We held our biggest-ever Children’s Reading Festival in Hawassa City!
The second Hawassa Reading Festival was held successfully from May 3rd to 4th, 2025, at Hawassa Stadium. The event attracted over 2,000 participants, including students, parents, government officials, educators, and community members. This festival was organized in partnership with the Rotary Fellowship of Kite (RFOK) and endorsed by the Hawassa City Administration’s Education Department. The primary objective of the festival was to promote a reading culture among children under the theme “Building a Brighter Future through Children’s Reading and Holistic Growth.”
More than 2,000 children from the 10 primary schools in the area, along with their parents, participated in the fun. Ethiopia Reads hosted storytellers, outdoor libraries, read-alongs, bouncy castles, and kite-making fun. Children and parents were singing, dancing, and flying kites! The event was considered an enormous success, as its objective was to get everyone to learn about the joy of stories, read books outside the classroom, and at home. We are grateful for the many young volunteers from high schools, Hawassa University, and other local colleges who always show up and are the most enthusiastic supporters! Performances by students from various local schools: Ethiopia Tikdem, Misrak Ber, Hayik, Kike, and Saint Gabriel Primary Schools. Notably, the RFOK organized a special kite-making workshop and flying event in collaboration with the Education Research and Development (ER) department, adding an element of excitement and entertainment to the kite and reading festival.
Furthermore, a recognition ceremony was held to honor outstanding parents, teachers, librarians, and school administrators for their invaluable contributions to literacy. The event successfully harmonized education and entertainment, creating a joyful and inclusive atmosphere that fostered children’s enthusiasm for reading and encouraged community engagement.
