To our friends in the New York and Washington, DC areas:
You are invited to meet Ato Yohannes and support Ethiopia Reads! Come hear Ato Yohannes speak about Ethiopia Reads recent work. Find out how you can get more involed.
New York City:
Saturday, December 13 at 2:00 PM at Cafe Addis (435 West 125 Street, NY, 10027). Phone: 212-663-0553
DC Area:
Wednesday December 17 - 7:00pm Abol Restaurant, 8628 Colesville Road (across the street from the AFI Silver Theater) Silver Spring, MD 20910
(RSVP: Matt Andrea 202-232-9085, Maureen Evans 301-386-5610).
Friday, December 12, 2008
Great Interview with Ato Yohannes on Tadias.com
Interview with a CNN Hero Yohannes Gebregeorgis
Published by News Room December 9th, 2008
By Tadias Staff
Published: Tuesday, December 9, 2008
New York (Tadias) - We recently spoke with Yohannes Gebregeorgis, one of the Top Ten CNN Heroes of 2008. He was recognized for his remarkable efforts to bring free public libraries and literacy programs to thousands of children in Ethiopia, including the country’s first Donkey Mobile Library. Mr. Gebregeorgis, 59, was born in Ethiopia and came to the United States as a political refugee in 1981. He eventually put himself through college, earning a graduate degree in library science and worked as a librarian in San Francisco for nearly two decades before embarking on his current project.
Here is is our interview with Yohannes Gebregeorgis:
Yohannes Gebregeorgis (Photo courtesy of Ethiopia Reads)
Tadias: Yohannes, congratulations for being selected as one of CNN’s Top 10 Heroes of 2008!
Yohannes Gebregeorgis: Thank you. I appreciate Tadias Magazine for consistently covering Ethiopia Reads and making it possible for a lot of Ethiopians and other people to know our work. It’s very helpful when media like Tadias give coverage to such works. Thank you again.
Tadias: CNN’s Anderson Cooper said: “Our Top 10 CNN Heroes are proof that you don’t need superpowers — or millions of dollar, — to change the world and even save lives.” Please tell us about your organization, Ethiopia Reads, and your efforts that led to this recognition.
YG: It’s very true that one doesn’t have to be a superpower or a millionaire to change the world. Even though Ethiopia is not a super power, we know that there are millionaires in Ethiopia. However, they are not using their wealth to make an effective change or to save lives. I think the recognition that Ethiopia Reads has received is primarily for the recognition of the importance of literacy to the development of a country’s future; for it’s power to change individuals and society. What we’ve accomplished in the last six years is a drop in the ocean compared to the need. It’s a good beginning that needs to be kept alive and going until we cover all regions of Ethiopia. We’ve established two free public libraries for children and youth; one in Addis and one in Awassa. We’ve established one donkey mobile library and adding three more by January 2009. We’ve established 16 school libraries and adding another 18 in the next 6 months to one year. We’ve published 8 children’s books and distributed over 30,000 books freely to children with another 75,000 to be distributed freely in the next six months to a year.
We have over 100,000 children that make a visit to all our libraries; We’ve instituted an annual Ethiopian Children’s Book Week, a children’s book award – the Golden Kuraz Award, we’ve provided basic library and literacy training to about 120 teachers and assistant librarians, we’ve taken thousands of children on a march to parliament, and in our annual Book-A-Thon, we’ve made it into the local news media many times advocating reading and literacy. We’ve been widely featured in international media. We’ve created a solid foundation from where we can launch massive campaigns to cover all of Ethiopia given that we have the resources.
Tadias: Among your projects that has received the most press attention is Ethiopia’s first Donkey Mobile Library. What inspired you to come up with this creative concept?
YG: The Donkey Mobile Library was conceived because of the need to reach out to children in rural communities.. The idea of portable and mobile libraries existed in other countries. For example, there is a boat library in Colombia, south America, a camel library in Northern Kenya, a bicycle library and other forms of book delivery methods. The donkey mobile library is similar to a book mobile, a bus that carries books to different communities in developed countries. I’ve seen a donkey pulled satellite station in Zimbabwe several years ago and that has given me the idea of the donkey mobile library. I designed the whole donkey mobile cart with the shelves and storage areas. A very experienced Ethiopian metal engineer built the units from sketches and guidance I gave him. An artist made the necessary logos and designs on the cart and it turned out to be the best.
Tadias: Can you share with us an anecdote describing some of the experiences children had when they first visited one of your libraries? How did it change his or her life?
YG: When we first opened our first library in Addis Ababa and the Donkey Mobile Library in Awassa, we noticed several children who were holding books upside down. This children had never held a book before. One of these children, who was nine years old at the time is now a Star Reader, one of many children who are chosen annually for their reading skills and for reading out loud to other children. We select 12 Star Readers from thousands of children who come to our library annually. Robel has visited the library everyday since he first came six years ago. He’s participated in every program that we offer at the library such as English lessons, theatre, art and crafts and the sanitation program. Robel is also doing very well in his school as his grades have improved significantly.There are others like Robel who are part of the library family as we’ve known them for as long as the library’s existence.
