WHAT IS THE POWER OF TEN?
The name came from the notion that within the networks of interested women there are often 10 others who also care about
the plight of girls around the world as well. 10 others from where you work, among your friends, in your book or social club,
where you worship, in your extended family, etc. Room to Read chapters around the world have come to see The Power of
Ten as also a springboard to driving “personal fundraisers” and networking through such endeavors as house parties, wine
tastings, bike-a-thons, birthday/anniversary/holiday gift alternatives, company gatherings and the like.
Bottom line - The Power of Ten is all about women who care, and are creatively thinking through ways to promote the
opportunities of girls’ education within “their unique worlds.”
ROOM TO READ’S GIRLS’ EDUCATION PROGRAM - INTRODUCTION
Room to Read currently supports 11,000 girls in seven countries in Asia (India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, Sri
Lanka, Vietnam), and also in Zambia. Our goal with the program is to support these girls so that they complete secondary
school with skills necessary to negotiate key life decisions. While certainly understanding the need for school-related
financial support for fees, books, uniforms, etc., Room to Read’s Girls Education Program (GEP) also recognizes as
necessary an investment far beyond merely the financial. As you can see, our approach is long-term and holistic.
A year of girls’ scholarship costs $250US. This complements our commitment to overall literacy (benefiting both boys and
girls) that led to Room to Read’s building of more than 1,400 schools, 12,000 bilingual libraries and our children’s book
publishing operations that have published over 8 million books with in the nine countries we serve. For more information,
click here.
WHAT RESEARCH TELLS US ABOUT GIRLS’ EDUCATION (WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?)
An education provides security and support to girls and enables them to make informed life decisions. In addition, education is
critical to improving the status of women, which has proven to result in a ripple of positive effects throughout society, such as:
 Providing girls one extra year of education beyond the average boosts
eventual wages by 10-20%
 Infant mortality decreases by 8% for each year a woman stays in school
 Completing secondary school reduces the incidence of HIV/AIDS 50%
 In Africa, mothers who receive five years of primary education have children
who are 40% more likely to live beyond age five
 Family health and nutrition rise in the home of an educated woman
 An educated woman has fewer children, so population growth is slowed in
resource-scarce countries. A 65-country analysis finds that doubling the
proportion of women with a secondary education would reduce average
fertility rates from 5.3 to 3.9 children per woman.
WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF THE POWER OF TEN?
The DC Chapter’s goal of The Power of Ten is to empower women (and men!) to creatively look at unique ways they have
to coordinate memorable fund raising and awareness-building events/opportunities. In doing so, each one of us will
broaden the message of the impact that education offers girls and families in the developing world… in essence “telling the
story.” In addition to fundraising, involving others is key to the success of The Power of Ten. (HINT: Ideally think in terms
of promoting as a goal the $250 per girl per year ($20/month) in your plans.)
HOW CAN YOU BECOME A PART OF THE POWER OF T EN?
Get educated, get excited, and get creative! Start brainstorming about ideas
you have and how the Room to Read DC Chapter can help your efforts.
Here is a list of a few possibilities; although the best options are ones that fit
your personal situation…

Host a house party with a minimal charge (or not depending on your goals
and attendees) with the goal of promoting Room to Read’s Girls’ Education
Program. Coordinate a lunch at your office, community center or country
club… or combine efforts with other interested Room to Read volunteers for community, easing the workload, and
creating a larger more leveraged event. Get a few of your friends together to host a wine tasting party! Promote
The Power of Ten and the Girls’ Education program at your book club. Walk-a-Thons, Marathons, book drives,
family “alterative celebrations” – the possibilities are virtually endless! Adopt this as your “cause.”

Consider connections to corporations, family foundations, interested friends, peers, relatives and others you think
might be interested in empowering girls through the gift of education. Bring Craig in as needed to answer
questions and strategize. Anything that will tell the story and hopefully raise years of girl’s scholarships!

Start by making a contribution yourself. $250 supports a year full of an holistic approach to girls’ education
including life skills education, mentoring, academic support, material support, stakeholder engagement, research,
assessment, and monitoring and evaluation. Support a classroom of 10 girls for $2500/year. Your support is the
start of engaging others and delivering on YOUR Power of Ten!!!
Involve others in your thinking, involve Craig (as needed) and start planning!
For more information email the DC Chapter Manager, Craig Herb, at washington.dc@roomtoread.org