This story was submitted as part of the #Pledge1Gives GivingTuesday campaign, which celebrates the many ways our member companies are having an impact around the world.
In 2005, I founded Language Lizard to provide creative, fun, educational products in over 50 languages to schools, libraries, and bilingual families. Our aim is to offer resources that not only enhance dual-language literacy and promote early language learning, but also teach children about other cultures and traditions, thus helping to build welcoming and inclusive classrooms.
Nearing our 15th anniversary, our Customer Outreach Representative, Nicole Smith, introduced Language Lizard to Pledge 1%. She inspired our company to make a formal commitment to supporting global literacy with a pledge of funding and time to the non-profit organization, Room to Read.
Nicole is a founding member of the New Jersey Chapter of Room to Read. Room to Read focuses on literacy and gender equality in education in 16 countries across Africa and Asia. The organization helps children learn to read and develop a love of reading from an early age. Room to Read ensures girls complete secondary school with the life skills necessary to negotiate key life decisions, be leaders in their own lives, and act as agents of change. Room to Read has benefited over 17.6 million children across 38,000 communities and aims to reach 20 million children by 2020.
Nicole has spent countless hours as a volunteer for Room to Read. Since 2011, she has run programs throughout New Jersey to enhance awareness for Room to Read’s work and to promote global giving. Nicole was familiar with Pledge 1% through her work with Room to Read and felt it was an ideal match with Language Lizard’s values and mission.
Over the last decade, Language Lizard has partnered with charitable companies and local organizations to provide literacy materials to dual language families. By joining Pledge 1%, Language Lizard is able to formalize its commitment to global giving as part of our company culture.
On Giving Tuesday 2019, Language Lizard is initiating an ongoing pledge to support Room to Read’s Book Publishing program. Through this program, Room to Read volunteers conduct writer and illustrator workshops around the world where participants learn best practices in children’s storytelling. Many of the manuscripts developed in the workshops are then produced and distributed in Room to Read school libraries. Room to Read also collaborates individually with talented authors and illustrators who create books for these libraries. Books developed in partnership with Room to Read are regularly recognized for their superior quality, winning several national book awards. In 2011, the UN acknowledged Room to Read’s contribution to children’s book publishing with the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy.
To date, Room to Read has published over 1,500 original titles in 35 languages and distributed 20 million books to students. As a publisher, I love the idea of supporting writers and illustrators throughout the world, and ensuring that culturally relevant books go to children who will learn and be inspired by them.
The coming year is an exciting one for Language Lizard. We will be celebrating 15 years supporting dual language learners. We are publishing a new manual to help educators in diverse communities build welcoming and inclusive classrooms. Language Lizard will be rolling out several new educational product initiatives. I am most excited about this new collaboration to support children’s literacy around the world.
