Books on the Move in Ethiopia
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EBCEF publishes the first Ethiopian picture book
Gebregeorgis Yohannes, born in the small town of Negele
Borena in southern Ethiopia, left Ethiopia in the troubled 1980s and
eventually (with a MLIS degree from the University of Texas) became a
children's book librarian at San Francisco Public Library. He has a
powerful vision for getting books into the hands of Ethiopian young
readers.
"Books change lives," Yohannes notes. He was 19 when he
first read a book outside of school. Now, as he says, his life abounds
with books, and in the 1990s, he began to try to figure out how he
could share books with the country where he grew up. He formed a
nonprofit organization (the Ethiopian Books for Children and
Educational Foundation, or EBCEF) and asked author Jane Kurtz and other
friends of Ethiopia to serve as members of the fledgling board of
directors.
In an initial effort, EBCEF gathered about 4,000 books
and other educational materials and now, even more importantly has
published the first Ethiopian picture book.
When you purchase
Only a Pigeon
and Silly Mammo
you support EBCEF.
Thanks.
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Yohannes wrote down a favorite story
from his youth, Kilu Mammo (Silly Mammo) in English and Amharic and
hired an Ethiopian artist to illustrate it. The board decided to do a
first printing in the U.S. in the hopes that we could get books into
the hands of Ethiopian families here in the U.S. (40,000 in the Twin
Cities area alone) and into the hands of North American families who
will enjoy the glimpse into Ethiopian life. Professional artist Janie Bynum
volunteered to design the book and oversee the printing. In May, 2002,
the first books were put into the hands of Jane Kurtz,
an author of books for young readers, has lent full support to the
project and has donated space on her author site to make others aware
of the project. To order a copy or
for more information go to the web site for the Ethiopian Books for Children and Educational Foundation.
Download a preview of the book.
Adobe Acrobat Reader will be required.
First Presbyterian Church of Grand Forks,
the Presbytery of Northern Plains, and some other friends of Ethiopia
donated enough money for the first printing. The money raised
through the sale of these books helped to establish EBCEF in Ethiopia
and get books into the hands of Ethiopian children. Yohannes sent the
first container (full of books and other educational
supplies) to Ethiopia in July (2002). In September (2002), Yohannes
moved to Ethiopia to establish the book and educational center in
Addis Ababa.
This is a very grassroots
project, and we're open to book or money donations, suggestions, and
encouragement from anyone who might be able to offer such things.
Yemiyanebu Yabebu!
(Those who read bloom.) |