READ Global Named Library of Congress Literacy Awards Honoree

About READ Global READ believes lasting change begins when communities take the lead. That’s why we partner with rural communities in Nepal, India, and Bhutan to establish locally owned library and resource centers (READ Centers) that grow into hubs for learning, opportunity, and leadership—sustaining impact for generations. Today, a network of 139 self-sustaining READ Centers provides more than 2 million people with access to spaces where learning thrives, leadership grows, and local voices shape the future. Built with community co-investment and sustained through local enterprises launched alongside them, READ Centers rarely close once established, enduring as vibrant community institutions. Critical to this longevity is READ’s community-driven approach. READ facilitators walk alongside communities through every stage of Center creation, ensuring that each reflects local needs and aspirations—especially voices too often overlooked. In this process, community members strengthen collaboration, conflict resolution, and inclusive decision-making skills, while building the confidence to lead. This creates a powerful ripple effect: women inspire friends to join literacy classes, entrepreneurs launch businesses and hire neighbors, and children raised in the Centers return as volunteer leaders. Programs such as Tech Age Girls (TAG) magnify this cycle—1,071 graduates have already reached more than 50,000 of their peers through cascade training and community projects—showing how READ equips the next generation to carry forward literacy, leadership, and transformation.