At the Sydney International Meeting in 2006, the JETAA International Executive and the Country Reps discussed the idea of JETAA International looking outwards into the community. We are a diverse organisation in geography, experience and resources, and we wanted to harness those talents and experiences to support a Charity. 4 Charities were submitted by the deadline and Room to Read was selected!

Room to Read is an International non-profit organisation dedicated to helping children in the developing world gain the lifelong gift of education. We believe that educating children is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and allowing people to take control of their lives. Since 2000, Room to Read has created educational opportunities for more than 755,000 children by partnering with local communities to build schools, libraries, computers and language labs, and through book donations, bilingual children's book publishing and girls' scholarships. 

Room to Read has partnered with communities in developing countries (Nepal, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Laos) to build more than 197 schools, establish 2,565 libraries, sponsor 1,757 girls' scholarships and donate 1.1 million books! Recently, Room to Read expanded into Africa.

Like JETAA, Room to Read has Chapters all over the world, and at the upcoming meeting in Paris, JETAA International will be brainstorming how we can move forward supporting Room to Read.