Listen to chat audio of answers!
Erin: Welcome to T2A for January 23rd. We’re learning about “Room to Read”. It’s a program that works with local communities throughout the developing world to establish schools and libraries. Founder and CEO John Wood joins us from Davos, Switzerland, where he is attending the World Economic Forum. John left his senior executive job with Microsoft to start “Room to Read”. The program has reached more than 1.3 million children in Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Sri Lanka, Laos, South Africa and Zambia. Let’s get started with some questions from our T2A friends…
-------------------------------
Anil, India (email): Sir, I am based in Lucknow capital city of UP state in India which desperately needs this program, especially remote areas. How can I learn more about how to bring “Room to Read” to our kids?
John: My ultimate goal is to bring “Room to Read” to all parts of India. We are currently working in five provinces and if we can find the financial commitments we will definitely bring our work to more provinces in India.
-------------------------------
Turkay, Azerbaijan (email): I think ignorance is the main reason for many of today’s problems and education for young people is the most effective way to resolve them especially in developing countries. I wish success for “Room to Read”. Good luck!
John: Thank you and I agree with you that education is a great way to not only ensure prosperity but also to bring about a more peaceful world.
-------------------------------
N. Sundara Rajan, India (email): Mr. John Wood Good Morning. I am very happy to chat with you. I am also very much impressed with your program “Room to Read”. May I know what inspired you to start “Room to Read”?
John: During my travels through places like Nepal and Vietnam I was constantly being asked by children teachers whether I could help them to get books and it struck me as very cruel that children lack to access to something as basic and as critical as books so I was very driven to take action and over the past 8 years “Room to Read” has brought more than 4 million books to kids across the developing world.
-------------------------------
Andrianavalomalala, Madagascar (email): Do you have any plan to take “Room to Read” into Madagascar, where there are a lot of people who cannot read? And tell me more about the type of work you do as CEO. Yours faithfully,
John: One of my main roles as CEO is to go out and raise the financial commitments to allow us to say yes more often to questions like this one. My other main duties involve public speaking, public relations and representing “Room to Read” at international events such as the World Economic Forum.
-------------------------------
Tayyab, Pakistan (email): There are 481 school libraries in Pakistan, which have a dearth of books. Does “Room to Read” have any plans to setup libraries in Pakistan rural areas and what do you think about mobile libraries?
John: My ultimate goal is that everywhere in the world where kids lack access to books we will have libraries and those could be permanent in schools and they also could be mobile depending on the local conditions and local needs.
-------------------------------
K. Gopi, India (email): Can you explain the reason behind the name “Room to Read”
John: It is a name that we believe is both literal and also figurative. What we are trying to do is not only create rooms full of books but also give children the room or opportunity to permanently break the cycle of poverty via the power of education.
-------------------------------
P. Madan Mohan, India (email): I am from India. I am very happy to know that you are doing a very great program for the poor children around the developing world. India is the second largest populated country in the world. How are you implementing the program in such a large country like India in addition to other developing nations?
John: One of the keys to “Room to Read’s” growth and of having over 5000 libraries is hiring talented and dedicated local teams. Our India team is led by Ms. Sunisha Ahuja and through the dedication and passion for education of her team, we're able to work very effectively with communities in India.
-------------------------------
Arslan: Do you feel any regret on leaving a very lucrative job at Microsoft?
John: The only time I regret it is when I get my monthly credit card statement and realize I have to pay it instead of Bill Gates paying it. Seriously I have no regrets. I enjoyed working there and it's a great company but in devoting myself in educating kids across the developing world I have found my true-life passion.
-------------------------------
Erin: Tell us about one of your favorite success stories, about how “Room to Read” touched the life a young person and turned their life around…
John: One of the success stories I'm most proud of is a young man in Vietnam, Vu. When I first met him he was very eager to get an education but did not have the resources. I've been able to help him over the years and he's managed to finish university. He now speaks 3 languages fluently and he is now enrolled in a masters degree program in computer science. It is amazing to see the progress that one person can make in less than one decade if the financial support is there for their education.
-------------------------------
D. Lokanadam, India (email): I came to know your program “Room to Read” through VOA Chat. May I know in which places you concentrated your program in India? Whether your program is extended to school-going, younger children or to college students also?
John: Our focus has always been on children starting in pre-school and through the end of secondary school.
-------------------------------
Erin: Who pays for the schools, libraries and books – and what about teachers?
John: We connect wealthy donors with villages. Those donors sponsor the financial cost of setting up the library and printing books in local languages. As part of our Challenge Grant Model we ask the village to come up with a solution to pay for the salaries of the teachers and the librarians.
-------------------------------
Erin: Does “Room to Read” tailor its approach to certain communities based on the cultural environment?
John: Yes it is very important that the books that we put into the hands of students are culturally appropriate and relevant that is how we started a publishing initiative with local authors and artists and you can learn more at our website: www.roomtoread.org
-------------------------------
Hio Tiao Lim: It took some time for this to appear :) Experience is the best teacher, and authors write books from what they have learned and experienced. When will your program reach the Philippines?
Erin: Hio, apologies for the delay in accessing our live chat. We hope you can visit “Room to Read's” website: www.roomtoread.org to learn about possibilities for Philippines. We will forward your question to John, who had to leave. Thanks for joining T2A!
-------------------------------
Tayyab Ajmal: Do you entertain volunteers as they play an important role in structuring any organization?
Erin: Hello Tayyab, thanks for this great question and we will forward it to John for an answer.
-------------------------------
Sheena Jayne Lim: I would like to get some advices from you. I am 13 years old with a younger sister age 9 and a younger brother age 7. I always ask my father to read me a book before bedtime
Erin: Hello Sheena and it sounds like you have been very lucky to have your father read to you and to your sister and brother. Many believe that is one of the best ways to learn how to read and to enjoy reading. We hope you will email us with your mailing address so we can send you some fun T2A stuff! Our email address is: chat@voanews.com Thanks for joining us.
-------------------------------
Erin: That wraps today’s T2A chat. Our thanks to “Room to Read” founder John Wood in Davos, Switzerland today, and to you for joining us. We hope you can come back on January 30th right here on voanews.com See you then! We you can come back on January 30th for another T2A webchat, right here on voanews.com!
-------------------------------
Back to Past Chats
