The Caribbean Chapter
Creating Access. Inspiring Change From Within.
video from Read To Grow book project in Dominican Republic at Biblioteca Mao
why Caribbean
the Problem
The Caribbean is often seen as a paradise—pristine beaches, turquoise waters, and luxury resorts.
But behind this idyllic image lies a very different reality for many locals. While tourists sip cocktails, countless Caribbean children grow up without access to quality, modern books or up-to-date educational resources.
In places like Trinidad, the lack of opportunities has contributed to a growing cycle of poverty, high migration rates, and what many describe as a “brain drain” — where the region’s most talented individuals leave in search of better futures abroad. Left behind are youth who often lack the tools to thrive, and in some cases, this gap fuels rising crime and instability.
photo from Dominican Republic, Read To Grow donated to the Biblioteca Mao
the Consequence
Without access to engaging, relevant, and age-appropriate books, children are at a significant disadvantage.
It affects literacy rates, confidence, creativity, and long-term economic outcomes. In communities already impacted by poverty, this educational gap widens inequality, making it harder for young people to break the cycle.
photo from The Gambia, Read To Grow donated to The Heart For Gambia Foundation
the Solution
We’re off to the Caribbean, on a mission to deliver books and inspire change across the islands.
As part of Read to Grow’s global literacy initiative we will be personally distributing donated books to schools and shelters, while empowering communities to build sustainable reading programs. This mission is more than just giving books—it’s about creating lasting educational opportunities and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education for All.
Stacie from International Book Project left, Celina from Read To Grow on the right
the Countries
We have donated books to 79 countries worldwide. Here are the countries we will visit in our Caribbean Chapter
Completed: Dominican Republic ✅ Haiti ✅ Jamaica ✅
Soon: Trinidad 🔜 Barbados 🔜 Grenada 🔜 Guyana 🔜 St Kitts 🔜 St Vincent 🔜 Antigua 🔜 Dominica 🔜
Children receiving books in Haiti from Read To Grow
the Journey
We Drive Through Europe Collecting Books
Collecting Book Donations
Storing The Books In Our Warehouse
Our Sorting Team Sort Quality Books
The Books Sorted Books Get Packed & Ready To Ship
The Books Arrive At Their New Home!
books from Read To Grow
These books are carefully selected to be age-appropriate, culturally inclusive, and academically enriching—from early readers to young adult titles.
Read to Grow shares our belief that access to books should never be a privilege, and their generous donations help ensure that every child we reach has the tools to imagine, learn, and grow.
Our mission is to empower Caribbean youth through equitable access to quality, modern books.
We believe that literacy is a fundamental right and a powerful tool for transformation. The books we distribute are generously collected by schools, parents, children, and charitable organizations across the UK, a region that shares the same education system as many Caribbean nations. This ensures the materials are not only relevant, but also directly aligned with local curricula.
These books— gently used—are delivered at no cost to schools, libraries, and community hubs throughout the Caribbean.
What we accept and don't accept
Watch the video below from Kim, head librarian of the international school in Amsterdam talk about Read To Grow donations.
yes!
- Nursery
- Primary School
- Fiction
- Informative
- Education
- Multiple Languages
no!
- Written in Text Books
- Religious
- Gun Violence
- Demon
- Erotic
- Political
- War
We do not donate...
Examples of books that we recycle because they are not relevant to all children in all countries
Jokes
Patriotic
Religious
Monsters & Demons
Damaged Books
Photos From Our Projects!
Children Receiving Books From Read To Grow in 79 countries
Cambodia
Dominican Republic
Mexico
Indonesia
Ivory Coast
Rwanda
Uganda
Nepal
Tanzania
Nigeria
gambia
ZANZIBAR
HAITI
MOLDOVA
MALAWI
Short Films
We’ve begun capturing short films alongside our book projects — not just to document our work, but to spark a global conversation around literacy, equity, and grassroots action. These stories are part of a larger documentary currently in production, which we aim to premiere at international film festivals in 2026 to inspire direct aid for the people involved, and more book donations.
