HAPPI READERS, INC.
MISSION + GOALS
Noticing a lack of access of books within schools and communities, in 2022 Mischa Wijesekera and Leyla Goucha founded the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Happi Readers, Inc. to promote literacy in underserved communities through book donations, with a focus on donating diversity and inclusion books. Happi Readers strives to combat book deserts, ensure that every child can foster a love for reading from a young age, and provide books to children where they can see themselves in each page that they turn.
Within three weeks of launching Happi Readers, Mischa and Leyla collected 1,000 books. Now, Happi Readers has donated over 10,000 books to over 100 schools, hospitals, foster homes, homeless shelters, and libraries in all 50 states and 10 countries.
Happi Readers has also partnered with numerous other non-profit organizations, including the Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation, Friends of the Houston Public Library, Nu'Goddess Foundation Inc., and The Book Cycle.
Aside from donating books to individiual schools, in May of 2023 and 2024, Happi Readers and Nu'Goddess held an annual book exchange where 700+ students were able to take home 2-5 books for the summer.