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The initiative was launched by the Government of Bangladesh, Save the Children, and other partners. The main purpose of the READ initiative is to enhance reading skills among children, particularly in rural areas, to improve their educational outcomes and ultimately contribute to the country's development. The READ initiative focuses on improving reading skills among children aged 3-10 years in rural areas. The initiative uses a multi-faceted approach, including teacher training, provision of reading materials, and community engagement. The initiative also aims to improve the quality of education in rural areas by providing support to schools and teachers. The READ initiative has made significant progress since its inception. By 2015, the initiative had reached over 1,260 schools and 126,000 children in rural areas. The initiative has also provided training to over 4,800 teachers and has distributed over 40 million reading materials to children. The initiative has also established a network of community volunteers who provide support to schools and teachers. The READ initiative has also conducted several evaluations to assess its impact. A midterm evaluation conducted in 2015 found that the initiative had improved reading skills among children by 27%. The evaluation also found that the initiative had improved the quality of education in rural areas and had increased the number of children attending school. The READ initiative has also identified several challenges that need to be addressed. These include the lack of qualified teachers, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to reading materials. The initiative has also identified the need for more community engagement and support to sustain its impact. The READ initiative has received support from several international organizations, including the World Bank, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The initiative has also received support from the Government of Bangladesh and other local partners. The READ initiative has made significant progress in improving reading skills among children in rural areas of Bangladesh. However, the initiative still faces several challenges that need to be addressed to sustain its impact. The initiative's success will depend on its ability to address these challenges and continue to provide support to schools and teachers in rural areas. The READ initiative has also established a network of community volunteers who provide support to schools and teachers. These volunteers play a crucial role in promoting reading skills among children and improving the quality of education in rural areas.