Room to Read

Gender inequality remains one of the most prevalent forms of discrimination, limiting the potential of half of the world’s population. Around the world, 129 million girls are out of school, facing multi-faceted barriers to education like poverty, child marriage and gender-based violence (UNICEF). And yet, we know that every year spent in school increases a girl’s future earnings. Studies have shown that women with primary education earn 14% to 19% more than women with no education at all, and those with secondary education earn almost twice as much (World Bank).

At the Swarovski Foundation, we take pride in supporting organisations like Room to Read that empower girls and women.

Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read develops children’s foundational literacy skills, as well as life skills that promote gender equality. They nurture these essential skills in children by training and coaching educators, creating quality learning materials and spaces, strengthening education systems, and delivering programs directly and with partners – all while honoring the dignity of every child.

Committed to accelerating learning outcomes for more children, more quickly, they have benefited more than 50 million children across 28 countries. Room to Read envisions a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality, where all children have room to read, learn and grow. Visit them at www.roomtoread.org. 

Our Partnership

Since 2015, the Swarovski Foundation and Room to Read have worked together to best meet the needs of underserved youth. The Girls’ Education Programme supports girls to overcome social and economic barriers by equipping them with the life skills necessary to succeed in school and beyond. Over the years, our grants have supported more than 1,750 children and adolescents across Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, including 72 boys as part of a pilot programme in Cambodia designed to strengthen their awareness of harmful social norms.

Room to Read Gender Equality Portfolio is designed to help adolescents of all genders develop critical life skills that promote gender equality.

Within this portfolio, the Girls’ Education Program supports girls as they develop life skills like resilience, leadership, collaboration, critical thinking and decision making. These skills are essential for them to succeed in school and negotiate key life decisions. Room to Read Girls’ Education Program matches cohorts of girls with a local mentor or teacher from their community who advocates on their behalf and helps them nurture and grow the necessary skills to exercise agency and make informed life choices. These social mobilizers ensure that girls stay in school, participate in life skills activities, and navigate the challenges of adolescence - with the knowledge and ability to negotiate their own life choices, both personally and professionally.