Worldreader

Worldreader is an international EdTech nonprofit that brings the magic of reading to children’s homes worldwide because research shows parents are a child’s first teachers. Since 2010, Worldreader has impacted over 22 million readers in over 100 countries.

The Problem
A child’s love of reading starts at home. Research shows that pre-literacy skills and cognitive development are built from birth, with parents being a child’s first teachers. Yet today, only 2-10% of homes in Sub-Saharan Africa have access to children’s books, and too many are left without reading opportunities. From war to climate disasters and growing inequality, students continue to face unprecedented educational disruption – and parents are left at the frontline of the education crisis.

We’re living in the digital age. With 80% of households in lower and middle-income countries owning mobile devices, children and caregivers are often drawn to screens for entertainment and learning. What if we could turn the age of screens into the age of reading?

The Solution
Worldreader gets children reading so they can reach their potential. For young dreamers with curious minds and their families, Worldreader is a gateway to a lifelong love of reading and learning. Through digital technology, Worldreader provides family-centered reading experiences to all children aged 3 to 12 so they are inspired to explore a world of endless possibilities.

Worldreader’s reading experience, BookSmart, offers families a free digital library of more than 2,700 captivating books and learning activities. Readers can access locally sourced children’s books in English, Spanish, Arabic, Hindi, Kiswahili, and Ukrainian, and regional languages like Ewe, Twi Akwapi, and Twi Asanti. BookSmart is designed to boost reading practice in the home and harness the power of reading aloud to young children. While reading together, families enjoy precious bonding time, explore themes children and caregivers can relate to, and participate in interactive reading activities that promote continuous engagement and allow them to connect more deeply with the material.

Worldreader combines BookSmart with community connections to facilitate home reading. They offer evidence-based reading programming to community-based organizations, learning institutions, and the private sector, leading to enhanced reading comprehension, social-emotional skills, and digital literacy. These skills contribute to higher education achievements, increased earning potential, and improved emotional intelligence. Worldreader analyzes data to grasp readers’ behavior, offering partners and communities valuable insights for effective educational programs. They motivate parents to read at least 25 books a year to and with their children, not only cultivating a daily reading habit and love for books but also prioritizing real comprehension of the texts they enjoy. This helps children enhance their background knowledge, vocabulary, and reasoning skills, which are essential for improved reading comprehension.