On March 21, we tested tablet apps developed by partner agency IREX in several of our libraries. We tested at three site – Ekodaga, Gebeta, and the Alemaya school in Addis. The apps were tested in Amharic at Gebeta and Alemaya, while the apps in Ekodaga were designed in Oromifa.

ER has been supporting the IREX project to develop local language, early literacy apps for tablets from the beginning and, in October, ER Program Coordinator Yemisrach Worku attended the IREX Hackathon in Addis as a contributing literacy expert.

Children, parents, and teachers all had an opportunity to play with the new apps and provide feedback to the developers. Observers from CODE Ethiopia were also invited to the event and the feedback proved invaluable. We have high hopes for these apps serving many children in our libraries in the future.

Embracing all new technologies and opportunities, ER is committed to delivering reading materials to Ethiopian children in every medium possible.