The Moodie Davitt Report has donated US$10,000 to the Room to Read charity which is focused on children’s literacy and girls’ education in Asia and Africa, as first prize in the 2019 Trinity Challenge.
As reported, Aircommerce Founder and CEO Melvin Broekaart triumphed in the Trinity Challenge, held at The Trinity Forum in Doha this October.
“I believe that reading is the start of education and learning; a start to understanding the world about us and the beginning to solving many problems in today’s world” – Melvin Broekaart, Aircommerce
The Trinity Challenge saw The Moodie Davitt Report partner with The Trinity Forum’s Innovation Partner, Mondelez World Travel Retail, in a pan-industry project designed to encourage a pioneering mindset and challenge prevailing industry wisdom. First prize was a trophy and a US$10,000 donation to the charity of the winner’s choice.
Broekaart, who introduced an artificial intelligence tool which encouraged passengers to make use of existing commercial venues in airports, was a clear winner. His nominated charity was Room to Read.
Room to Read believes that world change starts with educated children. Its work has now reached an astounding 16.8 million children. The charity seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in low-income communities by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Working in collaboration with local communities, partner organisations and governments, Room to Read helps develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children, and support girls to complete secondary school with the relevant life skills to succeed in school and beyond. |
“With the Trinity Awards donation to Room to Read, I chose to support their literacy programme in Cambodia,” Broekaart said.
“The programme consists of teacher training and establishing school libraries with high-quality, local language children’s books. One extra copy of a book in a Room to Read library costs approximately US$1; so with this donation they could put 10,000 extra books in their libraries.
“I believe that reading is the start of education and learning; a start to understanding the world about us and the beginning to solving many problems in today’s world.”
Broekaart compared the ability to read as an “upside-down pyramid”.
“It is something relatively small that can spark so much, a trigger to children’s education. Room to Read is the type of charity I truly believe in. They make things happen and really are the curators of change.”
Room to Read Associate Director Catharina Baltus said the charity’s literacy programme, which targets primary schools, has touched the lives of millions of children. In collaboration with local authors and illustrators, the charity has also taken on a publishing role and has produced over 1,500 different books in 35 languages.
She said the ripple effect of this US$10,000 donation would be felt by many children and adults. “The extra books it will provide will, of course, go through many hands and change the lives of many children, and in some cases adults who also learn to read as their children progress.”
Baltus said the books act as mirrors and windows for the youngsters. “They are mirrors as they are able to see something of their own lives as they read; and windows as the books open their eyes to another world out there.
“They are literally life changing for these children.”
As reported, Kiehl’s Travel Retail Asia Pacific is also supporting Room to Read during a pop-up at Shinsegae Duty Free’s Myeong-dong department store in Seoul.