This is more than a film — it’s a movement powered by people like you.
We have donated books to 79 countries
Since 2002, we have donated 1.6 million books to 79 countries.
With your help, we would love to reach our goal of 100 countries by 2027.
Africa
Angola
Niger
Mozambique
Zimbabwe
Eritrea
Mauritania
Togo
Comoros
Côte d’Ivoire
Somalia
Liberia
Botswana
Madagascar
Morocco
Chad
C.A.R
Eswatini
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Congo
Cameroon
Egypt
Ethiopia
Ghana
Gambia
Kenya
Malawi
Namibia
Nigeria
Sierra Leone
Senegal
South Sudan
Tanzania
Uganda
South Africa
Zambia
Asia
Vietnam
Laos
Myanmar
Indonesia
India
Cambodia
Sri Lanka
Iraq
Georgia
Mongolia
Pakistan
Nepal
Philippines
Europe
Belgium
Netherlands
Poland
Greece
Kosovo
Albania
Bosnia
Lithuania
Moldova
North Macedonia
North / Central America & Caribbean
Jamaica
Dominican Republic
Belize
Guatemala
Mexico
United States
Canada
Nicaragua
Panama
Haiti
South America
Suriname
Ecuador
Colombia
Panama
Peru
about us
Who is Read To Grow?
A Small Team with a Global Impact
Read to Grow started in 2002.
Founded by a British woman and a Dutch man who shared a vision: to make books accessible to those who need them most. What began as a small initiative has grown into a European organization with its headquarters in the Netherlands.
Our Mission
We believe that every child deserves the chance to read, learn, and grow. Our goal is to redistribute high-quality books to schools, libraries, orphanages, and shelters in developing countries, giving books a meaningful second life where they can truly make a difference.
Our Impact So Far
📚 Over 1 million books donated
🌍 79 countries reached
📖 1,612 book projects completed
🎯 Goal: 100 countries by 2027
How It Works
- Books are donated by individuals, schools, and libraries across Europe.
- EU and USA book donations are sorted and packed in a small town called Boekel, Netherlands.
- UK books are sorted in London
- From there, they are shipped to carefully selected education projects worldwide.
Why It Matters
Books empower communities, fuel education, and open doors to opportunity. By supporting Read to Grow, you’re not just recycling books—you’re transforming lives through the power of reading.
Join us in making education accessible to all. 📚✨
Other contacts
You can visit our European website at readtogrow.eu
Questions?
Email us about the Caribbean Book Distribution
Team
We have all been working in this space for over 10 years, driven by a shared commitment to creating real, lasting impact in underserved regions.
Volunteers
For over 20 years, Read to Grow has been driven by the dedication and heart of our volunteers. From sorting and packing to transporting books across communities, our incredible team has helped distribute over 1.6 million books to children who need them most.
Partners
We are grateful for our corporate partners and the charities that also support us. This allows us for a reliable, constant stream of books.
International Book Project Kentucky, USA
Emmaus, UK
Better World Books Indianna, USA
International School Amsterdam
Giving Schools
We collect over 30,000 books from schools each week on our book drives. These books get sorted and shipped to places that need them.
Eco Friendly
Trees We've Planted To balance the environmental cost of our book drives
- 400 trees planted in Congo
- 50 trees donated to the monastery
- Peelrandbreuk park 10 fruit trees planted
- Laarbeekerbos 7 special blossom trees adopted
- Boeke(l)boom : wall nut tree planted because of reaching 1000th project in 2019
We actively offset our carbon footprint by planting trees. Every book drive contributes to reforestation projects, helping to absorb CO₂, restore ecosystems, and create a greener future.
Another Reason Why Collecting Books Matters
Our work directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4:
Quality Education
—ensuring that every child, no matter where they are, has access to books and learning materials. By joining this initiative, your school will play a vital role in promoting literacy, fostering a love for reading, and making a lasting impact on children’s futures.