Ethiopia Reads

“A book is a gift you can open again and again” – Garrison Kellor.

Since our founding in 1998, Ethiopia Reads has worked to give the gift of reading to hundreds of thousands of children. What started as one public children’s library has grown into over 80 libraries across all regions of Ethiopia, parent and educator training, supporting in the Ethiopian children's publishing ecosystem, Ethiopian-language book distribution to schools and conflict-affected communities, and literacy promotion to schools, communities and parents.

None of this would have been possible without the generous support of our donors. Every single donation counts, and helps us realize our vision of every child having access to engaging books and support for reading. Together, we can build a culture of reading in Ethiopia.

Because those who read, bloom!

For generations, Ethiopian children have learned through stories shared by parents, caregivers, and elders within their communities. From oral storytelling and performance traditions Ethiopia has a rich heritage of stories that inspire imagination, strengthen cultural identity, and pass knowledge from one generation to the next.

Research consistently shows that one of the most powerful ways to support a child's language and literacy development is simply reading aloud together. Those moments help build vocabulary, spark curiosity, and foster a lifelong love of learning.

That's why we're working to support parents and caregivers of young children with age-appropriate books designed for Ethiopia's youngest readers.

To learn more about Ethiopia's first board books for babies and toddlers, click the link in our bio.

is right around the corner! We’re so excited to be joining the Ethiopian Sports Foundation of North America from June 27-July 4, 2026 for the 43rd Annual Soccer Tournament and Cultural Festival. We’re still looking for volunteers to help staff our booth: find the sign-up form at the link in our bio, no experience needed!

Because those who read, bloom!

Gebeta Library April Highlights!

During April, keen readers visited our small library near Kebena, Addis Ababa 571 times, making it a vibrant hub for reading, learning, and creativity. 16 dedicated volunteers, mostly university students, helped bring the library to life with read-aloud sessions, tutoring, and exciting games.

Children also continued to enjoy art activities, theater performances, and bookmaking workshops. Creativity is an essential part of literacy development, and it has been wonderful to see young readers bringing stories to life through performance and creating books of their own.

Every summer vacation we hold an extremely popular Summer Reading Camp with all-day fun activities for neighborhood children out of school.

Thank you to everyone who helps make Gebeta Library a place where imagination, learning, and community thrive! To learn more or get involved, visit the link in our bio.

Literacy does more than help children read: it helps them thrive. Children with strong literacy skills are often more confident, curious, and engaged with the world around them. Reading can open doors to learning, imagination, and opportunities that support both their happiness and their future successes. Help us bring the joy of reading to more children in Ethiopia by clicking the link in our bio!

Calling all volunteers!

This summer, we're hosting a booth at the 43rd Annual ESFNA Soccer Tournament & Cultural Festival, the largest Ethiopian diaspora event in the world. Join us in the Twin Cities, Minneapolis from June 27-July 4, 2026 to connect with the diaspora, help us share our story, and build the movement for literacy in Ethiopia.

Click the link in our bio to sign up for a volunteer shift, no experience needed!

Early literacy skills lay the foundation for a child's future learning, confidence, and opportunity. When children experience the joy of reading at a young age, they build essential language and thinking skills, bringing success in school and beyond.

Swipe for 3 simple ways to build early literacy at home!

Millions of children in Ethiopia are eager to learn, but too few have access to books in their own language. With over 50 million children, many mother tongue languages taught in schools, and few attractive storybooks available, building a reading culture means creating stories that reflect children’s own lives, communities, and dreams.

That’s why Ethiopia Reads always works to promote access to Ethiopian language books, support Ethiopian publishers, and distribute culturally authentic, age-appropriate books to children across the country. One of our most important collaborators, , has created over 175 illustrated storybook titles in 15 Ethiopian languages. Since 2017, with the support of various donors, Ethiopia Reads has printed and distributed close to 500,000 copies in most of these languages to schools and families. The photo shows a mother and child reading a storybook in Afar Af, the language spoken by close to 3 million in the hot, dry NE of Ethiopia, where we brought books to families affected by conflict.

Every child deserves stories they can see themselves in.

This International Day of Families, we’re celebrating the parents and caregivers in Addis Ababa who love their children and are learning through the ECD program how better to help their young children discover the joy of reading. We know that young working families in cities face immense pressures, especially those in urban environments with high cost of living and far from extended family networks. When it comes to cognitive development and early learning, support and resources for parents and caregivers is crucial: a parent with the resources and time to share stories with their children is their most powerful teacher.

Our contribution to the Addis Ababa City Early Childhood Development program is training 5,000 parent health coaches who will visit 300,000 families across the city, coach caregivers, and help ensure that young children and their families have access to high-quality, age-appropriate books in their own languages.

Because those who read, bloom!

Yesterday our team working on the ECD program was at the Addis International Early Childhood Conference learning from other countries’ experiences! Hosted by the African Center for Early Childhood Development, this exciting event brings together policymakers, development partners, educators, and experts from across Africa in a discussion of how to best support the next generation. The 8 board books we developed for the Addis Ababa ECD project - the first at scale in the country - are also on display Van Leer Foundation

We are honored to be involved in this initiative, and proud to be part of a movement that puts our youngest children first!