Monthly Newsletter of EBCEF
1 that 'Mammo Kilo'
EBCEF's Publishing Project
Publishing good quality Children's books based
on Ethiopian culture and history is one of the
main goals of Ethiopian Books for Children and
Educational Foundation (EBCEF). EBCEF took
a step forward by publishing another dual-
language children's book entitled ' The Lion's
Tail' or 'Yeanbesa Chira' this month.
The book by Award-Wining Author and
President of EBCEF Jane Kurtz was translated
from English to Amharic by Yohannes
Gebregiogis and illustrated by the renowned
Artist Eshetu Tiruneh.
'The Lion's Tail' is published in Ethiopia by
Children's Book Publishing Project (CBPP) of
Ethiopian Books for Children and Educational
Foundation (EBCEF) with generous financial
support of 'Room to Read.
The book will be donated to underprivileged
children, regular Shola Children's Library users
and different school libraries with hardly any
reading books.
Those Who Read Bloom! Tel. 67 06 43/44 P.O. Box 27762/1000,Addis Ababa, Ethiopia E-mail ebcef@ethionet.et
Tel, 06/20 49 36 P.O. Box 1376 Awassa, SNNRP, Ethiopia
www.ethiopiareads.org
Vol. 1 It isNo.
recalled October
or 'Silly2006
It is recalled that 'Mammo Kilo' or 'Silly
Mammo', the retelling of traditional Ethiopian
folk tale, written by Yohannes Gebregorgis, was
also published by EBCEF in July 2005 by
Ethiopian Children's Book Publishing Project of
EBCEF and was provided freely to
disadvantaged children and regular library users
of Shola Children's Library.
Ewket Fana School, Selected for School
Library Project
Ewket Fana Elementary and Secondary School
has been selected for a model school library site
for the School Library Project of EBCEF. The
funding of the Model Library is provided by
Noel Cunningham and his wife Tammy.
Once the library room is ready, EBCEF will
provide bookshelves, chairs, tables and other
essential library equipments, and books that are
appropriate to the needs of the students and
required for the initial library set up.
When the library opens, it will provide
information and serves as a reading place for
more than 800 children and staff in the school.
The Model Library will be inaugurated in April,
during the ‘Ethiopian Children's Book Week’ of
EBCEF.
Tila Association Sponsors Children
Tila Association sponsored six children (five
girls and one boy) from Shola Children's
Library and sanitation program participants of
EBCEF. The association pays their school fees
and buys educational materials, and uniforms.
One of the girls was forced to drop out of school
because she was incapable of paying her school
fees and buy educational materials. With the
help of Tila Association, the girl continued her
education. All the others are going to school for
the first time, though they are pass school age.
had the chance to visit different classrooms and
talk to the children about books and reading.
Shola Children's Library was visited by forty
orphan children from Missionaries of Charity on
12 October. The Children came to the library
accompanied by volunteers working for
Missionaries of Charity.

Since it was their first trip to the library for most

Members of Tila Association call on the
children at Shola Library every Saturday to
check on their progress and help them with their
studies. Fitsum Andargachew, representative of
Tila Association, stated that the program is
permanent and more children will be
incorporated in the program in the near future.
of the children, orientation was given on basic
library usage by the library manager. The
children read different books for three hours.
Gloria Simoneaux, Executive Director of Draw
Bridge-An Art Program for Homeless Children,
was one of the volunteers EBCEF welcomed
this month.

Volunteers and Visitors

Ethiopian Books for Children and Educational

Foundation welcomed visitors and volunteers of
different occupations.

Mr. Noel Cunningham and his wife Tammy,

donors/sponsors/ of the Model School Library to
be established in Ewket Fana School, visited
Shola Children's Library and three government
and public schools on October 16, 2006. All
visited schools are selected for EBCEF's School
Library Project. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham
observed that libraries, which have great impact
on the teaching and learning process, were non-
existent in these schools. During their visit, they
Gloria gave special art classes for sixty-five
children (38 girls and 27 boys) from 17-21
October 2006. During the program, the children
had a chance to express their feelings, likings,
and life through painting. Gloria was pleased by
the effort the children showed to learn more
from the program.
Different activities will be held through out the
week. EBCEF's anniversary, Art Day, and 'Book
and Bread Day' are some of the occasions that
will be celebrated during the Ethiopian
Children's Book Week.
The Second Golden Kuraz Award

Ato Zenebe Ayalew, Director of HOPE The second Golden Kuraz Award will also be
Enterprises and Cassie Williams, Institutional presented to the Best Ethiopian Children's Book
Development Officer, visited the Shola published between January 2004 and December
Children's Library on October 14. 2006 during the fourth Book Week.

HOPE Enterprises is an organization that works The main purpose of Golden Kuraz Award is to
on literacy and other educational programs in reward literacy excellence and encourage
Ethiopia. Ethiopian Books for Children and writing and publishing of good quality
Educational Foundation (EBCEF) in children's books in Ethiopia.
collaboration with HOPE Enterprises will work
on the establishment of school libraries in Star Reader Award
HOPE Schools in Addis Ababa and Dessie.
Starting from April 2007, EBCEF will present
The Fourth Ethiopian Children's Book Week the first Star Reader Award for the best reader
from the users of Shola Children's Library every
The fourth Ethiopian Children's Book Week year. This annual award is believed to motivate
will be celebrated from 1-7 April 2007 with a children to read more.
theme 'Readers are Leaders'. The theme will
encourage children to be readers in order to be
leaders in every field.
Data of Shola Children's library users
Month Registered Actual New Actual Users Total Frequency of
Users Visit
October/2006 Male Female Male Female
723 424 90 63 1300 3954

Data of Awassa Reading Center users

Month Registered Actual New Actual Users Total Frequency of

Users Visit
October/2006 Male Female Male Female
404 273 81 83 841 868

Data of Awassa Donkey Mobile Library users

Month Registered Actual Users New Actual Users Total Frequency of

Visit
October/2006 Male Female Male Female
502 340 114 91 1047 1349