Tadias: Eighteen years ago, you gave Mammo Qilo (the popupar Ethiopian children’s story) its American debut. You are the author of “Silly Mammo”, which was the first bilingual Amharic-English children’s book. Why Mammo Qilo?
YG: I’m so glad that Kilu Mammo has become famous in America! When I first thought about producing a book for Ethiopian children, Kilu Mammo was the only story that came to mind which appealed to me. Many Ethiopians remember the story from their childhood as I did. It’s a very simple but nice story. Children like silly stories to begin with and Mamo Kilu amuses not only children but also adults.
Tadias: We understand that you hold a graduate degree in library science and you served as Children’s Librarian at the San Francisco Children’s Library. How big, would you say, is the pool of trained librarians in Ethiopia that can assist with new library projects?
YG: There aren’t many Ethiopians who have a library training. There is no institution that has a training program as the Addis Ababa University folded its library science program some five or so years ago.I don’t think Ethiopian education authorities think of libraries as something very essential. Besides, there are no library policies in the educational policy of the country that I know of, therefore it makes it hard to have training programs where no one would hire the people that are trained. We have difficulty finding trained librarians. We’ve been hiring librarians ever since we started our program in Ethiopia. We’provide basic library training program for the school libraries that we establish.
Tadias: What are your long term plans to expand your program across the country? And what kind of help do you need?
YG: Our plan is to expand our projects and programs to all regions of Ethiopia by expanding to at least one region every two years. We now have projects in place that can easily be duplicated. In order to accomplish this ambitious goals we need, first and foremost financial support, then other material support such as books, computers, etc., and then any other kind of support such as volunteers.
Tadias: How can your U.S.-based fans help to further your organizational goals?
YG: There are so many ways that our fans in the US can help. For example, we’re about to embark on a membership drive that is geared towards Ethiopians. We’ve seen how enthusiastic Ethiopians have become when they discovered the work we do in Ethiopia. We see a very positive attitude and desire to help by a large number of Ethiopians. We’d like Ethiopians to support our work by becoming members and donating ten, twenty or whatever amount of money they could. Every book week has a theme around which we can raealy afford on a monthly instalment. We’d like to get a few thousand Ethiopians signing up for this monthly donation. Those who can afford can sponsor a library in memory of someone they love, sponsor a Donkey Mobile Library, sponsor publishing of a book, etc. There are so many ways our fans could be involved. People can find more information on our web site ethiopiareads.org.
Tadias: Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Since 2003, Ethiopia Reads has organized an annual Ethiopian Children’s Book Week, an annual celebration of books, reading and libraries. During our first book week, we took more than a thousand children on a march to the Ethiopian Parliament with a petition asking the government to provide libraries and boks for children. We’ve special programs everyday of the week such as Read-A-thon, Book-A-Thon, Bread and Books Day, International Children’s Book Day, Book Launch, Golden Kuraz Award, the Star Reader Award, Art Day and many other activities take place during the one week. Every book week has a special theme as a focus. Readers are Leaders, Libraries for Rural Development, Bread and Books for Children, Those who read Bloom, Ethiopia Stretches her Hands, are the book week themes of the last six years. Special posters that reflect these themes are made and distributed. The next book week is the Sixth Ethiopian Children’s Book Week to be held April 1-7, as it always is, with a theme “Ethiopia Reads” (Ethiopia Tanebalech). What we want to share with Tadias readers is to celebrate book week with us by reading to children, by making books available to your family, support Ethiopia Reads and other organizations that work in Ethiopia.
Tadias: Thank you so much for your time, Yohannes, and good luck with your work.
YG: Thank you Tadias for your interest in the work of Ethiopia Reads and for supporting us by writing about our work.
—
Published by News Room December 9th, 2008
By Tadias Staff
Published: Tuesday, December 9, 2008
New York (Tadias) - We recently spoke with Yohannes Gebregeorgis, one of the Top Ten CNN Heroes of 2008. He was recognized for his remarkable efforts to bring free public libraries and literacy programs to thousands of children in Ethiopia, including the country’s first Donkey Mobile Library. Mr. Gebregeorgis, 59, was born in Ethiopia and came to the United States as a political refugee in 1981. He eventually put himself through college, earning a graduate degree in library science and worked as a librarian in San Francisco for nearly two decades before embarking on his current project.
Here is is our interview with Yohannes Gebregeorgis:
Yohannes Gebregeorgis (Photo courtesy of Ethiopia Reads)
Tadias: Yohannes, congratulations for being selected as one of CNN’s Top 10 Heroes of 2008!
Yohannes Gebregeorgis: Thank you. I appreciate Tadias Magazine for consistently covering Ethiopia Reads and making it possible for a lot of Ethiopians and other people to know our work. It’s very helpful when media like Tadias give coverage to such works. Thank you again.
