Room to Read

Starts with a great story

Room to Read has every single hallmark of a Lovemark. It starts with a great story. High powered Microsoft executive has an epiphany whilst trekking in Nepal when he comes across a school library devoid of books. He subsequently gives up a promising career to help give the gift of education to the worlds’ poorest children. Room to Read taps into the dreams of millions of parents in developing countries who will do whatever it takes to educate their children. It drives others to commit to help them to do just that. In our post consumerist society when we are all looking for more meaning in our lives something like Room to Read comes along and touches us. We remember the our own childhoods filled with bedtime stories and try to imagine what it would be like to grow up as a child in a world without books. The name (apparently conjured out of thin air at a dinner party!) evokes images of sneaky reading under the covers by torchlight and the anticipation of a Saturday morning visit to the local library dog eared library card in hand. We can sense the space and joy that having a room to read will bring. All reasons why it’s a Lovemark of mine.

Bernadette Jiwa, - 06 March 2010