Build "Kitabon ki Duniya" with us!

635 children.

That’s the number of children we are reaching through the first cohort of Kitabon ki Duniya.

From the Korku tribe in Melghat and the Phase Pardhi community in Madhya Pradesh, to the Bharwad community around Nagpur, Dhangar communities near Yavatmal, children of migrating sugarcane workers in Kolhapur, children in rural villages across Gadchiroli and Beed, and children from low-income communities in Nagpur.

Why does this matter?

Children from marginalised communities are often denied not only access to books, but also the opportunity to read for pleasure, follow their curiosity, and encounter stories that reflect their languages, cultures, and lived experiences.

A thoughtfully created library can help change that.

But a sustainable library needs more than a one-time donation of books. It needs an educator who can recommend the right story, make space for children's questions, encourage reading for pleasure, and create a culture where books are enjoyed rather than imposed.

That is what Kitabon ki Duniya seeks to build: not just libraries, but the people and practices that help those libraries thrive long after a workshop ends.

We want educators to move beyond seeing a library as a room full of books. We want them to see it as a space where children can choose what they read, encounter unfamiliar worlds, recognise their own experiences in stories, ask difficult questions, and develop the confidence to think independently.

What will your contribution help us do?

With your support, we aim to strengthen Kitabon ki Duniya and extend its reach to grassroots organisations working with children.

Our first cohort of 18 participants from 8 organizations has already started their journey.

Your contribution will help us:

• Distribute 800 children's books: Provide 100 carefully selected children's books to each of the 8 grassroots organisations in Cohort 1, strengthening their library collections.
• Train 18 educators from 8 organisations: Equip educators with the skills to select children's books, conduct read-aloud sessions, facilitate discussions, and create engaging library experiences.
• Provide 9 months of mentoring: Support participating organisations through monthly calls, two residential workshops, and a field visit to help them establish and strengthen their children's libraries.
• Build 8 sustainable children's libraries and reading programs: Help all 8 organisations create child-friendly library spaces where children can access books, read for pleasure, and explore new ideas.

Every contribution helps us take another step towards making these spaces possible.