One of the most exciting programs showcased during the Summit was our partnership with the Addis Ababa City Administration Early Childhood Development Office, funded by the Van Leer Foundation.
Many children in Ethiopia do not encounter a book until they begin primary school at age seven, however the early years are critical for future success. Children raised in safe, stimulating, and nurturing environments are far more likely to succeed in school and their lives. Investment in early childhood development is one of the most effective ways to reduce long-term poverty.
That’s why we’re proud to be integrating reading corners into existing health facilities across the city of Addis Ababa, stocking them with a range of books suitable for younger children, and training parent health coaches to help families build strong reading habits at home. The ECD initiative brings together health and nutrition services, social support, day care, quality pre-primary schools, and learning through play for 300,000 vulnerable families across Addis Ababa.
To connect meaningfully with young children and their caregivers, we first needed books designed for them. Ethiopia Reads led the creation of eight new board books and two storybooks (and printed 20,000 copies in total). The board books were the first ever printed at scale in Ethiopia. These small, sturdy books, specifically designed for the little hands and exploring mouths of babies and toddlers ages 0-3, have been developed so parents can share stories with their children from the very beginning of their lives.
These new books will be available in the reading corners and will also be taken by 5,000 Ethiopia Reads-trained parent coaches directly into the homes of families across Addis Ababa. To truly create a culture of reading in Ethiopia, we believe that it is essential to provide parents and caregivers with the tools to prioritize reading and language development within the home. There is no reading exercise more powerful than a parent reading aloud to their child. We want to make sure that more Ethiopian parents have the fundamental knowledge and books to do that.
