Boeing and Room to Read announce a partnership to expand Room to Read Bangladesh’s literacy program in the Natore district of Bangladesh.
Boeing will support Room to Read Bangladesh in continuing to improve reading skills among primary school children with the aim of nurturing independent readers. In the first year of implementation, the literacy program aspires to benefit over 2,000 children studying across 10 government primary schools in Natore’s rural communities.
Boeing’s Chief of Staff for India and South Asia Ms. Praveena Yagnambhat and Room to Read Bangladesh’s Country Director Ms. Rakhi Sarkar opened the partnership launch event. The ceremony was graced by senior dignitaries including the honorable State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism H E Md. Mahbub Ali, Chairman, Bangladesh Biman, Mustafa Kamal Uddin, and Secretary of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Civil Aviation, and Tourism Mr. Mokkammel Hossain.
U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh Mr. Peter Huss, and Boeing India and South Asia President Mr. Salil Gupte were present as well along with the Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education Mr. Shah Rezwan Hayat, and from the National Curriculum and Textbook Board, Chairman Professor Md Farhadul Islam, and Member (Primary Curriculum) Professor Dr. AKM Reazul Hassan.
“When you cultivate children’s imagination and curiosity, they can do amazing things. Our partnership with Room to Read in Bangladesh is a testimony to our commitment to providing tools and resources at the grassroots level to inspire the next generation and help them develop skills for a lifetime,” said Salil Gupte, president, Boeing India and South Asia.
“Thanks to Boeing, we are glad to include more primary school children in our existing work. This partnership will support us in taking our program to scale. In Natore, Room to Read is gradually moving from a “demonstration” model of program delivery to taking collaborative action with the local government so that our program goes beyond the target number of children. Therefore, Boeing’s partnership carries elevated significance for us,” said Rakhi Sarkar, country director of Room to Read Bangladesh.
Room to Read Bangladesh will combine the science of learning to read with the magic of reading to support these children in becoming independent readers who can break the cycle of illiteracy in their families. Room to Read aims to liaise with the Natore district education office to promote the use of evidence-based literacy interventions that support the development of reading skills and promote a habit of reading.
About Boeing:
As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability, and community impact. Boeing’s diverse team is committed to innovating for the future, leading with sustainability, and cultivating a culture based on the company’s core values of safety, quality, and integrity. Join our team and find your purpose at boeing.com/careers.
About Room to Read:
Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®️, Room to Read’s innovative model focuses on deep, systemic transformation within schools during two critical time periods: early Primary school and Secondary school. We support to develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among Primary school children, and ensure girls can complete Secondary school with necessary life-skills. Across +49,000 communities in 21 countries, we have benefited +32M children. In Bangladesh since 2009, we have implemented Literacy Program in 1,852 Government Primary Schools directly benefiting +3.5M children.
