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A Young Leader and Role Model

Mahder, who comes from a family with two sets of twins, embodies exceptional leadership and responsibility at a very young age.

• Family Impact: He actively encourages his twin and two younger twin siblings to prioritize their studies and develop strong reading habits. He frequently brings his youngest brothers to the Gebeta Library, where he personally assists them with schoolwork and cultivates their interest in books. Your support enables this crucial peer-to-peer mentoring.

• Community Inspiration: Mahder’s consistent dedication and enthusiasm earned him the prestigious title of “Best Reader of the Month” earlier this year. He stands out as a role model, inspiring his peers and serving as a testament to the motivation the library fosters.

Beyond his impressive literacy skills, Mahder is also an outstanding young artist, demonstrating the holistic development that the library environment encourages.

Mahder: A Promoter of the Library’s Mission

Mahder Moges is more than just a library user; he is a true promoter of the Gebeta Library’s mission. His positive influence ensures that the love for reading and learning extends beyond the library walls and deep into his own family unit.

By supporting Ethiopia Reads, you are not simply funding books and buildings. You are investing in young leaders like Mahder who actively champion education and create a sustainable, positive change in their own households and communities.

Thank you for making Mahder’s success story—and the success of countless other children—possible.

The post Meet Mahder, Our Reading Promoter appeared first on Ethiopia Reads.

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Gebeta Library – Individual Users During June 2025

June Activities for ages 4 to 14  years = 62 enrolled children (28 girls and 34 boys)

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Hawassa Reading Center – Individual Users During June 2025

Kindergarten to Grade 4 = 659 users (237 girls and 419 boys)

Grade 5-8 = 597 users (228 girls and 369 boys)

Grade 9+ = 184 users (71 girls and 113 boys)

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Donkey Mobile Libraries (DML) – – Individual Users During June 2025

Old DML = 314 users (176 girls and 138 boys)

New DML = 339 users (116 girls and 223 boys)

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Horse-Pulled Libraries (HPL) – Individual Users During June 2025

Kololo site = 122 users (62 girls and 60 boys)

Farzano site = 80 users (40 girls and 40 boys)

Tunto site = 73 users (31 girls and 42 boys)

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Books Distribution for Literacy

• Merawi Academy (Addis Ababa) received a donation of 200 locally purchased storybooks.
• Gelshashe Primary School (Oromia) received 200 books (30 RSG* and 170 imported books).
• Haile Aba Meresa Primary School (Oromia) received 201 books (30 RSG* and 171 imported books).
• Etiya Secondary School (Oromia) received 246 imported books.
• The Association of Women in Boldness (AWiB) Foundation received 200 books (100 RSG* and 100 reprinted titles).
• Kebena Health Center received 100 RSG books.
• Enat Primary School Library received 659 books (see below)

*RSG stands for Ready-Set-Go, a book creation project of the Open Hearts Big Dreams organization.

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Enat Library Support and Maintenance 

Ethiopia Reads supporters sponsor the upkeep of many libraries within Ethiopia – one of them is Enat Primary School‘s library. Over the years, with the help of many North Dakotan donors, this library has served thousands of children. Today it is serving 850 students. This month, we used the funds raised to fix the roof of this humble and beloved library and stock it with 659 new books.

Renovated and stocked up the library at Enat Primary School

The post Project Impacts appeared first on Ethiopia Reads.

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.

The post Hawassa Reading Festival appeared first on Ethiopia Reads.

A young book illustrator at our 2024 Summer Camp

Reading time at Gebeta Summer Camp

Book making at the Summer Camp

Busy artists at work at the Summer Camp

The post 2024 Summer Camp Is In Session! appeared first on Ethiopia Reads.

Board Member and children’s book author Elizabeth Spor Taylor filled a gap in book writing by leading a hands-on workshops in Addis Ababa in April prior to Ethiopia Reads’ 4th Children Reading Summit. Elizabeth worked with Nardos Debebe (a children’s book author and community children’s reading advocate) and Yoseph Ayalew (another children’s book author and OHBD local printing lead) on a children’s workshop at the famous Abrehot Library.  (Nardos leads a weekly program entitled The Twins Babu and Buba Writing Project based on a book she wrote.) About 50-60 enthusiastic primary school children accompanied by their parents actively participated and engaged in the workshop to create a third book in a series following up on a book called Mamas and a second book called Papas (both published by OHBD-RSG)  The young authors wrote the content as well as illustrated their books using their imagination.

Elizabeth with young writers

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Staff and volunteers from the 3rd Children’s Reading Summit

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ER staff and volunteers at the Reading Summit in Addis Ababa September 2022

Ethiopia Reads’ 3rd Children’s Reading Summit was an amazing success! It continues to be the only venue for educators in Ethiopia to come together to discuss, analyze the latest research and brainstorm solutions regarding children literacy in Ethiopia. We worked with the Ministry of Education and the National Archives and Library Agency with featured expert speakers from both organizations as well as those from the World Bank’s Read At Home project and Book Bugs to bring attention to many issues surrounding Ethiopian children’s reading and education and including those who are displaced.

Whenever we support children to have a special love for books, we are helping the whole nation.

Mr. Yikunoamlak Mezgebu

Director General of the National Archives and Library Agency,

Read more about the Summit in the news below.

Ethiopian Press Agency

East Africa Today

https://www.eastafricatoday.com/ethiopia-reads-hosts-3rd-summit-to-spark-youngsters-intellect-through-reading/

Please contact us if you would like to be involved or sponsor next year’s Summit.

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