Igniting a Million Minds
A national movement to cultivate a generation of joyful, confident readers across Bangladesh through the power of digital stories and community engagement.
100
Schools Engaged
5,000+
Active Student Readers
10
Regional Reading Festivals
The Reading Opportunity
While Bangladesh has made incredible strides in school enrollment, a persistent 'reading gap' remains. Many children can decode words but struggle with comprehension and lack a habit of reading for pleasure. This campaign directly addresses this by making engaging, mother-tongue stories accessible to all, especially in underserved communities.
Secondary School Reading Proficiency by Division
A visual representation of the opportunity to improve reading comprehension and habits across the country. Lower proficiency indicates a greater need for engaging reading materials.
Our Theory of Change
We believe that by combining accessible digital content with hyper-local community activation and national media amplification, we can create a sustainable ecosystem that fosters a love for reading. This section outlines our strategic pathway from activities to long-term impact.
Problem
Low access to engaging Bangla books.
Activities
School clubs, festivals, media contests.
Outputs
Students reading, teachers trained.
Outcomes
Improved reading habits & confidence.
Impact
A nationwide culture of reading.
The Platform: Let's Read App
At the core of our campaign is The Asia Foundation’s Let’s Read app — a free, user-friendly digital library designed to give children access to a world of stories on the devices they already use.
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Vast Bangla Library
Hundreds of beautifully illustrated, age-appropriate storybooks in Bangla, with new titles added regularly.
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Offline Access
Books can be downloaded to a personal library for reading anytime, anywhere, even without an internet connection.
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Reading Levels
Content is organized by reading level, helping children, parents, and teachers find the perfect book to match their skills and interests.
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Rich STEM Content
Inspires curiosity with a growing collection of books on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
12-Month Implementation Plan
Our campaign is structured in distinct phases, from mobilization and launch to sustained engagement and a culminating celebration. This timeline is aligned with Bangladesh's academic and cultural calendars to maximize participation and impact.
| Activity | Q1 (Jan-Mar) | Q2 (Apr-Jun) | Q3 (Jul-Sep) | Q4 (Oct-Dec) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1: Mobilization & Launch | |||||||||||||
| Partner Onboarding & Governance | |||||||||||||
| School Recruitment (Prothom Alo) | |||||||||||||
| Campaign Launch (Int'l Mother Language Day) | |||||||||||||
| Phase 2: School & Community Engagement | |||||||||||||
| School Reading Clubs Active | |||||||||||||
| Prothom Alo Contests & Features | |||||||||||||
| Regional Activations (Blues) | |||||||||||||
| Phase 3: Celebration & Sustainability | |||||||||||||
| National Gala | |||||||||||||
| Reporting & Planning Year 2 | |||||||||||||
Our Measures of Success
Our campaign is driven by clear, ambitious goals. This dashboard outlines our key performance indicator (KPI) targets for the first 12 months, providing a clear vision of success we aim to achieve with our partners.
12-Month Campaign Targets
Active Students (Target)
5,000
Avg. Books Read / Month (Target)
5.0
Girls' Participation (Target)
55%
Teacher Engagement (Target)
95%
Target Growth of Active Readers
Anticipated Popular Book Genres
A Collaborative Effort
This campaign's success hinges on a unique consortium of partners, each bringing best-in-class expertise. Our clear division of roles, governed by a joint steering committee, ensures efficient execution and shared ownership of our ambitious goals.
The Asia Foundation
Role: Content & Pedagogy Lead
- Provide curated digital book library
- Ensure content permissions & IP
- Offer pedagogical support & toolkits
- Manage app analytics & data insights
প্রথম আলো
Role: Media & Outreach Lead
- Lead school recruitment drives
- Amplify campaign through print/digital
- Run national storytelling contests
- Drive app downloads via QR codes
Blues
Role: Activation & Events Lead
- Design and execute all events
- Manage on-ground logistics & vendors
- Ensure on-site child safeguarding
- Produce National Reading Gala