Room to Read

www.roomtoread.org

Room to Read is bringing literacy to millions of children in the developing world in a partnership with local communities from Nepal to Zambia to Vietnam.

Room to Read works with communities and families in remote areas to provide girls' scholarships, build libraries and schools, publish bi-lingual books, distribute books - more than 6 million books to date. Room to Read is changing the world.

Jennie Orchard is leading a wonderful team that has brought Room to Read to Australia, and she has enlisted the children's writing community on board. Australian Ambassadors of Room to Read are authors Markus Zusak, Melina Marchetta, Libby Hathorn and Susanne Gervay.

'I Am Jack is a wonderful book that recognizes the importance of kids, reading and literacy' John Wood, founder of Room to read bringing literacy to the world.'
John Wood founder of Room to Read

The inaugural breakfast in February 09 of the Room to Read schools programme at the Mitchell Library, the NSW State Library in Sydney, was filled to capacity with students and teachers. John Wood the founder of Room to Read was there for the launch.

John Wood was a guest at the Hughenden on his Sydney trip to launch in Australia.

Markus Zusak was the keynote speaker at the First Australian Literary event at the Queen Victoria Tea Rooms Sydney. Susan Wyndham, the literary editor of Sydney Morning Herald opened the evening. Markus spoke about 'The Book Thief' which has sold 3 million books worldwide.

Author James Knight was there to support the event. James Knight's latest book, A THEORY OF MOMENTS is about a year-long back-packing adventure through South America and Africa. See Youtube for an insight into his book.

Melina Marchetta and Susanne Gervay were at this first Australian literary event as the ambassadors of Room to Read. It was a wonderful night with hundreds of people filling the gracious rooms.

Over 3.1 million children access over 800 schools, 7500 bilingual libraries, 327 new local language children's titles, 132 computer labs, and scholarships for 8700 girls The goal is 5000 more libraries to impact on more than 5 million children by 2010.