Our work has always been rooted in serving children reading, and increasingly we are also helping shape the wider reading landscape. Since 2024, Ethiopia Reads has been a founding member of the National Reading Network, a coalition of twelve organisations dedicated to developing a stronger reading culture in Ethiopia and advising the Ministry of Education on developing a National Reading … Read More
Congratulations, Lulit Bezuayehu!
Our congratulations to Ethiopia Reads board member Lulit Bezuayehu! Her first children’s book “Little Red Cape” published bilingually by Open Hearts Big Dreams, our longtime publishing collaborator, has been recognized on the 2026 International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Honour List. This August, she will travel to the 40th IBBY World Congress in Ottawa to accept her award … Read More
ESFNA 2026, Minneapolis – June 27–July 4
Ethiopia Reads will be at the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America’s 43rd Soccer Tournament & Cultural Festival – the largest ongoing Ethiopian diaspora event in the world. We look forward to connecting with supporters and attendees. If you or someone you know is based in the Twin Cities and would like to visit our booth or volunteer with us, … Read More
Helping Shape the Reading Ecosystem
Our work has always been rooted in serving children reading, and increasingly we are also helping shape the wider reading landscape. Since 2024, Ethiopia Reads has been a founding member of the National Reading Network, a coalition of twelve organisations dedicated to developing a stronger reading culture in Ethiopia and advising the Ministry of Education on developing a National Reading … Read More
Ethiopia’s First Board Books for Babies and Toddlers
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, … Read More
The 6th Annual Children’s Reading Summit
“Planting the Seeds of Reading in Early Childhood” was the theme of the 6th National Children’s Reading Summit on March 17-18 2026 in Addis Ababa. The conference is going from strength to strength. Ethiopia Reads brought together the Ministry of Education, National Archive and Library Agency, Addis Ababa City Administration, educators, early childhood development experts, regional education officials, academic researchers, … Read More
Our 2025 Annual Report is Here!
In 2025, Ethiopia Reads (ER) advanced its mission to build a sustainable culture of reading by delivering high-impact literacy interventions that reached children, families, and the education system across Ethiopia, including in underserved and conflict-affected communities. Guided by evidence and more than decades of experience, ER combined access to quality reading materials with capacity building, family engagement, and national advocacy … Read More
6th Children Reading Summit Announce & Summary of the 5th Summit
We are excited to announce the 6th Annual Children’s Reading Summit will be held on March 17-18, 2025, in Addis Ababa. Please contact us at info@ethiopiareads.org to help support this incredibly valuable tool for literacy professionals in Ethiopia! *** The 5th Annual National Children’s Reading Summit, organized by Ethiopia Reads on April 2–3, 2025, in Addis Ababa was a great … Read More
Meet Mahder, Our Reading Promoter
Your commitment to Ethiopia Reads directly fuels the stories of success we see every day in our reading centers. In this post, we are honored to highlight Mahder, a 10-year-old fourth-grader and a dedicated long-term user of Ethiopia Reads’ Gebeta Children’s Library. Mahder’s journey is a powerful illustration of the positive ripple effect your donations create within a family and … Read More
Impact Report: Your Investment in Action – Two Exceptional Volunteers at Hawassa Reading Center
📘 Impact Report: Your Investment in Action – The Transformative Year of Two Exceptional Volunteers at Hawassa Reading Center The success of Ethiopia Read’s Hawassa Reading Center (HRC) is a direct result of your generous support, combined with the tireless dedication of those on the ground. We are thrilled to share the story of Mahlet Bizuayehu and Tsion Dembeshu, two … Read More