Tadias: CNN’s Anderson Cooper said: “Our Top 10 CNN Heroes are proof that you don’t need superpowers — or millions of dollar, — to change the world and even save lives.” Please tell us about your organization, Ethiopia Reads, and your efforts that led to this recognition.
YG: It’s very true that one doesn’t have to be a superpower or a millionaire to change the world. Even though Ethiopia is not a super power, we know that there are millionaires in Ethiopia. However, they are not using their wealth to make an effective change or to save lives. I think the recognition that Ethiopia Reads has received is primarily for the recognition of the importance of literacy to the development of a country’s future; for it’s power to change individuals and society. What we’ve accomplished in the last six years is a drop in the ocean compared to the need. It’s a good beginning that needs to be kept alive and going until we cover all regions of Ethiopia. We’ve established two free public libraries for children and youth; one in Addis and one in Awassa. We’ve established one donkey mobile library and adding three more by January 2009. We’ve established 16 school libraries and adding another 18 in the next 6 months to one year. We’ve published 8 children’s books and distributed over 30,000 books freely to children with another 75,000 to be distributed freely in the next six months to a year.
We have over 100,000 children that make a visit to all our libraries; We’ve instituted an annual Ethiopian Children’s Book Week, a children’s book award – the Golden Kuraz Award, we’ve provided basic library and literacy training to about 120 teachers and assistant librarians, we’ve taken thousands of children on a march to parliament, and in our annual Book-A-Thon, we’ve made it into the local news media many times advocating reading and literacy. We’ve been widely featured in international media. We’ve created a solid foundation from where we can launch massive campaigns to cover all of Ethiopia given that we have the resources.
Tadias: Among your projects that has received the most press attention is Ethiopia’s first Donkey Mobile Library. What inspired you to come up with this creative concept?
YG: The Donkey Mobile Library was conceived because of the need to reach out to children in rural communities.. The idea of portable and mobile libraries existed in other countries. For example, there is a boat library in Colombia, south America, a camel library in Northern Kenya, a bicycle library and other forms of book delivery methods. The donkey mobile library is similar to a book mobile, a bus that carries books to different communities in developed countries. I’ve seen a donkey pulled satellite station in Zimbabwe several years ago and that has given me the idea of the donkey mobile library. I designed the whole donkey mobile cart with the shelves and storage areas. A very experienced Ethiopian metal engineer built the units from sketches and guidance I gave him. An artist made the necessary logos and designs on the cart and it turned out to be the best.
Tadias: Can you share with us an anecdote describing some of the experiences children had when they first visited one of your libraries? How did it change his or her life?
YG: When we first opened our first library in Addis Ababa and the Donkey Mobile Library in Awassa, we noticed several children who were holding books upside down. This children had never held a book before. One of these children, who was nine years old at the time is now a Star Reader, one of many children who are chosen annually for their reading skills and for reading out loud to other children. We select 12 Star Readers from thousands of children who come to our library annually. Robel has visited the library everyday since he first came six years ago. He’s participated in every program that we offer at the library such as English lessons, theatre, art and crafts and the sanitation program. Robel is also doing very well in his school as his grades have improved significantly.There are others like Robel who are part of the library family as we’ve known them for as long as the library’s existence.
Tadias: Eighteen years ago, you gave Mammo Qilo (the popupar Ethiopian children’s story) its American debut. You are the author of “Silly Mammo”, which was the first bilingual Amharic-English children’s book. Why Mammo Qilo?
YG: I’m so glad that Kilu Mammo has become famous in America! When I first thought about producing a book for Ethiopian children, Kilu Mammo was the only story that came to mind which appealed to me. Many Ethiopians remember the story from their childhood as I did. It’s a very simple but nice story. Children like silly stories to begin with and Mamo Kilu amuses not only children but also adults.
Tadias: We understand that you hold a graduate degree in library science and you served as Children’s Librarian at the San Francisco Children’s Library. How big, would you say, is the pool of trained librarians in Ethiopia that can assist with new library projects?
YG: There aren’t many Ethiopians who have a library training. There is no institution that has a training program as the Addis Ababa University folded its library science program some five or so years ago.I don’t think Ethiopian education authorities think of libraries as something very essential. Besides, there are no library policies in the educational policy of the country that I know of, therefore it makes it hard to have training programs where no one would hire the people that are trained. We have difficulty finding trained librarians. We’ve been hiring librarians ever since we started our program in Ethiopia. We’provide basic library training program for the school libraries that we establish.
Tadias: What are your long term plans to expand your program across the country? And what kind of help do you need?
YG: Our plan is to expand our projects and programs to all regions of Ethiopia by expanding to at least one region every two years. We now have projects in place that can easily be duplicated. In order to accomplish this ambitious goals we need, first and foremost financial support, then other material support such as books, computers, etc., and then any other kind of support such as volunteers.
Tadias: How can your U.S.-based fans help to further your organizational goals?
