Review – Report on China’s Development in Children’s Reading Charities over the past 20 Years

Since its establishment in 2003, the Foundation has been committed to developing and funding innovative, highly effective and impactful reading and library projects in Mainland China and Hong Kong to improve children’s literacy.

Our goal is to work with like-minded partners to transform the way educators, parents and communities view reading, particularly reading for pleasure. Reading, we believe, goes beyond a practical skill; it is a joyful and enriching personal experience. This philosophy is rooted in our belief that a childhood filled with the pleasures of reading fosters a lifelong love of learning.

For the past two decades, we have partnered with 82 diverse organizations across Mainland China. From local Education Bureaus to newly established grassroots NGOs, including primary schools and university groups. The type or size of the organization is not a factor. Our focus has been on shared goals, specifically mobilizing all sectors of society to create a pleasant reading environment for children aged 0-12.

Over the past two decades, The Chen Yet-Sen Family Foundation has been a leading force in the children’s reading charity sector in China and have witnessed the development and important events in the field. It must be acknowledged that the development of children’s reading wouldn’t be possible without the invaluable contribution from philanthropy.

Xinhe Foundation, Shenzhen Iread Foundation, Mantianxing Youth Charity Development Center, and Chinese Donors Roundtable have collaborated to map the 20-year development of the philanthropy landscape of Children’s reading in China, sourced from the Field Building Framework developed by Bridgespan (https://www.bridgespan.org/). The Foundation’s work is highlighted as one of the cases, in addition, key research completed by the Foundation has been heavily referenced.

This article is divided into three parts. The first part covers the definition of the issue, the current status of the problem and policy development. The second part sorts out progress according to the five elements of the Field Building Framework. The third part proposes questions that we hope to exchange in future by continued co-creation discussions.

Please click the following link to download (Chinese version only):

https://www.readingresources.org.cn/Home/VisualAngle/details/id/112.htm