I got an email from Amazon today, suggesting I “Like” their Kindle Facebook page and get myself entered in a sweepstakes to win a $100.00 Kindle gift card (see the link at the bottom of this post if you want to enter the sweepstakes, too!).  Being a Kindle fanatic I clicked right over and did that, got the sweepstakes entry form filled out, then noticed a picture in their sidebar and discovered a truly amazing organization:

Worldreader.org

I am in awe of this group and the great work they are doing.

Someone had the foresight and creative vision to see how the advent of the reasonably priced e-reader and the ever-expanding amount of digitized content could change the life of someone who would not otherwise have access to books.  They saw how a Kindle could change the course of a life.  This amazing, and really very young organization has managed to put 440 Kindles, along with lots and lots of content and training, into the hands of Ghanaian children and their teachers. 

Now this group is starting with a pilot project and doing all the due diligence of assessment and evaluation (as well as getting the coveted 501(c)(3) non-profit status from the IRS) to see what works and what can be improved, but it seems pretty clear from their early reports that this project is already making an impact in the lives of the people who were chosen to participate.

To learn more about the work of Worldreader.org read their blog here.

I pretty regularly give charitable donations to various health organizations, but this group really struck a chord with me (books, e-readers & educating children!).  I immediately did a little Christmas shopping for my long time critique partners and donated books to this organization in their names.   If you’re visiting my blog, you probably love to read.  How great would it be to share that love with a child that might not otherwise ever own a book?  If you are so moved, consider donating a book or two ($5 each), or a whole e-reader ($200) to this very worthy project through their website Worldreader.org. 

And since you love to read (and you made it to the end of the post – thank you!), enter the Amazon $100 Kindle gift card sweepstakes by clicking the “Like” button here.

Merry Christmas!

Laurin