About Literacy Bridge

Mission

Our mission is to empower children and adults with tools for knowledge sharing and literacy learning, as an effective means towards advancing education, health, economic development, democracy, and human rights.

Organization

Literacy Bridge is a 501(c)(3) public charity, incorporated in the state of Washington and registered with the Washington Secretary of State's Charities Office. See our official IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter.  Our EIN is 26-1335205.

Approach

Literacy Bridge distinguishes itself by:

• prioritizing people with the greatest challenges, rather than focusing on the easiest to reach.
  
  
• starting each project as a collaboration with trusted local organizations that best serve these people.
  
  
• developing and applying affordable technology to improve the efficiency of existing networks.
  
  
• attracting and managing free/open source software developers to produce a cost-effective solution.
  
  
• ensuring each solution is scalable and sustainable by local organizations and businesses.
  
  

History

Literacy Bridge began with the idea that the most effective approach towards ending global poverty requires empowering people with better access to knowledge, and that those in greatest need are impeded by illiteracy, disability, and inadequate infrastructure.

During a research trip to the Upper West region of Ghana in mid-2007, this idea expanded to recognize that the most crucial knowledge is already available within developing countries; the problem is efficiently reaching individuals who need it most. Based on three months of field research and feedback from numerous Ghanaian organizations, the Talking Book Project has set out to use digital audio technology to improve literacy skills for children and adults, while also enabling knowledge to be shared with those who do not have access to text.

Supported by hundreds of individual donations and thousands of volunteer hours, Literacy Bridge completed R&D, produced 100 Talking Book Devices, and began feasibility studies in January 2009 throughout a rural district of northern Ghana.  Based on the encouraging reports from local nongovernmental organizations, health clinics, agriculture extension offices, and the district’s education system, Literacy Bridge is working with dozens of organizations around the world to expand the Talking Book Program.

More About Us

See

• Board of Directors
• Staff
  

Please Support our Work!

Your donation will enable the world's poorest people to benefit from the Talking Book. See feedback and testimonials.

All donations are tax-deductible