About Global Literacy Support
Who we are, what we believe, and how we work to bring literacy to every corner of the world.
Our Story
Global Literacy Support was founded in 2010 by a small group of educators and community development workers who saw the same problem again and again: millions of children and adults around the world wanted to learn to read, but had no books, no trained teachers, and no schools.
They started small — collecting books from friends and neighbors, packing them into suitcases, and delivering them to a single village in rural Kenya. That first trip delivered 500 books to a community that had never seen a children's storybook. The response was overwhelming. Children walked miles to borrow books. Teachers asked for training. Parents wanted to learn alongside their children.
Fifteen years later, Global Literacy Support has grown into a worldwide network of volunteers, partners, and community leaders. We have distributed more than one million books, trained thousands of teachers, and built hundreds of libraries. But our approach remains the same: listen to communities, respect local culture, and build solutions that last.
Our Mission & Vision
Our Mission
To ensure every person — regardless of where they are born or how much money their family has — has the opportunity to learn to read, write, and use literacy to improve their life.
Our Vision
A world where every child learns to read in school, every adult gains the skills to support their family, and every community has access to books and learning materials in their own language.
Our Values
Five principles guide everything we do, from the books we choose to the partners we work with.
Community-led
We never enter a community without an invitation. We listen first, then design programs together with local leaders. The best ideas come from the people who live there.
Access for All
Age, gender, disability, or income should never determine who learns to read. We prioritize those who have been left behind — girls, women, remote villages, and displaced populations.
Sustainability
We train local teachers and leaders so literacy endures. Our goal is to work ourselves out of a job in each community within five to seven years.
Respect for Language & Culture
Children learn best in their mother tongue. We prioritize books in local languages and work with local authors and illustrators.
Transparency
We are accountable to the communities we serve, our partners, and the public. Our finances, program results, and challenges are shared openly.
Financial Transparency
We believe that transparency builds trust. Every year, we publish detailed financial reports showing how every Euro is used. Our commitment:
85% of our resources go directly to programs — books, teacher training, libraries, and direct community support.
10% goes to operations — salaries, office costs, and communications.
5% goes to partnership development — building relationships that expand our reach.
We are registered as a nonprofit organization in France (Registration No. W722001234) and comply with all French nonprofit regulations. Our financial statements are audited annually by an independent firm and are available to the public upon request.
Accreditations & Memberships
Global Literacy Support is proud to be recognized by leading nonprofit and literacy organizations worldwide.
- Google for Nonprofits — Verified partner
- International Literacy Association — Organizational member
- Global Book Alliance — Partner organization
- UNESCO Global Partnership for Education — Civil society partner
- French Nonprofit Registry (RNA) — Registered since 2010
Our Commitment to Safeguarding
The safety and well-being of the communities we serve — especially children and vulnerable adults — is our highest priority. Global Literacy Support has a comprehensive safeguarding policy that all staff, volunteers, and partners must follow. This includes background checks for all personnel working directly with children, mandatory training on protecting vulnerable populations, and a confidential reporting system for any concerns.
We are committed to creating safe learning environments where every person can learn without fear of harm or exploitation.
Partners We Work With
No organization can solve global literacy alone. We are grateful to work alongside these incredible partners:
Publishers & Book Donors
Hachette Livre, Gallimard, Scholastic, Oxford University Press, local publishers in 15 countries
Foundations & Trusts
La Fondation de France, The Reading Trust, The Kakenya Center for Excellence
NGO Partners
Room to Read, Libraries Without Borders, World Literacy Foundation, Save the Children (local chapters)
Government Partners
Ministries of Education in Kenya, Nepal, Guatemala, and Senegal
Join Us
We are always looking for passionate people to join our team or volunteer network. If you believe in the power of literacy to change lives, there is a place for you at Global Literacy Support.