SOURCE:Eastman Chemical Company
DESCRIPTION:
Many of us can’t image a world without books. Yet for billions of people, that is a reality. Literacy skills are more than just reading and writing, but creates educational opportunities for individuals to improve their well-being. Through Eastman’s Corporate Responsibility efforts, we have partnered with Room to Read®, a global non-profit organization, to provide children and young women access to books and learning opportunities in developing countries.
“Literacy is an important factor to breaking the cycle of poverty,” says David A. Golden, Senior Vice President, Chief Legal and Sustainability Officer, and Corporate Secretary. “By partnering with Room to Read, we are striving to provide children, particularly young girls, in developing countries with a better future through education. It is the basis for lifelong learning and plays a key foundational role in the creation of sustainable and prosperous societies.”
Working across Africa and Asia, Room to Read’s mission is to transform the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Eastman currently supports two Room to Read programs in India that focus on Literacy and Girls’ Education. The early primary school for literacy acquisition helps children to develop literacy skills and a habit of reading while the Girls’ Education Program ensures girls can complete secondary school with the life skills necessary to succeed in school and beyond.
Literacy Program
To date, Eastman is supporting 5 school libraries in India - Delhi (2), Maharashtra (2), and Telangana. The libraries provide a child-friendly learning environment that enables children to develop the skills and habit of reading early in life, encouraging them to become life-long and independent readers. Room to Read’s involvement includes ensuring the school has a quality library with books in the children’s local language, as well as teachers/librarians who are trained in the best practices of library management. Ensuring that families, communities and governments are all engaged in the transformation of the school and committed to its success is fundamental to the program.
Girls’ Education
Eastman’s support ensures that 115 girls thrive in secondary school and have the skills to negotiate key life decisions. Room to Read’s program reinforces girls’ commitment to their own education, works to develop essential life skills and increases support for girls’ education among their parents, school staff, and communities. The program also includes social mobilizers - local women who are hired as mentors and work with girls and their families to ensure that girls stay in school, participate in activities, and navigate the challenges of adolescence with the ability to make their own life choices, both personally and professionally.
To learn more about Eastman’s Corporate Responsibility efforts globally and locally, visit Responsibility.Eastman.com.
KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Business & Trade, empowerment, literacy, Eastman, India, Positive Change, developing countried
