The Hawassa Reading Center is turning 10! We’re taking this opportunity to celebrate Ethiopia Reads history.

In 2006, we opened our second library in Hawassa, regional capital to Ethiopia’s Southern Nations. Reaching far beyond our first children’s library, hundreds of miles from Addis Ababa, we were set to unveil the new Hawassa Reading Center.

In Hawassa, like most places in Ethiopia, children have extremely limited access to books or places to study. Ethiopia Reads was founded on the idea of bringing bring books and literacy to all Ethiopian children, wherever they are. Over the past decade, ER has established over 70 libraries and shipped more than a quarter million books to every region of the country. Currently, we serve over 125,000 children annually throughout Ethiopia.

The whole of Hawassa celebrated when we opened the HRC in 2006, holding a parade through town as families, teachers, and local leaders celebrated together and flocked to the city center. The library had thousands of visitors in its first year, and they have been coming ever since. Indeed, the HRC is a free, public library that serves children from every district, some walking from remote corners of the city to find a quiet and safe place to study. For hundreds of children, this library is an indispensable part of their academic success. This summer we plan to celebrate again.

We’d like to see HRC’s 10 year celebration be even bigger this year! With your continued support we can commemorate this and other important milestones!

Your donations have been key to our achievements – we could not have done this without you. Please donate here!