READ Tanzania is a charity (

NGO A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in h ...

), formerly known as READ International that aims to improve access to education in

East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territories make up Eastern Africa: Due to the historical ...

by renovating school libraries and providing educational materials. READ began as a

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

-based charity but has since moved operations mostly to

Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands and ...

Overview

READ International began life in 2004 as a ''Book Project'' based at the

University of Nottingham The University of Nottingham is a public university, public research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was founded as University College Nottingham in 1881, and was granted a royal charter in 1948. The University of Nottingham belongs t ...

, founded by a group of students following a

gap year A gap year, also known as a sabbatical year, is typically a year-long break before or after college/university during which students engage in various educational and developmental activities, such as travel or some type of regular work. Gap yea ...

teaching in Tanzania. Since 2005 READ has shipped a total of 1,303,890 books to Tanzania and renovated 110 libraries to improve access to these books. Since registering as a charity they have had their work recognised in a number of ways, winning ''Best New Charity'' in the Charity Times Awards 2007, finalists in the ''Guardian'' Charity of the Year Awards 2009, and finalists in the Charity Times Awards in 2009. READ International also won the Best "Business-Charity Partnership" award at the ''Institute of Fundraising Awards 2010'' and the "International Aid and Development Award" at the ''UK Charity Awards 2010''.UK Charity Awards 2010
/ref> In 2014, READ changed their focus from shipping books from the UK and international volunteering projects to raising funds for direct renovations and book purchases in East Africa with support from local students.

References

External links

READ International Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Read International Charities based in Nottinghamshire Organisations based in Nottingham University of Nottingham Foreign charities operating in Tanzania