420,000 CHILDREN AFFECTED BY THE GREAT AMAZON DROUGHT

Readers of the Amazon: Empowering riverside communities to protect

their childrens's education



* All donations made on GlobalGiving are tax deductible for US taxpayers

LOWER RIVER LEVELS MEAN HIGHER BARRIERS TO EDUCATION

For the riverside communities in the Brazilian Amazon, rivers serve as transportation routes for kids to reach school. When water levels reached record lows in 2024, over 1,700 schools were forced to close, leaving thousands of children in total isolation. According to UNICEF, nearly half a million children across the region have seen their right to learn disappear along with the waterline.

FROM CALIFORNIA TO THE RAINFOREST

We are three Brazilian-American students from Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, CA, who believe in the power of education for positive change.

After learning about the severity of the drought and its effects on education, we sought ways to support the affected communities. This initiative became the Readers of the Amazon. Our mission is to restore access to books for children and teenagers in remote areas of the Amazon rainforest by supporting local community libraries. While we recognize that a library cannot address every educational challenge, it can inspire a lifelong interest in reading, foster community engagement, and expand opportunities.

Our mission is to restore access to books for children and teenagers in remote aread of the Amazon rainforest by supporting local community libraries. While we recognize that a library cannot address every educational challenge, it can inspire a lifelong interest in reading, foster community engagement, and expand opportunities.



Antonio Cunha, Thomas Edwards and Manuela Barros, co-founders of Readers of the Amazon

A PROVEN PARTNERSHIP

Building a library in a drought-stricken rainforest involves significant logistical challenges. That is why we have partnered with Vaga Lume, a renowned Brazilian non-profit and three-time winner of the "Best Education NGO" award.

With 24 years of experience and recognition from the United Nations, Vaga Lume ensures that our donations reach those most in need by providing curated books, furniture, and training local “read-aloud mediators”.

As of February 2026, Readers of the Amazon has donated an entire collection of 300 books to the newly established community library in Uarini, Amazonas. Uarini is a riverbank community known for its cassava flour production, and its name derives from a narrow, shallow river that crosses the region. Reaching Uarini involves a flight from Manaus to Tefé, followed by a three-hour boat trip. The book collection includes titles that represent both local and global perspectives, integrating traditional Amazonian narratives with stories from other regions of Brazil and the world. 

Community library in Uarini, Amazonas

A MOVEMENT WITHOUT BORDERS



What started in Manhattan Beach has inspired a broader movement. We are proud to be joined by eight dedicated Ambassadors, seven in the US and one in Brazil, each leading their own efforts to support this cause.

We believe in the power of working together and helping each other grow along the way. If you would like to join our group and become an ambassador, DM us on Instagram.

BRINGING AWARENESS TO OUR CAUSE

Readers of the Amazon aims to educate the public about the impact of climate change on the riverside communities in the Amazon and raise awareness of their educational needs. We invited Brazilian artists to paint small wooden library boxes inspired by the architecture of the community libraries. These pieces will be featured in our upcoming exhibition at the Consulate General of Brazil in Los Angeles, in April/ May 2026. The boxes will later be displayed in other parts of the city to help spread the word and drive donations.

* All donations made on GlobalGiving are tax deductible for US taxpayers

About Vaga Lume

Vaga Lume is a social organization dedicated to building libraries in rural communities across the Brazilian Legal Amazon, ensuring every child has the right to access the power of reading.

102 community libraries

110,592 children and young people impacted since 2001

177,858 books donated