Join Room to Read’s Namaste India! Global Yoga Day June 16, 2012

 By Jacki Ueng

As we’re reading this article, we may either be taking for granted our ability to decipher the words on the page or feeling a sense of gratitude for the ability to communicate with the world in this way. Yet, while we were taught to read, the staggering statistics concerning illiteracy are evident. Of the 793 million people worldwide unable to read, 67 million are non-attending, primary-school aged children, of which, 70% are in Asia & sub-Saharan Africa.

Through the work of veteran nonprofits, we, even if travel never takes us to another continent, can make a difference in the life of someone else.  An example is Room to Read who, on June 16, along with their volunteer chapters, have planned a series of donation classes in cities worldwide including Los Angeles.

John Wood, author of Leaving Microsoft to Change the World, began the nonprofit Room to Read in 2001. On his soul-searching trekking trip to Nepal, Wood, during a visit to a local school, discovered their local library contained very few books. Left behind by backpackers, but considered “too precious” to share with kids for fear of potential damage were books including a Danielle Steel romance novel and a Lonely Planet Guide to Mongolia.  Devastated by this harsh reality as reading was his favorite childhood activity, John made a vow to return. Emailing friends, he asked for help, and, to his surprise, returned home to a garage filled with books.  Despite the broken promises made by other trekkers, John kept his, delivering books by yak to schools on his first trip back to Nepal in 2001.

Ten years later, Room to Read has outgrown Wood’s garage and is active in ten countries including: Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Zambia, and Tanzania. The nonprofit employs local writers and artists in a region to write age-appropriate, culturally-relevant books, hiring local teachers and program directors to help boost the area’s economy. Their work has led to more than six million children being provided better access to education, along with 1,556 schools and 13,152 libraries built. Most importantly, 16,879 girls who otherwise did not have the opportunity to attend school are now supported by Room to Read’s Girl’s Education program. Because every day that a child cannot attend school is another day lost, the work continues.

Further addressing this challenge is Namaste India, a global initiative begun by the Room to Read Zurich Chapter.  A collaboration of more than 50 of the organization’s chapters have been communicating with yoga studios, teachers, and students to schedule a series of donation-based classes on Saturday, June 16, supporting the Girl’s Education Program in India. One hundred percent of all donations through this will address girls’ education, global poverty, and human rights.  By offering young girls academic support, mentoring, and life skills necessary for success in school and beyond, the mission of, “When we educate a girl, we educate the next generation” is realized.
Yogis Anonymous founder Ally Hamilton and fellow instructor Kourtney Kaas will teach a 90-minute class with DJ Philip Steir at noon on June 16, at Yogis Anonymous, 1221 2nd Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401.  Yogisanonymous.com. RSVP: info@yogisanonymous.com.

Supporting one girl scholar in India for one year costs 250 US dollars. Our goal is to provide 150 girls with a one year scholarship in Room to Read’s holistic education program.

Visit http://namasteindiaroomtoread.blogspot.com for applications to hold a donation class or email
Room to Read LA Chapter Volunteer Jacki at JackiUeng@hotmail.com.

Keep checking the list of LA studios: jackiueng.com/namaste-india-global-yoga-day/

Jacki Ueng volunteers with the LA chapter of Room to Read, when she’s not interviewing changemakers, searching for the perfect meal in the Southland, or indulging her love of travel. Read her wanderlusting adventures at: JackiUeng.com.

Jacki Ueng

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