Sharing LitWorld's Model for Transformational Literacy at the World Literacy Summit

LitWorld's Story21 Project Manager, Jennifer Estrada, is a featured speaker at the 2014 World Literacy Summit in April which is held in Oxford, United Kingdom. Jennifer's keynote, "Bridging the Digital Divide for Lifelong Literacy," will share LitWorld's LitClub model for social-emotional literacy learning.

Jennifer was recently interviewed by the World Literacy Summit to discuss her work and experiences around literacy and its power to transform. An excerpt from her interview follows, read the full interview here. 

"I love stories, storybooks, storytelling and the power they have to connect humans and overcome differences. I have found that when all else fails to allow for mutual understanding, a well-chosen story can do just the trick. To enter into a story is to actively see the world from another’s perspective, from the perspective of the characters, the perspective of people in the story’s point in time or circumstance. Stories allow for incredibly joyful moments of empathy and compassion, exploration and comprehension. They break down barriers by creating common language and shared experiences, because the experience of the right story in the right moment can be as meaningful as one from your own life."

A World That Reads Together Creates Joyful Change Together

On March 5th we will link our voices together for World Read Aloud Day. Here's how you can celebrate:

1. Connect: Read aloud over video chat with someone who lives far away. Start a meeting at the office with an inspiring passage from a favorite book. Use Skype in the classroom to schedule an author to read aloud to your students.

2. Take the challenge: Ignite your reading life with the World Read Aloud Day Reading Minutes Challenge. Every minute you read will help us bring LitClubs and LitCamps to more children around the world.

3. Invite others into the movement: Join our wonderful WRADvocate Ambassadors and WRAD Partners in rallying the world to read aloud on March 5th. Download and use the WRAD banner and share the movement with as many people as you can.

The World Read Aloud Day 2014 Banner Is Here!

Use your Facebook profile page to spread the word about World Read Aloud Day. Click here to download the World Read Aloud Day banner and tell your friends and followers to do the same! Don't forget to Register for World Read Aloud Day so that we can add your special celebration to our WRAD map.

Booksource Sponsors 5,000 Reading Minutes for LitClub Children Around the World

We are overjoyed to announce that our longtime World Read Aloud Day partner, Booksource, has generously sponsored 5,000 reading minutes for our LitClub children around the world who are taking the World Read Aloud Day Reading Minutes Challenge.

The WRAD Reading Minutes Challenge asks people of all ages to collect sponsors who will donate money for each minute they read as we count down to WRAD on March 5th.

This is a great way for children to see that they have the power to create real change in the world while building fluency and stamina and falling in love with the magic of story. This challenge is also a great way to look after your reading life while raising money to bring LitClubs and LitCamps to more children around the world who need a safe place to read and share their stories.

Download the WRAD Reading Minutes Challenge packet today and start reading tonight! You can also pledge your support to our LitClub children with a donation to the Reading Minutes Challenge.

LitWorld India Launches in Ahmedabad

LitWorld's Community & Gratitude Cultivator, Leah Reiser, and our Advocacy and US Programming Director, Yaya Yuan, are visiting one of our newest programming sites, Ahmedabad, India. During their trip they will be running trainings and programs (including a LitCamp!). Our programs run in partnership with a local organization, Kadam Education Initiative (KEI). Since we put our expansion to India in motion last fall, we've had many joyous, informative video chat trainings with our new LitClub leaders and we are so thrilled to be meeting face to face. Follow LitWorld on Facebook and Twitter for stories from this trip. Reflections from Leah and Yaya will also be posted on the LitWorld Travel Blog.

This Small Action Can Change the World (and You Can Do It!)

It's simple, it's fun and it changes the world: Read aloud with us.

Spread the word about World Read Aloud Day to friends, family members and on your social networking sites.

Read Aloud with loved ones or new friends and tally your minutes. Find a sponsor to pledge a donation for the number of minutes your read.

Download LitWorld's free activity and event kit and host an event in your community, classroom, workplace or home. Connect with friends near and far to grow the movement worldwide.