YG: There are so many ways that our fans in the US can help. For example, we’re about to embark on a membership drive that is geared towards Ethiopians. We’ve seen how enthusiastic Ethiopians have become when they discovered the work we do in Ethiopia. We see a very positive attitude and desire to help by a large number of Ethiopians. We’d like Ethiopians to support our work by becoming members and donating ten, twenty or whatever amount of money they could. Every book week has a theme around which we can raealy afford on a monthly instalment. We’d like to get a few thousand Ethiopians signing up for this monthly donation. Those who can afford can sponsor a library in memory of someone they love, sponsor a Donkey Mobile Library, sponsor publishing of a book, etc. There are so many ways our fans could be involved. People can find more information on our web site ethiopiareads.org.
Tadias: Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Since 2003, Ethiopia Reads has organized an annual Ethiopian Children’s Book Week, an annual celebration of books, reading and libraries. During our first book week, we took more than a thousand children on a march to the Ethiopian Parliament with a petition asking the government to provide libraries and boks for children. We’ve special programs everyday of the week such as Read-A-thon, Book-A-Thon, Bread and Books Day, International Children’s Book Day, Book Launch, Golden Kuraz Award, the Star Reader Award, Art Day and many other activities take place during the one week. Every book week has a special theme as a focus. Readers are Leaders, Libraries for Rural Development, Bread and Books for Children, Those who read Bloom, Ethiopia Stretches her Hands, are the book week themes of the last six years. Special posters that reflect these themes are made and distributed. The next book week is the Sixth Ethiopian Children’s Book Week to be held April 1-7, as it always is, with a theme “Ethiopia Reads” (Ethiopia Tanebalech). What we want to share with Tadias readers is to celebrate book week with us by reading to children, by making books available to your family, support Ethiopia Reads and other organizations that work in Ethiopia.
Tadias: Thank you so much for your time, Yohannes, and good luck with your work.
YG: Thank you Tadias for your interest in the work of Ethiopia Reads and for supporting us by writing about our work.
—
Monday, December 08, 2008
Vote AGAIN for Yohannes: Nominated Ethiopian Person of the Year
Vote AGAIN for Yohannes: Nazet's Ethiopian Person of the Year
Yohannes’ has been nominated as the Ethiopian Person of the Year by Nazret.com, a prominent Ethiopian blog. He’s nominated along with some very high-profile Ethiopians, including Liya Kabede, Olympic distance runners Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba and pop star Teddy Afro.
Please visit the site to vote and check in on the interesting discussion.
We’ll be spreading the word this week.
http://nazret.com/blog/index.php...
Thanks to Nazret.com for the nomination.
Yohannes’ has been nominated as the Ethiopian Person of the Year by Nazret.com, a prominent Ethiopian blog. He’s nominated along with some very high-profile Ethiopians, including Liya Kabede, Olympic distance runners Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba and pop star Teddy Afro.
Please visit the site to vote and check in on the interesting discussion.
We’ll be spreading the word this week.
http://nazret.com/blog/index.php...
Thanks to Nazret.com for the nomination.
Yohannes to visit Maplewood Public Library in Maplweood, New Jersey on Thursday, December 11
CNN ‘TOP TEN HERO,’ CHILDREN’S LITERACY ADVOCATE TO VISIT MAPLEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY
Ethiopia Reads Founder and CNN Hero Yohannes Gebregeorgis
Thursday, December 11
7 pm-8:30 pm
Maplewood Public Library
51 Baker Street, Maplewood, NJ
Yohannes Gebregeorgis, a native of Ethiopia and children’s literacy advocate, visits the Maplewood Public Library on Thursday, December 11, sharing his personal journey and message about the life-changing power of books. Recently nominated as a “Top Ten Hero of the Year” by CNN, Yohannes will speak about his work his work establishing libraries for children in Ethiopia, a country where books for children simply do not exist.
Growing up in rural Ethiopia with very little access to books, Gebregeorgis was 19 years old the first time he picked up a book for pleasure. This experience went on to shape his life as a literacy advocate, children’s book author, and co-founder of Ethiopia Reads, a non-profit organization based in Denver, CO and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Gebregeorgis came to the United States in 1983 seeking political asylum from the then-military dictatorship in Ethiopia. He worked as a hospital pharmacist and continued pursuing his education, earning a Bachelor’s of Arts in journalism and English literature and a Master’s degree in library science.
Later, as a children’s librarian at the San Francisco Public Library, Gebregeorgis realized there were few books published in local Ethiopian languages. So he wrote Silly Mammo, the first bilingual Amharic-English children's book.
In 2002, Gebregeorgis left his job in San Francisco and returned to Ethiopia. With 15,000 books donated by the San Francisco Children's Library, he opened a children's library on the first floor of his Addis Ababa home. The library was so deluged by children that it soon required the addition of two large tents.
