Our impact
Books give people the power to change their lives for the better and create a more equal future. Every year, we offer the opportunity to read to millions.
Supporting the SDGs
The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a blueprint for a better, fairer future – and equal access to information is right at the heart of almost all of them. By sharing the power of books worldwide, we can help turn these goals into a reality. Our Theory of Change outlines how we create access to books around the world.
We have the greatest impact on three SDGs:
SDG 4: Quality education
Books transform learning. They help teachers teach and bring students closer to their lessons. They lift the quality of education forever. That’s why we work with our partners to create and support school libraries. Since 2017, we’ve established 1,362 brand new libraries.
We also train teachers and librarians to feel more confident running libraries so that they can use books to enrich their classroom lessons and fire children’s imaginations. We’ve trained 3,589 teachers and librarians since 2017.
By helping to improve education, we also help people to break the cycle of poverty – that’s SDG 1 – and reduce inequality – SDG 10.
SDG 3: Good health and wellbeing
In many communities where we work, there are not enough doctors, nurses and healthcare workers, and those who are practising struggle to access up-to-date information.
Every year, we provide tens of thousands of specialist medical books, so students and experienced medics can build their skills and provide the highest level of care.
Since 2016, we’ve provided medical books worldwide
SDG 5: Gender equality
Reading books by and about female role models can help girls see themselves and their world in a whole new light. It can break down stereotypes and open up possibilities.
So, as well as providing carefully selected books to encourage and inspire girls, we include gender issues in our training for partners and we actively seek out partners who focus on gender issues.
We are especially conscious of the needs of women who have been displaced or who live with conflict.
Impact stories
Books transforming lives
Joseph, a teacher and librarian in Liberia, shares how a school library is providing light in the darkness.
Reading to feel free
Access to books both at school and at home is really important to girls like Faustina. She tells us how it can keep girls learning even when they’re not at school. This is her story.
Books to dream and achieve
Phillimon knows that books help children dream of a brighter future – they helped him achieve his dream of becoming a teacher. This is his story.
A lifetime of reading
For Puleni, books have been a life-long companion. He shared with us the impact that reading has had on his life and his hopes for younger readers in Malawi.
Lighting up education
Emilina is a mother of five from rural Malawi. Here she tells us how access to a combined book and solar lamp library has been helping her son in his studies.
Sharing knowledge
For Ridwan, having access to brand-new books is making a huge difference to her and the medical students she teaches. This is her story.
Enjoying fine stories
Veronica loves to read whenever she can, but she also knows that reading can be the key to a brighter future.
Reading day and night
The more Dalitso reads the better he does at school. Here he tells us how greater access to books is helping him with his education.
Books to build a brighter future
During the worst of the Liberian civil war Yvonne set up the WE-CARE library to provide a space for children to read and learn. This is her story.
More about us
How we select and send books
We work with partners to make sure books that will have the biggest impact go where they are needed most.
Read moreOur mission and vision
Our vision is a world where everyone has access to books that will enrich, improve and change their lives.
Read more