says Davis.

Volunteer experience

In April 2014, Olivia Peters was searching for international children non-profits to volunteer with when her Facebook page suggested a post to check out; it was Room to Read.

“I was immediately drawn to the clear goal and motto of this organization: world change starts with educated children,” says Peters, who participates in Room to Read’s events planning.

Peters, who taught kindergarten at a private school in Bangkok for a year, witnessed the impact of literacy on children as young as the age of three. She says going to library was one of the children’s favorite times because that was how they explored subjects of interest.

“I desperately wished that I could spread the joy of reading to children I saw throughout Southeast Asia who were much less fortunate,” says Peters, who graduated from UBC in 2011 with a degree in International Relations and Political Science.

Fundraising with a difference

Many of Room to Read’s fundraising events aim to connect its supporters to the work the organization does, the culture in the countries where it operates and its impact on literacy, says Rendell.

Davis says because Vancouver is very competitive and is a small market (for fundraising/philanthropy) their chapter needs a more targeted fundraising strategy.

“We didn’t want to throw another gala. We wanted to engage our donors in unique ways and create dialogue through film and speaker based events,” says Davis.

A fundraiser specific to Vancouver is Destination Dining, a series of dinner events, the first of which featured Nepal; April will feature Vietnam.

“This event series welcomes people to come together and enjoy authentic ethnic cuisine while learning about Room to Read. Through storytelling by our members or external supporters who have traveled to experience projects first hand in the countries we work in,” says Rendell.

In the past 14 years, the organization has reached 8.8 million children in 10 developing countries, including: Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.

For more information, go to their website: www.roomtoread.org