For the past decade WGI has united communities around the world with a single mission: ending illiteracy. Here are snapshots of our impact over the years:
A volunteer reads to a student at WGI’s program at PS 192 in Harlem.
WGI’s first effort in New York City was a partnership with the Mission Society of New York. This saw WGI’s after school reading program launched at PS 192 and PS 161 elementary schools in Harlem. WGI mobilized volunteers from Scholastic and Interpublic Group to visit both schools and teach reading and writing. Scholastic also donated children’s books in support of the program.
Post pandemic, we partnered with global asset manager Nuveen to donate free smartphones and access to our literacy app Lyra to low-income families in Brooklyn and The Bronx. The NYPD’s 44 and 73 Precincts supported us in this outreach.
Location
New York City, USA
PARTNERS
BNY Mellon, Nuveen, Scholastic, Interpublic Group, Mission Society of NYC, New York Police Department
Grammy nominated recording artist Swae Lee and a student at a WGI event at Crete Academy.
In Los Angeles WGI partnered with two elementary schools, Crete Academy and Watts Learning Center, to teach students in South Central Los Angeles to read and write after school. Universal Music Group provided a number of employees to volunteer at both schools. Prominent music artists from UMG also lent their support. Our work in Los Angeles was sponsored by HBO.
Location
Los Angeles, USA
PARTNERS
HBO, Universal Music Group, Crete Academy, Watts Learning Center Elementary
Volunteers teach students at WGI’s Read and Rice program at the HKFYG Tsuen Wan Center.
WGI kicked off in Hong Kong in partnership with the Christian Action Center for Refugees. We mobilized corporate employees in Hong Kong to visit Christian Action and teach refugees to read and write in English.
Our longest standing program in Hong Kong was our Read and Rice program. WGI worked closely with the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups to teach hundreds of families in the Tsuen Wan area to read and write. Food was also provided to participants. This effort was sponsored by BGC Partners, a global financial services company.
Location
Hong Kong, China
PARTNERS
BGC Partners, Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, Christian Action Center for Refugees
The launch of the digital library at Kisutu Girl’s Secondary School in Dar Es Salaam.
Our first and only effort in Africa, WGI brought together NMB Bank and the British Council to launch a digital library at Kisutu Girl’s Secondary School in Dar Es Salaam. This library provided computers loaded with free books and learning materials to students.
Location
Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
PARTNERS
NMB Bank, British Council, Kisutu Girls Secondary School
Students participate in WGI’s Read and Rice program at a Kodomo Shokudo in Tokyo.
WGI expanded our Read and Rice program to Tokyo, where we worked with the local Kodomo Shokudo - a network of community cafeterias where low-income children can eat for free. We leveraged this model and deployed volunteers from Hakuhodo, one of Japan’s largest advertising groups, and Oracle’s Japan office to teach children English. This effort was sponsored prominently by luxury auto icon Aston Martin.
Location
Tokyo, Japan
PARTNERS
Aston Martin, Hakuhodo, Oracle Japan, Kodomo Shokudo