In a country with an estimated 42% percent literacy rate, Gebregeorgis founded the non-profit, Ethiopia Reads, as a way to put books into the hands of children and to promote a culture of reading. Ethiopia Reads builds libraries and also oeprates a popular donkey-powered mobile library that brings books to rural children in remote villages. The organization also publishes children’s books in local Ethiopian languages and sends shipments of donated books from the United States to Ethiopia. In 2008, Ethiopia Reads will serve approximately 100,000 children. http://www.ethiopiareads.org/
As a “CNN Top Ten Hero of the Year,” Yohannes is recognized his work to bring positive global change by empowering children through education. Please visit www.heroes.cnn.com to vote for Yohannes. Yohannes will be featured as part of the “All Star Heroes Tribute,” hosted by Anderson Cooper, to air to a global audience of 70 million on Thanksgiving evening.
Gebregeorgis is also a recipient of the 2008 Presidential Citation for International Innovation from the American Library Association, the first to receive this honor in its inaugural year.
Gebregeorgis lives in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he serves as the Executive Director of Ethiopia Reads.
Ethiopia Reads Founder and CNN Hero Yohannes Gebregeorgis
Thursday, December 11
7 pm-8:30 pm
Maplewood Public Library
51 Baker Street, Maplewood, NJ
Yohannes Gebregeorgis, a native of Ethiopia and children’s literacy advocate, visits the Maplewood Public Library on Thursday, December 11, sharing his personal journey and message about the life-changing power of books. Recently nominated as a “Top Ten Hero of the Year” by CNN, Yohannes will speak about his work his work establishing libraries for children in Ethiopia, a country where books for children simply do not exist.
Growing up in rural Ethiopia with very little access to books, Gebregeorgis was 19 years old the first time he picked up a book for pleasure. This experience went on to shape his life as a literacy advocate, children’s book author, and co-founder of Ethiopia Reads, a non-profit organization based in Denver, CO and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Gebregeorgis came to the United States in 1983 seeking political asylum from the then-military dictatorship in Ethiopia. He worked as a hospital pharmacist and continued pursuing his education, earning a Bachelor’s of Arts in journalism and English literature and a Master’s degree in library science.
Later, as a children’s librarian at the San Francisco Public Library, Gebregeorgis realized there were few books published in local Ethiopian languages. So he wrote Silly Mammo, the first bilingual Amharic-English children's book.
In 2002, Gebregeorgis left his job in San Francisco and returned to Ethiopia. With 15,000 books donated by the San Francisco Children's Library, he opened a children's library on the first floor of his Addis Ababa home. The library was so deluged by children that it soon required the addition of two large tents.
In a country with an estimated 42% percent literacy rate, Gebregeorgis founded the non-profit, Ethiopia Reads, as a way to put books into the hands of children and to promote a culture of reading. Ethiopia Reads builds libraries and also oeprates a popular donkey-powered mobile library that brings books to rural children in remote villages. The organization also publishes children’s books in local Ethiopian languages and sends shipments of donated books from the United States to Ethiopia. In 2008, Ethiopia Reads will serve approximately 100,000 children. http://www.ethiopiareads.org/
As a “CNN Top Ten Hero of the Year,” Yohannes is recognized his work to bring positive global change by empowering children through education. Please visit www.heroes.cnn.com to vote for Yohannes. Yohannes will be featured as part of the “All Star Heroes Tribute,” hosted by Anderson Cooper, to air to a global audience of 70 million on Thanksgiving evening.
Gebregeorgis is also a recipient of the 2008 Presidential Citation for International Innovation from the American Library Association, the first to receive this honor in its inaugural year.
Gebregeorgis lives in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he serves as the Executive Director of Ethiopia Reads.
Yohannes coming to the DC Area: Join Ethiopia Reads for dinner Wednesday, December 17
Wednesday December 17 - 7:00pm
Abol Restaurant
8628 Colesville Road (across the street from the AFI Silver Theater)
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Please join us for an evening with Yohannes Gebregeorgis, founder and executive director of Ethiopia Reads.
Yohannes was recently chosen as one of the Top Ten CNN Heroes for his effort to spread literacy to the children of Ethiopia. Visit http://heroes.cnn.com.
Before he left to embark on such a herculean project, Yohannes worked as children's librarian in San Francisco for nearly two decades. We are Friends of Ethiopia Reads and would like to give him a hero's welcome when he visits the Washington area.
The event will feature some of the very finest Ethiopian food in the DC area and Yohannes as a Guest Speaker.
Suggested Donation: $100.00.
Please RSVP to one of the numbers listed below. We hope to see you there. Please come on time.
RSVP: Matt Andrea 202-232-9085
Kidist Desta 202-446-7254
Maureen Evans 301-386-5610
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Watch Yohannes on CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute on Thanksgiving Night!
CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute
Thanksgiving Night
9 pm EST
Ethiopia Reads founder Yohannes Gebregeorgis is one of 10 visionaries honored during CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute, airing in a global broadcast tomorrow night.
