In a country where centuries-old traditions blend with a rapidly modernizing society, a quiet revolution is unfolding—one book at a time. Ethiopia Reads (ER), a nonprofit dedicated to fostering literacy, is working to bridge the reading gap by building libraries, distributing books, and reviving the country’s storytelling heritage.

Through innovative programs such as mobile libraries that reach remote villages and the publication of culturally relevant books in local languages, ER is expanding access to knowledge in a nation where millions of children still lack fundamental reading resources.

A Summit for Change

On April 2, 2025, ER, in collaboration with the National Library Service and the Ministry of Education, hosted the Fifth Annual Children’s Reading Summit in Addis Ababa. Held at the Sapphire Addis Hotel, the event brought together government officials, education experts, and literacy advocates under the theme: “Cultivating a Nation of Readers: Inspiring Parental Involvement and Cultural Storytelling for Early Childhood Literacy.”

The summit underscored the crucial role of early childhood education and parental engagement in shaping a child’s academic future. Discussions centered on four key themes: assessing early learning quality, the impact of parental involvement on student success, oral storytelling as a foundational learning tool, and the role of folktales in the education system.

Beyond theoretical discussions, the summit served as a call to action. ER representatives stressed the urgency of fostering stronger collaborations between educators, parents, and policymakers to implement grassroots literacy initiatives. They also pushed for policy reforms that prioritize early reading interventions, recognizing literacy as a cornerstone of national development.

A Legacy of Literacy

Founded in the United States in 1998, ER has operated in Ethiopia since 2002, quietly transforming lives through books. Over the past two decades, the organization has established more than 70 libraries, distributed over 250,000 books, and reached over 150,000 children annually. But its mission extends beyond traditional literacy programs—it is also engaged in rebuilding educational infrastructure in communities affected by conflict.

To sustain its impact, ER supplies schools and libraries with books and furniture, while training and mentoring local librarians—many of whom work in under-resourced and crisis-stricken areas. The organization’s literacy programs focus on language-appropriate books, classroom resources, teacher training, and advocacy for a reading-centered education system.

“We don’t just build libraries and distribute books,” ER representatives said. “We work with marginalized communities—both rural and urban—running literacy awareness campaigns, supporting family reading initiatives, and reintegrating students into schools.”

To date, ER has distributed over 500,000 books in more than ten Ethiopian languages to 400 libraries across the country. It also operates children’s libraries in Addis Ababa and Hawassa, ensuring young readers have access to welcoming, resource-rich environments that inspire a love for books.

Delivering the keynote speech, Yekunnoamlak Mezgebo, director of Ethiopian Libraries and Archives Services, underscored the enduring power of storytelling as a vessel for wisdom. Using a folktale about the cleverness of an ape, he illustrated how narratives transcend generations, imparting crucial social, economic, and environmental lessons. “These stories do more than teach morals,” he said. “They showcase the depth of literary composition—featuring well-developed characters, intricate plots, and suspense that captivate young minds.”

While Ethiopia Reads primarily serves children from kindergarten to fourth grade, including those affected by conflict, the organization extends its impact through publishing and distributing children’s books and operating innovative mobile libraries. Its “Donkey Mobile Library” serves semi-urban areas, while the “Horse-Powered Literacy” project brings books and literacy support to remote communities.

According to Sentayhu Regasa, ER’s Government Relations Coordinator, these mobile libraries are lifelines for children in areas with limited access to schools or books. “Horses and trained facilitators transport reading materials directly to villages, ensuring that even the most isolated children can engage with books,” she said. Sentayhu emphasized ER’s commitment to fostering reading habits and equipping government school libraries with essential resources. Citing a report from the National Educational Assessment and Examination Agency (NEAEA), she noted that 50 percent of Ethiopian children struggle with reading comprehension.

“This is a challenge we are determined to tackle head-on,” she said. “In addition to serving over 150,000 students annually, ER has purchased more than 30,000 books from local markets and distributed them to schools. We’ve also imported over 500,000 books from donors and supplied them to government schools and other institutions.” She added that ER has prepared and distributed more than 400,000 reading books nationwide.

With Measuring Early Learning Quality and Outcomes (MELQO) playing a key role in evaluating and improving early childhood education, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, Abraham Mengistu, executive director for Strategic Affairs at the Ministry of Education, highlighted the urgency of expanding book availability and strengthening teacher training. He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working with organizations like ER to enhance literacy development.

“The sector is showing some improvement,” he said. “Yet, the quality of education remains a work in progress, hindered primarily by a shortage of skilled trainers, inadequate educational materials, and other persistent challenges.”

Birhanu Girma, ER’s Program Coordinator, pointed to the organization’s focus on assisting children in conflict-affected areas through the Education in Emergency project, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education. Over the past two decades, ER has supported more than 1.5 million Ethiopian children in rural and semi-rural areas. “Our initiatives reach every region of the country,” Birhanu said. “We have established and supplied reading materials to at least one rural area in each region.” However, he acknowledged significant hurdles to educational development, including limited awareness about the importance of reading, security concerns due to conflict, inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of trained personnel—especially in rural areas—and a scarcity of children’s books in local languages.

Despite these challenges, Birhanu emphasized that ER remains steadfast in its mission to support students in conflict-affected areas and is collaborating with other organizations to initiate a National Reading Policy in Ethiopia.