READ Global aims to build more libraries in Nepal

KATHAMANDU, May 23: READ Global, which has built as many as 53 libraries in several rural villages of Nepal over the last two decades, has won the prestigious Barry and Marie Lipman Family Prize Award.



After winning the award, READ Global has said that it will build more libraries in Nepal in future.



A non-profit organization that strives to educate people by building libraries in rural areas of Nepal, Bhutan and India, READ Global won the prize, which carries a purse of $ 100,000, from the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania for making an impact on community level. [break]



"More than a prize, it is also an honor; and it gave us a chance to start partnership with the university," said Tina Sciabica, Executive Director of READ Global, who came to Nepal to share the honor with the Nepali communities.



READ Global, which is known as READ Nepal in Nepal, won the award by beating 115 non-profit organizations working in various sectors.

"As we work in different fields like agriculture, education and women, our organization beat others," explained Tina. "Other organizations that gave us a close competition focused only on one field."



"This is the beginning of a long partnership with READ Global and I hope they will give continuity to their work," said Umi Howard, Director of Lipman Family Prize. READ Nepal is a branch of READ Global in Kathmandu. READ Nepal was formed in 1991 with a library at Solukhumbu.



"Basically it focused on rural areas and development of rural communities," Pratima Sharma, Program Manager for READ Nepal, said.

"We want to build more libraries from the fund that we received with the award," said Tina.

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