Chosen from 4,000 nominees, Yohannes was named a Hero for his work championing literacy for children in Ethiopia. Tune in to watch Yohannes receive an award from Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker, who praises Yohannes for leaving a comfortable life in the United States to pursue a dream of connecting children with books.
The star-studded celebration is hosted by Anderson Cooper and features musical performances by Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera and John Legend (pictured here with Yohannes). Other Hollywood luminaries on hand to salute the CNN Heroes include actors Robert Duvall, Meg Ryan, Cameron Diaz and Hugh Jackman.
The real stars, however, are the Heroes themselves. Yohannes is in great company among the nine other nominees -- all ordinary people doing inspirational work.
Last month, CNN sent a film crew to Ethiopia Reads libraries in Addis Ababa and Awassa. Their moving film will be featured in tomorrow's broadcast and nicely showcases Ethiopia Reads' programs, including the Donkey Mobile Library.
Please watch with us, as we share this moment of celebration with all of you -- our friends, volunteers, donors and supporters across the world.
For a preview, visit:
http://heroes.cnn.com/
Then visit www.ethiopiareads.org to learn more and make a donation in honor of Yohannes, our hero, on this special day.
Wishing you a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving,
Your Friends at Ethiopia Reads
Thursday, November 13, 2008
VOTE again for Yohannes as CNN's Top 10 Hero of the Year!
Ethiopia Reads believes that those who read bloom
Please help us bloom
by voting for Yohannes Gebregeorgis: Top Ten CNN Hero of the Year
Click to VOTE AGAIN
Voting only takes a second, and you can vote multiple times! Tell your friends, family, workmates, schoolmates, book club members and neighbors to vote, vote and vote again!
Voting continues until November 20 at 6 am. The CNN Hero with the most votes will be honored as Hero of the Year -- and will receive $100,000. Think of all the books and library materials that would buy!
We need your help to keep Yohannes' dream alive. Please consider making a donation in honor of Yohannes.
Yohannes and all of the Top 10 Heroes will be honored in a special worldwide broadcast on Thanksgiving night. We'll be watching, and we hope you will, too!
Thanks for your support! We share this excitement with all of you.
Your friends at Ethiopia Reads
Yohannes to appear at Boulder Public Library Thursday, November 13
AUTHOR TALK
Meet Yohannes Gebregeorgis and learn about Ethiopia Reads!
Boulder Public Library
Main Branch
1000 Canyon Road
Thursay, November 13
4:30-5:30 pm
Yohannes to visit Hennepin Country Library in Minneapolis, MN Tuesday, November 25
AUTHOR TALK
Tuesday, November 25
Hennepin County Library
Central Branch
Pholad Hall
300 Nicollet Mall
CNN launched its second annual global search for ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary deeds in February. More than 3,700 nominations were submitted by viewers in 75 countries. CNN's Anderson Cooper announced the 10 honorees Thursday on "American Morning”.
Hennepin Country Library just learned that Yohannes Gebregeorgis was named as one of CNN’s Top Ten Heroes of 2008. In order to attend a special celebration for this year’s honorees, Mr. Gebregeorgis had to reschedule his library visit talk. Come meet him in person on November 25, 2008.
Yohannes Gebregeorgis
Children’s literacy advocate and founder of Ethiopia Reads will speak at Minneapolis Central Library
A native of Ethiopia and children’s literacy advocate, Yohannes Gebregeorgis, will share his personal journey about his work setting up libraries and promoting reading in Ethiopia. Growing up in rural Ethiopia with very little access to books, Yohannes was 19 the first time he picked up a book for pleasure. This experience went on to shape his life as a literacy advocate, children’s book author, and co-founder of Ethiopia Reads.
Yohannes now lives in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he organizes the opening of libraries, continues to publish books, and trains library staff.
There will be books for sale following the event.
Yohannes featured in the Rocky Mountain News
Yohannes is featured in Thursday's edition of the Rocky Mountain News, one of two major daily newspapers in Denver.
Read it Here.
Many thanks to write James Meadow for his great story, which chronicles Yohannes' story as well as his visit to Arrowwood Elementary School in Highland Ranch, CO. The visit was arranged by our friend and supporter Mary Beth Henze, a reading specialist at Arrowwood who introduced the school to Ethiopia Reads last year. The school loved learning about Ethiopia Reads -- especially the Donkey Mobile Library -- and launched a fundraising drive that generated $2,800 for Ethiopia Reads.
Please share the story with your friends, and don't forget to vote for Yohannes as CNN's Hero of the Year.
Read it Here.
Many thanks to write James Meadow for his great story, which chronicles Yohannes' story as well as his visit to Arrowwood Elementary School in Highland Ranch, CO. The visit was arranged by our friend and supporter Mary Beth Henze, a reading specialist at Arrowwood who introduced the school to Ethiopia Reads last year. The school loved learning about Ethiopia Reads -- especially the Donkey Mobile Library -- and launched a fundraising drive that generated $2,800 for Ethiopia Reads.
