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The Philanthropic Reset: How Philanthropy Can Lead in the Age of AI

History presents us with moments that demand not just attention, but a fundamental shift in approach. We stand at such a juncture. The world is undergoing a technological transformation at the same time as our social and political landscape is shifting.

Public aid and public trust are at a low. Governments around the world have reduced their contributions to
aid international efforts. This shift has dire impacts. Bill Gates warned: "The number of [childhood] deaths will
start going up for the first time.“ Around the world, but especially in Western democracies, we see popular sentiment is increasingly pessimistic, marked by distrust of institutional leaders and a doubt that the next generation will be better off than the last. This global turbulence is exacerbating social problems. On top of this, new U.S. tax rules reshape incentives for giving.

A Library in Every Home: Free Books for San Francisco’s Youngest Readers

The San Francisco Department of Early Childhood (DEC), in partnership with San Francisco Public Library, have partnered with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to bring the love of learning to San Francisco’s youngest residents.

Through the Imagination Library, all children ages 0 to 5 are eligible to receive a free book every month until their 5th birthday.

These high-quality, age-appropriate books are thoughtfully selected to reflect a wide range of cultures, languages, and experiences. Books are available in Spanish and English and are delivered by mail at no cost to families. The program makes it easy for parents and caregivers to build vibrant home libraries and spend quality time reading with their children.
The Center for Effective Philanthropy •

Signals of Readiness: How Funders Can Vet AI in the Social Sector

The SMS service that connects hungry neighbors with nearby food pantries? It runs on AI. The nonprofit fighting cancer by repurposing generic drugs? Also operating with AI. The nonprofit instantly translating between teachers and parents who speak different languages? AI again.

Contrary to the dominant headlines, AI isn’t just a tool for big tech. It’s already fueling social impact, bringing benefits to under-resourced communities around the globe. Nonprofits, often overlooked in the tech world, are putting AI to work in deeply human ways.
Fast Forward •

Inside the Google.org Impact Summit: EMEA

Something big was in London earlier this month — and its name wasn’t Ben. It was the Google.org Impact Summit: EMEA, and its goal was to address two urgent questions: How can we ensure AI benefits everyone and how can we leverage our collective strengths to make that happen?The event was dynamic. Across dozens of sessions, hundreds of leaders across the philanthropy and nonprofit sectors worked together to chart the social sector’s path forward.
Fast Forward •

Taking AI Offline: Lauren Lichtman & Navya Akkinepally Build Tools for Education

What if the most powerful AI tools were in reach for the people who could benefit from them most?

For the 2.6B people still offline, AI tools to support learning often aren’t an option. Navya Akkinepally and Lauren Lichtman are working to change that. As co-executive directors of Learning Equality, they’re building AI-driven tools that work anywhere — even in the most disconnected classrooms.
Fast Forward •

Atif Javed Uses AI to Ensure No One Gets Lost in Translation

Can AI break language barriers? Atif Javed is proving it can.

Atif grew up as an interpreter for his refugee and immigrant family in the U.S. He saw firsthand how language could open doors — or slam them shut. After graduating from MIT during the Syrian refugee crisis, he knew he had to act. Atif swiftly quit his tech job and began building Tarjimly. This AI-powered platform connects refugees and humanitarian workers with bilingual volunteer translators in real time.

A Legacy of Learning: From KIPP Student to KIPP Parent

We recently sat down with Nicole Britton-Snyder, a dedicated mother, attorney, and proud alum of KIPP Academy in New York. Nicole’s journey spans multiple generations and brings to light the transformative impact of education on her own life as well as her son’s. From a KIPP student in the Bronx to a dedicated KIPP parent in the Bay Area, Nicole’s story is a testament to the enduring power of education and community.

Inspiring the next generation of changemakers: Introducing Room to Read and Ashoka’s new children's book series

We are excited to announce the publication of a new children's book series that will support young readers to become agents of change. Developed in collaboration with Ashoka, an organization that identifies and supports the world's leading social entrepreneurs and mobilizes a global community to build an "everyone a changemaker world," this innovative series aims to inspire children to use creative problem-solving and take action to create positive change in their communities.

Developing a lifelong love of reading: Meet Sreykeo from Cambodia

When Sreykeo was young, her parents were forced to travel to find work, leaving Sreykeo to be raised by her grandmother. Sreykeo’s father had to drop out of school when he was young to help support the family, but her grandmother is determined to make sure Sreykeo never faces the same fate. Though her family doesn’t have a lot of money, Sreykeo’s grandmother saves every bit she can to support her granddaughter's education.

Setting the course for 2023: Room to Read's 2022 Country Management Conference

It’s been over two years since Room to Read’s global leadership team sat at a table, visited a school or collaborated face-to-face on the important work that lies ahead for the education sector. But this past November, that finally changed. Room to Read’s global leadership team gathered in South Africa for their first in-person management conference since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The team spent several days together, brainstorming and workshopping plans for 2023. They even had the opportunity to visit a local primary school and see Room to Read South Africa’s Literacy Program in action. Read on to see some moments from the conference!

Updates from Room to Read's teams across the globe

Room to Read Cambodia recently developed a training manual titled "Life Skills Education for District Resource Groups in Target Provinces” to support social mobilizers and educators in providing life skills education to students in Room to Read’s Girls’ Education Program. The manual was developed at a Room to Read conference this past September which brought together representatives from Cambodia’s Curriculum Development Department, Secondary Education Department, Vocational Orientation Departme

Six ways to celebrate International Literacy Day

International Literacy Day is celebrated annually on September 8 to raise global awareness about the importance of literacy. As students, educators and families continue to grapple with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, International Literacy Day feels more important than ever before. Looking for ways to celebrate this year? Read on for some ideas!

1. Send a message of encouragement to an educator Educators have endured countless challenges over the past two years. Teachers have faced mon

Room to Read's work in Pakistan

At Room to Read, we recognize that potential is equally distributed, but opportunity is not. We are committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of the circumstances they were born into, can access a quality education and unlock their full potential. As part of this commitment, we work to identify countries and regions where students are facing deep educational inequalities and determine if we have the right expertise and resources to support local partners engaged in our areas of focus —

Around the world with Room to Read in eight updates

In recent months, many in our partner communities have been able to safely resume more in-person educational activities. Many educators have welcomed students back to the classroom, and many Room to Read social mobilizers have returned to in-person mentoring sessions. Our country teams have reconnected with local partners during school visits and have found new ways to engage their local communities in our literacy and girls' education programming. We celebrated the opening of a new library in S
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