Read to Rise
Helping children discover the joy of reading, while building communities that learn together. One book. One story. Every quarter.
3000
children reached across Bengaluru.
31
volunteers from our community
2 hrs
all it takes to make a difference
OUR MISSION
Learning thrives when it's shared
Our mission is to help children discover the joy of reading while building communities that learn together.
Through Read to Rise, we work to make reading feel less like a task and more like something children look forward to — bringing together educators, families, volunteers, and community members so that learning is not held by a single institution, but supported by many people.
By taking reading beyond classrooms, we hope to create stronger connections between communities, with a greater sense of responsibility to give back by creating more opportunities for every child to experience the joy of playful learning.
THE PLAY IT FORWARD INITIATIVE
Read to Rise is part of Play it Forward — Papagoya's give-back initiative focused on sharing what we have learned about children, learning, play, and engagement beyond our own classrooms.
"Learning is strongest when it is held by a community rather than by a single institution."
WHY THIS COMMUNITY
Why migrant communities?
These are often the communities where children have the fewest opportunities to access books and consistent learning support. Parinaam Foundation works with 3,000 children through community-based evening learning centres across Bengaluru.
Limited access to books
Many families navigate frequent moves and changing work conditions, making it harder for children to build a regular relationship with reading.
Community as stability
Community connections become an important source of stability. Bringing reading into shared spaces creates learning that continues beyond a classroom.
An existing network
Parinaam's 3,000 children across Bengaluru's evening learning centres provide a ready network where this support can reach children consistently.
HOW IT WORKS
A simple model that lasts
Each quarter, we focus on one book, one lesson plan, one training, and one volunteering opportunity. Because the commitment is manageable, we are able to sustain it — and so can you.
01
One book
Each quarter we select one story that sparks conversation, connection, and curiosity.
02
One Lesson Plan
Each quarter we select one story that sparks conversation, connection, and curiosity.
03
Train the FC
Parinaam's field coordinators lead every session. We equip them — not replace them.
04
You Volunteer
Join a session in your community of choice. Two hours. Alongside the field coordinator.
WHAT OUR VOLUNTEERS SAY
Sachin
I had the opportunity to volunteer at Shams High School, Electronic City. The session included an engaging storytelling activity followed by two creative exercises for the children. Tulshi, the field coordinator, did an exceptional job — her storytelling skills, expression, voice modulation, clarity, and ability to engage every child were truly impressive. In summary, Read to Rise is a thoughtfully designed program that truly contributes to enhancing children's knowledge and learning experience.
Doyel
The children were incredibly energetic, and the read-aloud activity went beautifully. I truly enjoyed being part of this session and believe that initiatives like these will go a long way in nurturing a strong and lasting reading habit.
WHAT IT COSTS
The investment behind the programme
Small, focused, and designed to go the distance. Every rupee and every hour is aimed at equipping educators and creating joy. And it's a model we are willing to replicate with you - taking the program further and benefitting children in every corner of India.
₹20,000
One time Setup
Stationery, kit bags, and resources for field coordinators across centres.
₹6–8K
Books per quarter
One story, four sets of books, selected to spark imagination and dialogue.
9 hrs / Qtr
Educator time
Lesson planning, TLM preparation, audiobook creation, and training each quarter.
And, how we see it growing
The programme is designed to be simple and repeatable. Scale doesn't mean being present everywhere — it means building a model others can carry.
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Reaching more Parinaam centres using the same quarterly model
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Building a larger volunteer base across Bengaluru
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Creating a library of ready-to-use stories, lesson plans, and facilitator resources
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Supporting other organisations that may want to adopt a similar approach
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Exploring partnerships with like-minded organisations in other cities or states
THE GOAL
How we measure success
Children's engagement
Are children participating? Are they responding to stories and returning with interest and curiosity?
Facilitator confidence
Are field coordinators becoming comfortable planning, storytelling, and engaging children with more playfulness?
Community participation
Are volunteers continuing to sign up? Is the programme creating more adults invested in children's learning?