Our mission is to transform the lives of millions of children in developing countries by working with partners to identify, promote and support innovations, best practice and policies that will change the way books are created, procured and provided. We're working to ensure that by 2030, all children have access to high-quality, local language books at the right reading level, as well as the teaching and support they need to use them effectively to develop and sustain their literacy skills. The Alliance has an exciting opportunity to forge lasting change that will impact children today and for years to come. By 2024, it may be possible to walk into any classroom in West Africa and see shelves populated by reading books in local languages like Bambara and Fulfulde. Stories reflective of community cultures and traditions will fill the pages. Teachers will draw on thoughtfully designed materials throughout the day, encouraging their guided use and integrating them seamlessly into their classrooms. Eager young learners will have at their fingertips the materials they need to learn to read in a language they use and understand, enabling more success in the language of instruction and a lifetime of joyful reading. The tools exist to put the right books into the hands of at least half the children who do not speak the language of instruction in their school by 2024, allowing those children, and others around the world to use those books to learn to read by 2030. As the global community unites around this mission, we hope that they are continually reminded of the power of books to transform the lives of today’s children as well as those of future generations. Success depends on the collective efforts of partners, communities, and leaders around the world. The Alliance stands ready to shepherd those efforts by giving them direction, focus, and vision. Join us as we work together to close the global book gap.
