-
There are 867 million illiterate adults in the world today
-
150 million children have received less than 4 years of schooling
-
There are approximately 113 million school-aged children are not in school
-
64 percent of illiterate adults are women.
-
60 percent of out-of-school youth are girls.
-
Today over 862 million adults are illiterate
| |
About Us
Keep Reading Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Sarasi Jayarane, a high school student, to give a helping hand to underprivileged children in developing countries in the world to learn English at their young age.
Brief History
Sarasi Jayaratne, Founder and President, launched Keep Reading Foundation after the tsunami in South Asia, 2004. On Dec. 26, 2004, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake on the ocean floor near Sumatra, Indonesia produced the most deadly tsunami in history.
The tsunami caused catastrophic loss, killing more than 160,000 people and leaving many thousands homeless. It also leveled hundreds of cities and towns causing billions of dollars of damage to Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India. According to World Bank report, 168 schools were either destroyed or damaged in Sri Lanka alone by the tsunami.
Sri Lanka is a large tropical island just 20 miles off the southern tip of India. She felt very sad about poor children who lost all their educational privileges as a result of tragic tsunami. At that time she was designing a service project for my Junior Girl Scout troop. After she has seen the devastation in Asia, she knew that she could do something for these countries. Being a native Sri Lankan her instant reaction and the selection was Sri Lanka.
After tsunami, her immediate thought was to supply reading books to schoolchildren to make a little comfort to their shattered life. With all in mind, she formed the Keep Reading Foundation to give unvoiced children a chance to shape their own futures. She recognized that lack of English books is vital to promote English reading and she should help establish small libraries in their classrooms through a book donation program organized by Keep Reading Foundation.
Founder and Executive Director
Sarasi Jayaratne
Advisory Board
Ven. Rajawelle Subhuti Thero, Maharagama, Sri Lanka
Ven Maharagama Dhammasiri, Washingtongton Buddist Vihara, USA
Dr. Nimal Jayaratne
Dr. Emmanuel desilva
Mrs. Seetha Jayaratne
Mr. Piyasoma
Mrs. Pushpa Piyasoma
Mrs. Krishanthi Basnayake
Management Team
Ven. Rajawelle Subhuti Thero, Maharagama, Sri Lanka
Mrs. Pushpa Piyasoma (International Director, Sri Lanka)
Mrs. Seetha Jayaratne
Mrs. Dorathi Herath
Volunteer Team
Dr. Emmanuel de Silva
Rev. R Subhuti Thero
Mrs. Pushpa Piyasoma
Mrs. Krishanthi Basnayake
Mrs. Holly Heiser
Mrs. Seetha Jayaratne
Mr. Graeme MacHorton
Mr. Milton Jayaratne
Mr. Nimal Jayaratne
Mrs. Dorathi Herath
Mr. Upali Basnayake
Rev. Banthe Dhammasiri Thero
Rev. Jack Grabb
Mr. Piyasoma
Miss. Susan Gretzkowski
Miss. Diana Gretzkowski
Awards and Recognitions
- DO SOMETHING Mountain Dew Award 2008
- Prudential Spirit Community Award, 2008
- Loudoun Times Mirror Future Leader, 2008
- AXA Achievement Award
- Girl Scout Gold Award
- The Better Hour Award
- Sara and Lawrence Phillips Girl Scout Gold Award
- Ruritan Club of Sterling Community service Award
- President’s Volunteer Service Gold Medal, USA Freedom Corps, 2007
- President’s Volunteer Service Bronze Medal, USA Freedom Corps, 2006
- Loudoun Volunteer Service Award, 2007
- Loudoun county Student Volunteer of the Month, September 2007, Potomac
Falls
High School
- Outstanding Community Service Award, Potomac Falls High School, 2006-2007
|
|
|
| |