Please share the story with your friends, and don't forget to vote for Yohannes as CNN's Hero of the Year.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Yohannes named Top Ten Hero of the Year by CNN
Denver, CO -- Yohannes Gebregeorgis, a native of Ethiopia and children's literacy advocate, has been named a Top 10 Hero of the Year by CNN. Mr. Gebregeorgis was selected from more than 3,000 individuals nominated by viewers throughout the year. Finalists were selected by a Blue Ribbon panel of judges that includes Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Jane Goodall and Deepak Chopra. The Top 10 Heroes will be recognized in CNN's "All-Star Tribute" to air on Thanksgiving.
Mr. Gebregeorgis was first recognized as a "hero" by CNN in May for his work championing children in Ethiopia. A former political refugee who worked as a librarian at San Francisco Public Library, Mr. Gebregeorgis is the co-founder of Ethiopia Reads, a non-profit organization that works to create a reading culture in Ethiopia by connecting children with books. In a country where 99% of schools have no libraries, Mr. Gebregeorgis and Ethiopia Reads are improving lives, one book at a time.
Vote for Yohannes here.
From October 12 to December 15, Mr. Gebregeorgis will visit cities across the United States, sharing his story and vision for Ethiopia Reads. Cities include Washington, DC; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; Kansas City, KS; Denver, CO; Albuquerque, NM; Los Angeles, CA; Minneapolis, MN; and New York, NY. A complete itinerary follows.
ABOUT YOHANNES GEBREGEORGIS
Growing up in rural Ethiopia with very little access to books, Gebregeorgis was 19 years old the first time he picked up a book for pleasure. This experience went on to shape his life as a literacy advocate, children's book author, and co-founder of Ethiopia Reads, a non-profit organization based in Denver, CO and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Gebregeorgis came to the United States in 1983 seeking political asylum from the then-military dictatorship in Ethiopia. He worked as a hospital pharmacist and continued pursuing his education, earning a Bachelor's of Arts in journalism and English literature and a Master's degree in library science.
Later, as a children's librarian at the San Francisco Public Library, Gebregeorgis realized there were few books published in local Ethiopian languages. So he wrote Silly Mammo, the first bilingual Amharic-English children's book. He enlisted the support of acclaimed children's author, Jane Kurtz, who helped raise funds for the first printing. Ms. Kurtz is now President of the Ethiopia Reads Board of Directors.
In 2002, Gebregeorgis left his job in San Francisco and returned to Ethiopia. With 15,000 books donated by the San Francisco Children's Library, he opened a children's library on the first floor of his Addis Ababa home. The library was so deluged by children that it soon required the addition of two large tents.
Today, Shola Children's Library records an average of 60,000 visits per year. Additionally, Ethiopia Reads is planting libraries in public schools across Addis Ababa and Awassa at the rate of one per month. Ethiopia Reads has published six bi-lingual story books for children.
Gebregeorgis is the recipient of the 2008 Presidential Citation for International Innovation from the American Library Association, the first to receive this honor in its inaugural year.
Gebregeorgis lives in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he serves as the Executive Director of Ethiopia Reads.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Back to School Means Back to Books: New Libraries Now Open
Ethiopia Reads started the 2008-09 school year with a bang, opening the doors of new libraries for children in Addis Ababa and Awassa. These libraries are used by students, teachers and school directors, providing a safe and inviting environment for study and reading.
Ethiopia Reads opens approximately one new library every month. We are closing in on our goal of opening 30 libraries by the end of 2008.
Ethiopia Reads libraries are planted in partnership with families, businesses, schools, community and civic groups in the United States. Our sincere thanks to our 2008 library sponsors:
Trees for Life, Wichita, KS
Georgia O'Keefe Elementary School, Albuquerque, NM
Carl and Christine Griffin, Denver, CO
Lynda M. Goldstein of The LMG Foundation, Denver, CO
Rotary International
Carol Alexander and Steve Cornetet, Denver, CO
Schroeder Middle School, Grand Forks, ND
Sarah Klingenberger, Neenah, WI
Parents and Friends of Wide Horizons Agency, Children's Home Society and Family Services, AAI and Christin World Adoption Agency
The Family of Marvin and Jeanette Klevberg
Colorado DECA Club
St. Anthony Park Elementary School, St. Paul, MN
Dan and Ann Wilds, Houston, TX
The George C. and Patricia Ann Fisher Foundation
The Wattis Foundation, Denver, CO
Lily Lakew Family, San Francisco, CA
Wezyero Tenaye and Behailu Mekbib, San Francisco, CA
Sheryl Meredith Family, San Francisco, CA
Sam Tadesse, San Francisco, CA
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Announcing the New Shola Children's Library!
The new Shola: A bigger, better, book-filled library for kids
Ethiopia Reads is thrilled to announce the new home of Shola Children's Library in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Located within walking distance of the original Shola, the new library has more rooms, more furniture and more room for the thousands of boys and girls who visit every month. The library is well-equipped to house Shola's growing collection of more than 15,000 books, and is also home to a growing roster of programs in art, drama, poetry and book-making.
