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A Single Story can change a life

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At The Single Story, we are dedicated to providing educational opportunities to underprivileged students in India. Through structured reading programs, access to books, and consistent engagement with trained student volunteers, we work to foster a love for reading, teach English, and help children build the foundational skills they need to thrive in school and beyond. Our name draws from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s warning about “the danger of a single story”—the idea that reducing people or places to a single narrative flattens their complexity and potential. We see reading as both a tool and a right: every child deserves more than one story told about them or available to them. Whether it’s supporting students through our reading program, providing books to take home, or creating safe spaces for uninterrupted reading, our work is grounded in the belief that literacy opens up a world of possibilities—one story at a time.

Our Projects

1

Perrineal Reading Program

A six-month reading intervention for under-resourced students in grades 4 and 5, focused on building foundational English literacy. Students engage in level-based reading sessions led by trained volunteers, progressing toward international reading standards.

2

Neev Reading Challenge

An annual reading initiative that encourages deeper reading through a curated book list, author interactions, and a culminating quiz. We support students through extra sessions and are working to adapt the challenge to better match their reading levels and pace.

3

Providing Supplies and Spaces for Reading

We equip students with leveled books to take home and create dedicated reading spaces where possible, including mobile classrooms. These efforts ensure reading continues beyond the classroom and becomes part of students’ everyday lives.

Gallery

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