John Wood left his job at Microsoft in 1999 after seeing students without books and co-founded Room to Read in 2001 to increase literacy and gender equality in schools across Asia and Africa. Room to Read has constructed over 1900 school buildings, opened 17,000 libraries, published 1,100 children's books, and impacted over 9.7 million children's lives by providing girls education and building literacy skills in primary schools.

1. John Wood
Literacy

2. Background info
•Born in January 1964
•Lives with his wife in Hong Kong and has 2 daughters
• Holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado
•Worked for Microsoft from 1991-1999

3. How it all began...
• Saw a group of students in a school without enough books
• Felt sympathetic towards them and donated 3000 books to the
school
• Left his company to help these children with illiteracy
• Devoted himself full-time to donate books to Nepal

4. About his organisation
• Co-founded his organisation “Room to Read” in 2001 with Dinesh
Shrestha and Erin Ganju
• Operate in 10 countries throughout Asia and Africa
• Focuses on increasing literacy and gender equality in schools

5. What his organisation does
• Develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school
children
• Support girls to complete secondary school with the relevant life skills
to succeed in school and in the workforce

6. What his organisation has achieved
• Constructed over 1900 school infrastructure projects
• Opened over 17,000 libraries
• Published over 1,100 original local language children's books
• Provided over 31,000 girls with enhanced education opportunities
and life skills training
• Impacting the lives of more than 9.7 million children