What We Do

In 2001, the United Nations declared 2003-2012 the Literacy Decade, recognizing that learning to read and write is key to bringing about broader social and economic development. The core message of this declaration states that ‘creating literate environments and societies is essential for achieving the goals of eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, curbing population growth, achieving gender equality and ensuring sustainable development, peace and democracy.’¹

With literacy rates in Sub-Saharan Africa some of the lowest in the world, it is not surprising that the region is struggling to achieve its development goals. A movement in many countries toward free public education is having a positive effect, but local and national governments remain vastly under-resourced when it comes to providing textbooks and other reading materials for schools. In addition, many teachers are not well versed in effective literacy training techniques, largely due to the paucity of books and a resulting apathy towards prioritizing reading skills in school. Blackboards are often the only means of instruction, with a few textbooks shared between many and next to nothing in the way of additional reading materials and workbooks.

Despite the potential for community libraries in filling this gap, there is little to no public funding available for such projects, leaving entire communities with no free access to books or other kinds of valuable information. While it is sometimes possible to convince local government to budget for staff and basic maintenance once a library has been established, communities are rarely able to meet the costs of start-up on their own. It is in this context that Under the Reading Tree and its partners operate, helping communities build, stock and develop libraries in order to bring greater educational opportunities by promoting a love for reading and the exchange of ideas.


¹United Nations, 2001b. Resolution on Literacy Decade. (Adopted by the General Assembly [on the Report of the Third Committee
(A/56/572)], 88th plenary meeting.)