24^th of January 2021

READ Foundation has secured match funding from the UK Government through the UK Aid Match programme and is delighted to announce the launch of the new Empower Her appeal to support out-of-school girls in rural areas of Pakistan access education. We know that by giving girls a safe space to learn, and a qualified teacher equips them with the tools they need to succeed, lift themselves out of poverty and transform their world.

UK Aid Match is a grant from the government whereby every donation made by the UK public is matched pound for pound. For READ Foundation, this means every donation made between the 5th February and 4th May 2022 to the upcoming Empower Her appeal will be DOUBLED . READ Foundation is aiming to raise over £370,000 from the public, which will be matched by the UK Government.

An estimated 23 million children in Pakistan are out of school. The literacy rate for girls in Diamer, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan is less than 1% with an attendance rate at primary school of 12%. These out-of-school girls are unable to read, write or do basic maths, let alone go on to further education.

All donations, including public and matched, will go towards enhancing access for over 2,250 marginalised and out-of-school girls in Diamer. This project aims to improve the literacy and numeracy opportunities for girls in primary education which involves setting up 75 Community Based Accelerated Learning Schools.

Providing knowledge is the best form of continuous and sustainable charity. Your support now can change the future for these young out-of-school girls. Understanding the basics of literacy, maths or generally how things work, will mean they stand realising their potential. It will also allow them a foundation to pursue further education. And importantly they will have the understanding that education is the key to breaking free from the cycle of poverty. This is how they will change their situation and the situation for future generations.

We want every young girl to be empowered and contribute positively to their societies. Working together, wit h knowledge, the community becomes stronger.

Jahangeer Akhtar, READ Foundation CEO says: “We are delighted to be launching such a powerful and impactful programme that will provide long-term, life-changing support to girls in Pakistan. We are overjoyed to be working closely with the UK government to facilitate real and positive change, which will help empower and strengthen future generations. With UK Aid Match, our donor’s support will be making double the impact.”

Afzal Khan MP for Gorton, Manchester says: “I am glad to be supporting such an important cause with one of our local charities in Manchester. Equality in access to education is a fundamental right for all people, everywhere and the focus in ensuring access not only to impoverished communities but also for out-of-school girls in particular is close to my heart. I’m looking forward to joining in of what I hope will be a successful campaign.”

Donations to the READ Foundation Empower Her Appeal can be made over the telephone on 03000 121 121, online at www.readfoundation.org.uk or by sending cheques, payable to READ Foundation to: READ Foundation, Victoria Court, 376 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M14 6AX.

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For further information please contact:

READ Foundation Victoria Court, 376 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M14 6AX. Tel: 03000 121 121 info@readfoundation.org.uk www.readfoundation.org.uk

Editors notes:

● Project Activities

– Opening 75 Community Based Accelerated Learning Schools. – 2250 marginalised and out-of-school girls access education. – 75 female teachers trained to deliver compact curriculum. – 150 Village Education Committees set up. – Parents of out-of-school girls sensitised to the importance of education for their daughters.

READ Foundation is a registered charity with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, registration number 1160256.

READ Foundation was registered in the UK in 2006 and has worked in Pakistan since 1994.

It focuses on providing quality education in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Lebanon and Yemen.

The appeal will run from 5th February 2022 to 4th May 2022.

UK Aid Match brings charities, the British public and the UK government together to collectively change the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. It is designed to allow the British public to have a say in how UK aid is spent and provide opportunities to engage with international development issues, whilst boosting the impact of the very best civil society projects to reach the poorest people in developing countries.

For every £1 donated to a UK Aid Match charity appeal by an individual living in the UK, the UK government will also contribute £1 of UK aid, up to £2 million, to help these projects go further in changing and saving lives.

Over the last six years, 64 organisations from across the UK have run UK Aid Match projects in 38 countries, helping around 25 million people.

Further details at https://www.ukaidmatch.org/