Current Projects

The Shola Children's Library: The Ethiopian Children's Book Center, renamed the Shola Children's Library in April 2004, is Ethiopia Reads's first project in Ethiopia.  The Shola Children's Library has over 20,000 books donated from the United States and purchased in Ethiopia with a grant from the Presbyterian Women's Fund.  The library originally opened in the basement of Yohannes' house then expanded to fill the whole building with additional tents set up in the yard to make space for all the children who come.  Over 40,000 visits have been made to the library since its opening in April of 2003.  Children from all over the neighborhood come to use the facilities to study, do their homework or escape with a good book. The helpful Ethiopia Reads staff is always avaliable for assistance. This is the first free library service for children in Addis Ababa and, according the the principal of the neighborhood school, an indispensable resource.

Library Services:

• Over 20,000 picture books, novels, reference materials and videos
• A safe clean and friendly environment for children to study and play
• Saturday morning activities including reading contests and video showings
• Basic English classes to help children improve their language skills
• Art days, storytellers and theater programs led by neighborhood parents and guests

"Silly Mammo": "Silly Mammo" is the retelling of a traditional Ethiopian folk tale written by Yohannes Gebregeorgis and published by African Sun Publishing. The text of the picture book is in Amharic and English. Silly Mammo is the first bilingual English/Amharic children's book. The illustrations are done by Bogale Belachew, an Ethiopian artists. "Silly Mammo" was published for the purpose of fundraising for Ethiopia Reads. All proceeds from the purchase of "Silly Mammo" go to Ethiopia Reads and its current and future projects. Silly Mammo can be purchased in the United States through contacting the First Presbyterian Church. For an order form click here! In Ethiopia contact the Shola Children's Library or go to www.amazon.com.

The Golden Kuraz Award: The first ever Golden Kuraz Award was awarded during Book Week of 2005! The main purpose of the GKA is to reward literary excellence and encourage writing and publishing of good quality children's books in Ethiopia. For more information and to learn about the 2005 GKA winner click here!

Children's Book Week: In April of 2004 Ethiopia Reads launched Ethiopia's first Children's Book Week to celebrate the one year anniversary of the opening of the Shola Children's library.  Some of the events included tent libraries, traditional story telling and a march of children through Addis Ababa announcing to the city that they want books. Children carried signs and marched to the parliament building in Addis Ababa to present a formal request to the government for more libraries around the city. Ethiopia Reads hopes to make the Children's Book Week an annual event.