READ Foundation
| Formation | 1994 |
|---|---|
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Purpose | To address the dire need for education and literacy in Pakistan |
| Headquarters | Islamabad, Pakistan |
Region served | Azad Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
Chairman | Jamil Ahmed[1] |
CEO | Afzaal Ahmad[2] |
Deputy CEO | Abdul Rauf Janjua[3] |
| Website | Official Website, UK Website |
The Rural Education and Development (READ) Foundation is a non-profit educational network in Pakistan that was founded in 1994 from Bagh Azad Kashmir where 25 students and one teacher started its journey.[4]
It runs a network of 624 schools across Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, outskirts of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (All Districts).[5] This includes 422 regular schools, 120 literacy centers, and 82 schools taken over from the Punjab government.[6] It has 7,000 teachers and serves 135,000 children including 14,000 orphans.[7][8]
History
[edit]In the 2005 earthquake, the foundation lost many of its school buildings. After this disaster, the organization worked to rebuild schools and help the affected children.[9] Later in 2024, the foundation worked with the SCO to open a Software Technology Park in Muzaffarabad to help young people learn modern technology.[10] In 2026, the government organization WAPDA allocated 94.2 million rupees and teamed up with the READ Foundation to run 75 new schools for girls in Gilgit-Baltistan.[11]
International offices
[edit]The foundation has fundraising offices in the United Kingdom,[12] the United States,[13] and Canada[14] to help its schools in Pakistan. In the UK, it is a registered charity with the number 1160256.[12] Along with Pakistan, the foundation also helps poor children and families in countries like Bangladesh, Turkey, Yemen and Lebanon.[15]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Our Board of Directors - READ Foundation". 2024-01-26. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
- ↑ "CEO's Message - READ Foundation". 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
- ↑ "Deputy CEO's Message - READ Foundation". 2026-07-01. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
- ↑ "Our Introduction - READ Foundation". 2020-10-07. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
- ↑ "School Opening Programme - READ Foundation". 2024-01-30. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
- ↑ "82 schools taken over from the Punjab government". 2024-03-12. Retrieved 2026-07-13.
- ↑ "READ Foundation Pakistan".
- ↑ Rebuilding lives by Hassan Choudary The Express Tribune with the International Herald Tribune July 18th, 2010 Accessed July 27, 2010
- ↑ "Rebuilding lives | The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 2010-07-18. Archived from the original on 2021-12-01. Retrieved 2026-07-14.
- ↑ "Software tech parks opened in Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot". Dawn. 2024-06-24. Retrieved 2026-07-14.
- ↑ The, Express (2026-03-24). "WAPDA allocates Rs94.2m for girls' schools in Diamer | The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 2026-03-24. Retrieved 2026-07-14.
- 1 2 "READ FOUNDATION - Charity 1160256". prd-ds-register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-14.
- ↑ Roberts, Andrea Suozzo, Alec Glassford, Ash Ngu, Brandon (2013-05-09). "Read Foundation Usa - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved 2026-07-14.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Volunteer Deployments | Join Our Field Teams". READ Foundation Canada. Retrieved 2026-07-14.
- ↑ "Read foundation | ReliefWeb". ReliefWeb.
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