It began with one young reader.
During a family visit to Nepal, Maya Shrestha could not find a book to borrow and had to buy one instead. Her question, why a child should have to buy a book to read one, became Nepal Reads. Now 12, she leads it as founder and Project Lead, with Sharada Maheswor Smriti Pratisthan (SMSP), the philanthropic arm of CAS Group.
What reading builds.
Reading is the entry point to everything that follows. It builds literacy, literacy builds confidence, confidence enables skills, and skills open opportunity. A reading child becomes a learning adult, and a learning nation.
Knowledge
Critical thinking
Confidence
Empathy
Reflection
Voice
“My vision is a Nepal where every child has easy access to books, online reading resources, knowledge, and learning opportunities. I envision communities connected through reading, empowered by education, and inspired to build a brighter future for Nepal.”
Reading as the entry point, not the entire outcome.
Our Reading for Leading framework moves from Reach (I can access and read) to Habit (I choose to read), Reading culture (we share and learn together), Lifelong learning (I use what I read) and Leading (I use what I learn to take part and contribute).
Functional community libraries in all of Nepal today
Schools with the Digital Library in the pilot
CLCs activated in Years 1 and 2
Years from pilot to system
Testimonials
पढ्छ नेपाल, बढ्छ नेपाल. Nepal Reads, Nepal Leads.
