First Book and Room to Read Come Together to Distribute 30,000 Books in Dari and Pashto to Refugee and Immigrant Afghan Children

The Collaboration Taps into Strengths of Each Organization to Answer this Critical Need

September 8, 2022 (Washington D.C.) -- First Book, the largest online network of educators serving children in need, and Room to Read, the global education organization creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality, today announced an innovative partnership to publish and distribute a total of 30,000 books -- 12 unique titles in both Dari and Pashto, the two majority languages spoken by the Afghan population. The books will be made available to refugee and immigrant communities through First Book’s Network of educators serving children in need. This partnership leverages the industry-leading skills of both organizations – bridging First Book’s growing distribution Network of more than 550,000 educators with Room to Read’s 22-year experience as a noncommercial global publisher of diverse children’s books – to get culturally relevant books to those who need them most.

Members of First Book’s Network will have access to the titles, which have been adapted from a collection of books created for Syrian refugees in Jordan. The books will be directed to Afghan refugee children resettling in the United States to help them process their experience of moving to a new country and adjust to a new home and culture. The partnership brings together First Book’s reach among low-income communities across all 50 U.S. states with Room to Read’s exceptional ability to publish home language books in low-cost formats to meet critical gaps for underserved communities, such as the immigrant and refugee population.

“Providing resources in languages spoken by refugee children is critical to eliminating some of the barriers to education that they face. In addition, it makes an enormous difference in creating a sense of normalcy as they adjust to their new lives here in the U.S.,” said Kyle Zimmer First Book president and CEO. “The innovative nature of this partnership helps both First Book and Room to Read expand our reach and impact, allowing even more children to thrive with the resources they need to learn.”

This partnership specifically aims to support refugees and other immigrants who speak Dari or Pashto. While primarily created to help children process their experiences, these new books will offer engaging reading for young immigrants and help children maintain connections to their family's culture. First Book and Room to Read recognize the importance for young children, especially English-language learners, to preserve their emotional and cultural connection to the past while building the reading skills to succeed in the future.

Books can serve as both windows and mirrors to understanding diverse identities. When children can see themselves in books, they develop a greater understanding and appreciation of their individuality, their community, and their culture. Children can also be encouraged to read more when they recognize characters from their own culture. For refugees, culturally diverse and inclusive books help them maintain, and share, a personal cultural connection despite the distance from their homes. Diverse representation in books can also be a window for other readers to understand the cultural practices and values of other communities.