Thandi Mphoka
Readers are leaders, and I know because reading changed my life. Growing up across continents, I found in books the language, imagination, and courage to see possibilities beyond what was in front of me. Today, I'm Dr. Thandi Mphoka, an international medical graduate, community-based leader and researcher, storyteller, and founder of The Pages of Impact Foundation. Through Reclaim the Page, we aim to help young people build confidence and critical thinking, and fall in love with reading through book clubs, pop-ups, and Little Free Libraries that make reading accessible, social, memorable, and free. I want them to express themselves and put their inner world into words, so they don't just read stories. They begin writing their own.
Reclaim the Page
Readers are leaders, and I know because reading changed my life. Growing up in many parts of the world, books gave me language, imagination, and courage to see possibilities beyond what was in front of me. Today, I'm Dr. Thandi Mphoka, an international medical graduate, community-based leader and researcher, storyteller, and founder of The Pages of Impact initiative. Through Reclaim the Page, I want young people to develop confidence, critical thinking and fall in love with reading through challenges, pop-up book clubs, and building Little Free community Libraries, social discussions and debate that make reading accessible, social, memorable and free. I want to inspire people to express themselves, reflect and eventually learn how to best put their inner world into words, so they don't just read stories. They begin writing their own.
About this Project
Communities Served
My project will involve and/or impact the following communities:
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
When it comes to community impact projects, the UN has created 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These are the Sustainable Development Goals associated with my project.
How the project works
Between 2026-2027, youth and young adults (16–35) can join Reclaim the Page: a self-paced club with monthly pop-up book clubs in Calgary and Edmonton, virtual discussion/debate sessions, bookmark making art sessions, an optional BIG Reading Challenge and co-build Little Free Community Libraries.
Project Impact
Reclaim the Page aims to serve youth and young adults (16-35) across Alberta to read, talk, and grow, with at least 20 completing four or more books. Together we will build Little Free Community Libraries where people can borrow, read books for free in accessible spaces in new communities focusing on Calgary and Edmonton. Above all, we would like to see most participants leave with increased confidence, critical thinking skills and ability to express their ideas. Using the materials and continuous feedback from our community youth, our team will use the co-created resources and frameworks for future programs and scalable community impact.
Project Mission
Reclaim the Page exists to rebuild reading comprehension and communication confidence in young people by making reading a shared, joyful experience. Our goals: engage 60+ youth ages 16–36 in Calgary, Edmonton, and across Canada; install three Little Free Libraries; and help participants find the confidence to ask, answer, and put their inner world into words.
Project Team
I am working with local community members and leaders across Alberta
- Mordecai Tinsae Natalie Lynette Pam
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