Literacy One - Get on Board!

The Literacy One Challenge is a great way for students and schools all over the world to demonstrate their incredible compassion for children in the developing world who do not have the same educational resources.

In celebration of International Literacy Day on September 8, and Room to Read's upcoming 5000th library opening in November, Room to Read, Scholastic, Inc. and Cathay Pacific Airways have formed a unique partnership. Scholastic, Inc. will donate 400,000 children's books to Room to Read libraries, and Cathay Pacific Airways will donate the use of a new Boeing 777 - Literacy One - to transport a significant portion of the books to Asia. This historic flight, scheduled to take place during the 2007 holiday season, will take off from Boeing Airfield in Seattle with the generously donated cargo aboard. The flight will land at Cathay Pacific Airways' home base in Hong Kong where the books will be carried to their ultimate destination - Room to Read libraries and schools throughout Asia.

Literacy One Challenge - You Can Help Too!

The Literacy One Challenge invites students and schools around the world to help raise funds through read-a-thons and other creative fundraising events. The donations will be used for the creation of new local language books as part of Room to Read's Local Language Publishing program, in which children's books with stories relevant to the children's culture and language are created by local authors and artists.

We invite schools to raise money to publish local language children's book titles and help our libraries abroad become truly bilingual - with English language books from Scholastic North America and local language books from Room to Read! If a school raises US$3000 their books will include a special page dedicated to them and they will receive copies of the book! The campaign launches on September 6, and will continue throughout the 2007-2008 school year.

Throughout the Literacy One Challenge, the progress of the individual school fundraisers will be highlighted on the Literacy One Page of the Room to Read website. Literacy One Challenge Awards for "most funds raised," "most creative" and "a little goes along way," will be presented during the summer of 2008. Winners will also be featured on Room to Read's website and in the Students Helping Students newsletter.

How Do I Get My School Involved?

Check out your next steps:

1. Learn about the countries in which Room to Read operates. Get an in-depth view of Nepal - one of the countries in which Room to Read operates - on the Students Helping Students website, or do your own research. Some great websites are the CIA World Factbook and the Country Studies website. Find out why Room to Read has chosen the countries in which we work and what prevents them from having adequate educational infrastructure.
2. Learn about Room to Read's Local Language Publishing program. Why do we feel it is important to publish children's books in our countries? How come we write the books in-country rather than just translating American children's books? Why are some of our books bilingual rather than just in the local language? You can even download PDF files of some of our recent books.(link to pdf of llp books)
3. Plan your fundraiser or event. Download a Read-a-Thon kit. Read about different fundraising ideas. Check out your next steps! Once you have decided on your idea, send an email to Molly Redding to obtain a sign-up form. If you need Room to Read marketing materials, please indicate so on the form.
4. Take action! Make your event or fundraiser a reality. Have fun, and remember that everything you do is helping children in the developing world. Send Molly event updates, marketing materials, pictures and video of the event. You may see yourself on the Students Helping Students website!