Originally opened in 2003, Shola Children's Library is the first free public library for children in Ethiopia. In 2007, children made more than 60,000 visits to the library. The library is supported by the Global Fund for Children, James and Teresa Mitchum of Leawood, KS, and hundreds of donors across the country.
Read more about the new Shola in the latest issue of The Ethiopian Bee, published by our staff in Addis Ababa.
Ethiopia Reads is thrilled to announce the new home of Shola Children's Library in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Located within walking distance of the original Shola, the new library has more rooms, more furniture and more room for the thousands of boys and girls who visit every month. The library is well-equipped to house Shola's growing collection of more than 15,000 books, and is also home to a growing roster of programs in art, drama, poetry and book-making.
Originally opened in 2003, Shola Children's Library is the first free public library for children in Ethiopia. In 2007, children made more than 60,000 visits to the library. The library is supported by the Global Fund for Children, James and Teresa Mitchum of Leawood, KS, and hundreds of donors across the country.
Read more about the new Shola in the latest issue of The Ethiopian Bee, published by our staff in Addis Ababa.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Books, books and more books! Ethiopia Reads multi-lingual books for children are great for kids everywhere
Ethiopia Reads published Silly Mammo, the first bi-lingual book for children, in 2003. Since then, we have published six titles in English-Amharic and one in English-Sidamo. Our most recent addition is "The Elephant and the Cock," a 25-story collection of folk tales collected in regions across Ethiopia by the British author Elizabeth Laird. The stories were then translated and illustrated by regional Ethiopian artists. Thanks to the Christensen Fund of Palo Alto, CA, for their generous support of that project. Look for a new book about Queen Helina and the Donkey Mobile Library in the US this fall.
Help us spread the word! Download this slideshow by clicking the image above.
People Power! The Friends of Ethiopia Reads are on the Move
Ethiopia Reads is powered by thousands of supporters across the world who believe that books change lives. From school groups to reading clubs, in classrooms to Board rooms, volunteers make it happen. Thanks to all of the teachers, librarians, community leaders, grandparents, kids, business people, families and individuals who give so much to Ethiopia Reads.
Help us spread the word! Download this slideshow by clicking the image above.
New! Slideshow of photos from Ethiopia Reads' programs in Addis Ababa and Awassa
Ethiopia Reads is working to bring the joy of reading to children across Ethiopia. This album contains photos taken in Addis Ababa as well as the agricultural capital of Awassa, approximately 5 hours southwest of the capital. Awassa is home to the Awassa Reading and Literacy Center for Youth, as well as Queen Helina and the Donkey Mobile Library, which serves rural children on the outskirts of town. Thanks to Norman Perdue for many of the photos shown here.
Help us spread the word! Download this slideshow by clicking the image above.
New! Slideshow of photos from Shola Children's Library
These photos were taken by staff and volunteers at Shola Children's Library, the first free public library in Ethiopia. Located in one of Addis Ababa's poorest neighborhood, Shola serves boys and girls between the ages of 3-20 six days a week. Approximately 50,000 books, both in English as well as local Ethiopian languges, line the shelves at Shola. The library is also home to programs in reading, art, theater, dance, health and wellness, as well as the annual Ethiopian Children's Book Week Celebration. Thanks to Matthew Andrea, Catie Dupont, Norman Perdue and many others for the photos.
Help us spread the word! Download this slideshow by clicking the image above.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Celebrate Ethiopian Children's Book Week April 1-7
Ethiopia Reads is proud to announce that it will host the 5th Annual Ethiopian Children's Book Week April 1-7 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This year's theme is "Ethiopia Extends Her Hands to Books" -- a ftting sentiment during this millennimum year, as Ethiopia embraces new opportunities, hopes and ideas for the future.Thousands of children will participate in the week-long festival, which celebrates the joy that books and literature bring to young lives. Theatrical and musical performances, dance, readings of stories written by and for children are among the highlights. International digntiarites, the media, parents, educators and community leaders will be among those who flock to Shola Children's Library for this festival of fun and literacy.
April 1 – Bread and Books Day. Free books and bread given to children.
April 2 – International Children’s Book Day & Hans Christian Andersen’s Birthday
April 3-4 – Reading and performances by children at Shola Children's Library
April 2 – International Children’s Book Day & Hans Christian Andersen’s Birthday
April 3-4 – Reading and performances by children at Shola Children's Library
April 5 – Launch of three new mutli-lingual books for children
April 6 – BOOK-A-THON. Shola kids take to the streets to celebrate the power of books
April 7 – Dedication of The Klevberg Family Library, one of 20 Ethiopia Reads will open in 2008
Want to join us in Addis Ababa for Book Week? We'd love to see you there. Email tsilat@ethiopiareads.org for information on visiting Shola Children's Library during Book Week -- or any time of year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)