How Should We Donate $53,000 of xkcd Book Profits?

We handed breadpig ally, Room to Read, a check for $52,961.78 on the last day of 2009, now we have to decide where to invest it.

And what better way than to let you, the breadpig legion vote on where we should build? Based on just the xkcd book tour, you all gave enough to build an xkcd school in Laos ($32,000) that opened earlier this year. Now with our publisher profits from the sale of the book, we've got some more literacy to spread (and hopefully produce many new potential buyers of xkcd: volume 0).

Last year's breadpig profits from xkcd: volume 0 are enough to build one of each of the following: (1) School Room, (1) Reading Room, and (1) Local Language Publishing Program.

Help us decide! Voting is limited to once per day, you wonderful cheaters, you -- get your votes in before May 17th at noon Eastern and by all means lobby!

The mathematically-inclined of you will notice that these 3 projects total $54,000. Breadpig is making up the ~$1,000 difference with some of the xkcd book profits we've already earned in 2010.

Room to Read established its School Room program to provide children in the developing world with better access to appropriate learning spaces. The School Room program sets high standards and expectations while partnering with local communities to meet specific village needs in building primary and secondary schools, and in some cases, preschools. They're currently only funding schools in 4 regions of Sri Lanka, which we've explained in greater detail here thanks to a breadpig legionnaire, Nimmi Ariyaratne.

UNESCO identified having access to a “literate environment” as one of the critical factors in supporting literacy development.  If children do not have regular access to engaging books and other reading materials to practice their literacy skills, they are less likely to become lifelong readers and learners. Room to Read seeks to address this issue by establishing children’s libraries in communities where poverty, ethnicity, or other social and cultural barriers put children at a significant educational disadvantage.

In schools that lack enough classroom space to house a library, Room to Read constructs a stand-alone library building complete with book in various languages as well as English language books, furniture, and book shelves. Room to Read also provides three years of training and support to teachers who will manage the library.

Room to Read is significantly increasing the quantity and diversity of children's books published in local languages by sourcing and publishing new children's literature in every country where we work. The Local Language Publishing program is committed to providing children with materials that will inspire them to read, expand their minds, and develop a lifelong love for reading and learning.

(Unfortunately, there is little information on the Matale District)

Nuwara Eliya
Population density: Around 400/km2
Nuwara Eliya is in the central province, which ranks second poorest out of the nine provinces in Sri Lanka for absolute poverty. A large percentage of the district’s population engages in manual labor on tea estates. These workers belong to the minority ethnic group of “Indian Tamils.” Estate workers are often geographically isolated, and also excluded from the mainstream economy and society. They usually live in very poor housing, sometimes entire families in a single room, often without even basic facilities and sanitation. They are among the least represented and most marginalized (both socially economically) groups in Sri Lanka. Nuwara Eliya had one of the lowest rates for computer literacy in the country and one of the highest rates of under nutrition and stunting among children. There is a significant lack of schools, educational equipment, libraries, and computer facilities in the remote areas of Nuwara Eliya. Few international and national NGOs operate in this area.

Moneragala District
Population Density: Around 70/km2
Moneragala ranks highest in Sri Lanka in terms of absolute poverty. Over a third of the district’s population lives below the official poverty line. Over half the population lives in semi-permanent housing. About three fourths of the district’s population face severe-extreme food insecurity. Due to the political violence in the South of the country in the past, a significant number of males disappeared/died, and as a result there are still a large number of female headed households, which are among the worst off economically in the area. The district has a low number of schools when compared with its population. Many of these schools lack facilities and qualified teachers are unwilling to work in the area due to its remoteness. The district also has one of the lowest numbers of libraries. Literacy levels for the district were much lower than the national average, and the district has one of the lowest rates of computer literacy. Few international and national NGOs operate in this area, given its acute needs and large population.

Mannar District
Population Density: Around 60/km2
Much of the infrastructure in this area was destroyed during the conflict years. Over 50% of houses are estimated to have been destroyed. The district has a number of internally displaced persons, and there are still IDPs living in emergency sites. Refugees who fled Mannar during the war years have now started to slowly resettle. However they have no access to basic needs such as proper housing, education, and health facilities. There are a large number of families headed by widows as a result of the conflict. There is a high incidence of wasting, stunting and under nutrition among the children. Much of the area relies largely on food rations and aid. There are around 95 schools in the area. However there is a significant lack of qualified teachers willing to work in Mannar. There are a relatively large number of international and national level organizations working in the district, given its acute needs and post-war situation.

Matale District
Population Density: About .4/km2
Matale District is in the central province, which ranks second poorest out of the nine provinces in Sri Lanka for absolute poverty. The area has a relatively high rate of computer literacy.

OK, I'm ready to vote. Take me back to the top.