2022 Annual Report

A just-completed two-year impact evaluation of our Literacy Program in Tanzania, comparing outcomes between 50 Room to Read schools and 50 control schools, found that students in Room to Read schools experienced 20 to 80 percent higher gains in literacy skills vs. those in control school — despite COVID-related restrictions and modifications to our delivery approach. The study confirmed that even with a transition to mostly virtual learning, Room to Read’s Literacy Program provides better outcomes than non-Room to Read schools.

Our Literacy Program schools in South Africa held a district-wide read-a-thon — a far-reaching community engagement campaign that set out to nurture a love and habit of reading in students and adults alike. With read-alouds, reading activities and reading competitions hosted at schools and a variety of community gathering spaces — from shopping centers to senior care facilities — young learners in Room to Read’s Literacy Program were able to build their literacy skills and deepen their reading habits as they inspired members of their communities to share in the joy and magic of reading.

To address pandemic-related learning loss and encourage children to develop a habit of reading, our Bangladesh team collaborated with local partners to establish Community Reading Forums in Cox’s Bazar. Young learners can access local language storybooks, read independently, borrow quality reading materials and learn alongside other students and Room to Read-trained volunteer instructors in these inviting reading spaces — even when school is not in session.

Millions of children in Lebanon have been out of school, and many of those children are refugees. To strengthen children’s literacy skills and reading habits in Lebanon and support the transition of out-of-school children into the formal school system, Room to Read launched a two-year project that includes partnering with Lebanese publishers to print and distribute 60 original Arabic storybooks to roughly 1,800 non-formal education centers across Lebanon. The initiative also entails establishing 50 children’s libraries in non-formal education centers, benefiting approximately 50,000 children and supporting early-grade literacy development in coordination with local efforts.

2022 marked the release of Room to Read’s Folklore & Environment Book Collection, which uses ancestral narratives from across the globe to tell stories about climate change. First developed in 2021 through a virtual Room to Read writers' and illustrators' workshop composed of authors, artists and editors from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Vietnam, this robust collection of 11 books celebrates a diverse range of folk stories that have been shared across generations to help children reflect on the future of the natural world.

With support from longtime partner Tatcha, Room to Read introduced a new U.S.-based collection of storybooks in 2022 — our STEAM-Powered Careers Book Collection. Available in Spanish and English, the collection was created in collaboration with scientists, faculty and staff from the University of Southern California and presents 10 titles to inspire children from groups underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) fields. Through this book collection, children can learn about a variety of groundbreaking and exciting careers they can start exploring right now.