About Us
WHO WE ARE
We're the World Literacy Foundation
We envision a world in which every one of us can read and write, in which there is free access to education for all.
The World Literacy Foundation is global a non-profit organization striving to ensure that every child regardless of geographic location has the opportunity to acquire literacy skills and books to reach their full potential – succeeding at school and beyond.
What We Do
We're Changing Children’s Lives Through Literacy
We provide children with books and educational resources, so they can discover the joy of reading.
We bring literacy support to disadvantaged children who are struggling to read and write.
We gather global literacy leaders and organizations to share ideas and collaborate within the sector.
We bring together innovative technology, e-books, and digital activities to advance the learning of children in remote communities in their mother tongue and English.
We are a global voice to spread and promote the importance of literacy, we empower people to advocate in their local community for this cause.
We involve parents in mentoring programs to help them instill the love of reading in their children and create a habit of reading at home.
Our Impact in 2021
Our Impact in 2020
Impact Report 2020-21
Thanks to You,
We Did It!
In 2020-21, our programs and services impacted 116K+ children, parents, and communities in the locations where we operate through book distributions, reading sessions, literacy mentoring, solar-powered tablets, and more. We also reached a global audience via digital channels with our message about the importance of literacy and reading in our daily lives.
Download the printed version by Country
Where We Work
We bring free books and literacy support to children in Australia, South America, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Africa.
United States
Latin America
United Kingdom
Africa
Australia
OUR PROGRAMS
Changing Children's Lives in...
Africa
SUN BOOKS
AUSTRALIA
ROOP
LATIN AMERICA
APRENDE LEYENDO
UNITED STATES
USA READS
UNITED KINGDOM
UK READS
AUSTRALIA
INDIGENOUS LEARNING APP
GLOBAL
AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
GLOBAL
WLS
Supporters
Our Team
Andy Kay
Caroline Burkie
Annie Barnden
Rebecca Deeny
Alec Green
Zaira Macegoza
Antonella Di Fiori
Carolina Costa
Carlos Vallejo
Silvia Gomez
Amanda Low
Nicola Miranda
Anny Gomez
Maria Rojas
Abiodun Okanlawon
Charles Muwangala
Paula Londono
Anny Gomez
Board of Directors
Dr Donald Green
Mr Darryn Keneally, OAM
Dr Anthony Cree, OAM
Ms Julia Paterson
GREAT WRAP
Mr Andrew
Kay
Ms Angelica Correa
Our history
Everything Started with a Book!
The World Literacy Foundation was established in Melbourne, Australia to bring books, tutoring, and literacy resources to children without any support.
The World Literacy Foundation sent the first 34,000 children’s storybooks to Ethiopia, Africa to increase the educational resources of children in remote communities.
We expanded our programs to the United States and the United Kingdom to reach children from low-income families with books and reading support.
We implemented the initiative Reading Out of Poverty in Victoria, Australia, with a sole focus on providing early literacy skills and school preparedness for children aged 0-5 years from a disadvantaged background.
The first World Literacy Summit was celebrated at Oxford University in the United Kingdom. This is the largest global event that brings together international literacy specialists to build greater collaboration and partnerships in the literacy and education sector.
We established Aprende Leyendo in Colombia, an early literacy intervention to benefit families with limited educational resources and support.
World Literacy Foundation was officially registered in the United States and the United Kingdom as a charitable organization to reach children from low-income families with books and reading support.
We started the initial development and testing of Sun Books in Uganda, Africa, the literacy app was pre-loaded in solar-powered tablets to reach students in off-the-grid classrooms.
We launched our WLF Ambassador Program to inspire young people to become literacy advocates and take action to help reduce illiteracy worldwide.
We created the Indigenous Learning App for children in 17 communities in Northern Territory, Australia. The app included e-books and games to help children learn English in conjunction with their mother tongue. Dingo App started to be implemented in Colombia as an EdTech solution to promote the learning of students in remote and rural areas.
Sun Books projects expanded to new schools in Zimbabwe. South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya.
Due to the Coronavirus, we transformed the World Literacy Summit 2020 into an online experience reaching 410 million people worldwide. UK Reads was launched as a response to the vital need for UK children to have access to books at home, supporting parents to become their child’s first teacher and literacy support.
Contact Us
We’d Love to Hear From You!
Australia
15/20 Commercial Road
Melbourne VIC 3004
Australia
+61 03 9995 0079
ABN: 33 940 354 008
I.A.N: A0055790R DGR
North America
PO Box 44
Grandville, MI 49468
United States +1 616 710 1932
501 (c) 3 EIN 46-1201100
Africa
PO Box 21427
Kampala – Uganda + 256 785 235776
Charity No. FORR139122056NB
United Kingdom
225 – 46 Eversholt Street
London NW1 1DA
United Kingdom +44 7 842930125
Charity No. 1154264
Company No. 08475669
South America
PO Box 10
Manizales – Colombia +57 31482177a36
NIT: 00000901239830 – 2
Registration: 0090055212
