Room to Read

Room to Read's journey began with a simple yet profound observation in Nepal. In 1998, John Wood, then a Microsoft executive, visited a local school and was struck by the stark contrast between the students' eagerness to learn and the severe lack of resources, particularly books. The headmaster's poignant request, 'Perhaps, sir, you will someday come back with books,' resonated deeply with Wood. This encounter became the catalyst for a life-altering decision. A year later, in collaboration with Dinesh Shrestha, Wood returned to Nepal, bringing with him 3,000 books collected from friends and family. This act of generosity laid the foundation for something much larger.

In 2000, John Wood left his corporate career to dedicate himself fully to this burgeoning mission, co-founding Room to Read with Erin Ganju and Dinesh Shrestha. What started as an initiative to bring donated books to rural Nepalese communities quickly evolved. The organization established its global headquarters in San Francisco and began to formalize its approach to tackling illiteracy and gender inequality in education. The early years, from 2001 to 2005, were marked by rapid expansion and innovation. Room to Read extended its programs – encompassing libraries, school construction, and book publishing – into Vietnam, Cambodia, India, and Laos, and later to Sri Lanka following the 2004 tsunami. Recognizing the critical shortage of local language children's literature, the organization boldly ventured into book publishing. Simultaneously, a strong emphasis was placed on research, monitoring, and evaluation to ensure that all interventions were results-oriented and data-informed. This period also saw the launch of volunteer chapters across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., significantly boosting fundraising and awareness. Today, Room to Read is a global organization that has transformed the lives of millions of children, steadfast in its belief that world change starts with educated children and striving to create a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality.