Thank you to our ambassadors who help to spread the word about READ and represent us in the best possible way!

Mariana Pavlovic - READ Alumni 2007/2008

I'm Mariana and I volunteered with READ International throughout my final year at the University of Manchester. Our project visited the Kagera region of Tanzania in the summer of 2008.

Jake Cook - READ Alumni 2009/2010

I was part of READ Book Project Manchester helping organise fundraising events such as band nights and football tournaments and, just like all volunteers, spent many a sunny day book sorting! I was then lucky enough to go to Tanzania in July 2010 to help distribute the books we had worked long and hard to source, sort and send. It was this opportunity to see the project through to its end that made volunteering with READ all the more appealing.

Most memorable moment volunteering in Manchester: On a hot summer’s day in the DHL warehouse car park, shrink wrapping the last pallet of books, knowing that there were no more books to be sorted this year and I could finally go for a cold beer!

Most memorable moment volunteering in Tanzania: Playing football matches every Friday at the school whose library we were renovating. We had some fantastic matches with us playing with the school teachers against the school team with us all having sodas and food afterwards. This was symptomatic of all the schools we visited in Tanzania. They were all so happy to have us and incorporated us into their daily lives.

Why a READ Ambassador? Although there is a strong sense of fulfilment once you complete your own project, you quickly realise how it was just one cycle in long sequence of cycles that must continue in order to achieve the ultimate objectives of READ. Bringing the educational standards of a country up is not a short term enterprise; there are many schools that can benefit from our assistance. It is therefore important that we continue to have the support of volunteers and sponsors not only to continue the good work but to expand on it as well. READ Ambassadors are here to help achieve this by providing firsthand accounts of the success of the charity, providing proof to those who know, and to those who don’t, that READ International is a working force for positive change.

Paul McConnell - READ Alumni 2009/2010

I am a Politics and International Relations graduate from the University of Kent. I began to develop an interest in the global justice movement when I finished school, and my interest grew throughout my degree. In my final year of university I received an email explaining Read’s work and the need for volunteers for the Kent Project; I knew immediately that this was how I could make a difference. A year later my only regret is that I didn’t get involved earlier and help more.

Nevertheless I believe activism is not simply a student hobby, but a lifelong commitment. I believe that education is a powerful weapon in the fight for global justice, and having seen the READ Book Project Kent 2009/10 from start to finish, I have great faith in Read’s commendable role in this struggle. As a result of this I want to encourage others to play a part in this fantastic journey.

My time distributing the books and renovating the library in Tanzania constituted an indescribable adventure overflowing with profound moments. However my favourite READ moment was at the end of the academic year, standing in front of the shipping container we had just spent hours packing full with the thousands of books we had collected throughout the year. The first leg of the journey was complete, and we all felt an awesome sense of accomplishment, pride, and euphoria!    

Nikki Berry

Nikki joined the Nottingham Book Project when it first began in 2004. She moved on to become a founding member of READ and the General Secretary of its Board until 2007. She continues to stay very close to READ, raising funds, spreading the word and offering advice on our onoging strategy and fundraising initiatives.

Guy Hindley

Guy and Dan were co-chairmen of the City of London School charity campaign 07/08, who chose to support READ International for the year. Through a variety of big and small events, from cake sales to the 3 peaks challenge, a massive effort from the whole school helped to raise over £58,000 for READ, which was subsequently match-funded.

Guy is now taking a Gap Year before university and will be travelling to Tanzania with READ as part of the Library Project, with a view to helping READ develop a scheme for gap year students.

Daniel Pyzer-Knapp

Having been involved with READ since 2007 when the charity was still very small, it has been amazing to have been an ambassador for the last 3 years. I have been able to expand upon the work I did with City of London School fundraising over £116k during the academic year, helping to develop READ's schools strategies, and this year, creating READ goes LIVE, our first nationwide event which is rolling out in February. Over the last few years, the READ family has grown and developed, and it's fantastic to see the exciting new directions we are headed in. Now at University of Edinburgh, I'm continuing my work with READ with the Book Project as well as continuing my work developing strategies with the school network.

I have many fond memories of working with READ, but one that stands out for me and really shows what the charity is about was when we met the Tanzanian high commissioner in the House of Lords. What she said about how the work of READ was helping the education of many young children in East Africa really hit home as to how important READ International is and what a good job it is doing.

Hannah Smith

Hannah first got involved with READ in 2007 when she was setting up the UK operation of Better World Books. She played a key role in developing the partnership between the two organisations that now brings in thousands of pounds a year for READ.

Hannah now works as an independent consultant and volunteers her time to help READ develop new projects. This includes developing the concept for the Choose What You READ initiative. She also spreads the word about READ wherever she goes.