Room To Read (San Francisco-based) is a nonprofit, founded in 2000 by former Microsoft Executive John Wood, that works to establish schools, libraries and educational infrastructure to give children in developing countries around the world opportunities that only education can provide.

Room to Read has operations in Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Sri Lanka, Laos, South Africa, Zambia. Over 3,870 libraries have been established in partner countries.

Additional countries will be added in the near future.

To help young girls overcome cultural bias, over 3,400 girls receive scholarships through the charity.

Over 1.4 million books have been donated and another 1.3 million new books have been published through the efforts of the charity.

In 2003, Room To Read began publishing local language children’s books. Over 146 local language children’s books have been published with the cooperation of local authors, and illustrators.

Computer and language labsprovide students access to computer technology to help them learn other languages and increase their future employment opportunities.

Opportunities to donate, adopt a project or volunteer are available on their website.