Bringing the Joy of Reading to Every Child

In this edition of our Philanthropy section, we spotlight an initiative working to address one of India’s most critical education challenges: foundational reading.

Across the country, millions of children struggle with basic literacy. According to the ASER 2024 report, 55% of students in Grade 5 are unable to read a Grade 2 level text. When children are unable to read in their early years, it affects their ability to learn across subjects and often impacts their long-term educational outcomes.

One organization working to address this challenge is Anandaya Foundation, whose vision is simple yet powerful: to see every child read with joy.

Led by Jaishree Goyal (Founder & CEO) and Sanjay Krishna Goyal (Chairperson & Trustee), the organisation focuses on improving foundational reading and learning skills among children from low-income households.

Project Pustakalaya: Creating Spaces that Encourage Reading

At the heart of the initiative is Project Pustakalaya, a Learn-to-Read and library program implemented in government primary schools.

The program establishes vibrant, resource-rich libraries that encourage children to explore books and develop reading habits early in life. These libraries are supported by curated book collections designed to strengthen comprehension, imagination, and curiosity.

Beyond setting up libraries, the program works with teachers and school systems to ensure these spaces become active learning environments. This includes:

• Teacher training in the science of reading
• Digital teaching aids
• Monitoring, evaluation, and learning assessments
• Engagement with schools and other stakeholders

This integrated approach helps ensure that the program creates lasting improvements in learning outcomes.

Impact on the Ground

Over the years, the initiative has achieved measurable outcomes:

• 473 libraries established
• 2,19,283 children benefitted
• 2,565 teachers trained
• Reading fluency improved from 2% to 51%

The impact goes beyond academic performance.

Schools have reported higher student motivation to attend school, increased confidence in classroom participation, and stronger engagement with learning. Teachers have also observed improvements in classroom culture, including greater empathy and cooperation among students.

Supporting National Education Goals

The program aligns with several national and global education priorities.

It supports the goals of the NIPUN Bharat Mission, which aims for all children to achieve foundational literacy and numeracy by Grade 3. The National Education Policy (NEP 2020) also emphasises that universal foundational literacy is essential for the success of the broader education system.

Additionally, the initiative contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education, with many of its books aligned to themes that encourage critical thinking and awareness among children.

Building the Foundations for Lifelong Learning

Reading is one of the most important building blocks of learning. When children learn to read with confidence and joy, it opens the door to curiosity, imagination, and opportunity.

By transforming rote learning into a love for reading, this initiative is helping children build skills that will shape their educational journeys and future aspirations.

To learn more about their work, visit:
https://anandaya.org/

Entrust Family Office would be happy to connect you with the founders/team behind these initiatives and support you in your philanthropic endeavours.