The Read Foundation has secured match funding from the UK Government through the UK Aid Match programme.

UK Aid Match is a grant from the government whereby every donation made by the UK public is matched pound for pound. 

For the Foundation, this means every donation made between the 5 February and 4 May 2021 to the upcoming Empower Her appeal will be doubled. Read Foundation is aiming to raise over £370,000 from the public, which will be matched by the UK Government.

An estimated 23 million children in Pakistan are out of school. The literacy rate for girls in Diamer, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan is less than 1% with an attendance rate at primary school of 12%. These out-of-school girls are unable to read, write or do basic maths, let alone go on to further education. 

Jahangeer Akhtar, Read Foundation CEO said: “We are delighted to be launching such a powerful and impactful programme that will provide long-term, life-changing support to girls in Pakistan. 

"We are overjoyed to be working closely with the UK government to facilitate real and positive change, which will help empower and strengthen future generations. With UK Aid Match, our donor’s support will be making double the impact.” 

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Afzal Khan MP for Gorton, Manchester said: “I am glad to be supporting such an important cause with one of our local charities in Manchester. Equality in access to education is a fundamental right for all people, everywhere and the focus in ensuring access not only to impoverished communities but also for out-of-school girls in particular is close to my heart.

"I’m looking forward to joining in of what I hope will be a successful campaign."

All donations, including public and matched, will go towards enhancing access for over 2,250 marginalised and out-of-school girls in Diamer.

This project aims to improve the literacy and numeracy opportunities for girls in primary education which involves setting up 75 Community Based Accelerated Learning Schools.