We are bombarded with charity organizations asking for our support. Bernos receives dozens of emails from different institutions or individuals to help support them in different forms.
Getting a charity organization up and running is a daunting and frustrating task. Sometimes individuals running these institutions do not understand that the frustration is not just on them but on us, the Ethiopians that are asked to help them.
Even the most generous and sympathetic person has to say “No” sometimes. Not only do we have to support charitable organizations but also our selves, as most of us are besieged in our personal and family lives.
Donating to a cause can very rewarding experience but choosing one is a task that shouldn’t be taken lightly as we all want to know that our charitable are making a difference. There ways to minimize and hone in to a certain association when decided who to give. There are a few qualifications a charitable organization needs to implement in order for me to believe in it.
Let’s take the obvious out; the best charity to give to is one that you have decided is doing work you think is important. The next measures in no particular order are:
- One that knows exactly what it wants to accomplish.
- One that has a dedicated management, one that documents your gift and as well us gives information about its accomplishments.
- One that gives updates and or memorabilia so that the rewarding experience is extended.
With that said, I wanted to share a recent introduction to an organization while attending a certain event.
We were told a story of how Yohannes Gebregeorgis a children’s librarian at the San Francisco Public Library and American author Jane Kurtz who grew up in Ethiopia met and decided to partake on a project geared towards bringing literacy to Ethiopia. A beautiful story (details) of that touched me and all those that heard it.
One of their missions was to write and publish the story of Kilu Mammo bilingually in English and Amharic. I am sure most of you are familiar with the Kilu Mammo’s predicament. The story brilliantly illustrated by Bogale Belachew is now available for us online so it could continue to be retold for expatriate children. The best part is that the money is donated towards developments of certain projects.
Of which Ethiopian reads’ first projects was to build a Shola Children's Library.
…has over 20,000 books donated ….The library originally opened in the basement of Yohannes' house then expanded to fill the whole building with additional tents set up in the yard to make space for all the children who come. Over 40,000 visits have been made to the library since its opening in April of 2003" #
They were swarmed kids wanting to read some books! Never realized how the curiosity of a child is impeded by the lack of a book to read. Did you?
You don’t need to support this undertaking; you have to. If you are broke send some books. Buy the book. You have a paypal right, send a few bugs. If nothing else pass the word! Send the link to Ethiopia Reads to everyone you know. Just just do something!
Proceeds from the sale of the book go towards the Ethiopian literary projects. Paypal donate button located on Ethiopia reads homepage. I hope to get one of the reps to answer questions about their project here, so ask or email them at ethiopiareads@aol.com. Published by March 21st, 2007 in Childhood.Send this post to a friend
Nolawi,
It is wonderful you have covered such a great endeavor on Ethiopia reads. I have a privilege to meet with Jane and some other support group in Seattle. I can say it was such a refreshing and inspiring initiative.
Their drive really touched me, I can not comprehend the amount of influence their work will have in the upcoming Ethiopian generation.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing this worthy information. I will definitely order the book and read it. I kind of forgot how the story goes:)!!!And it is a great gift idea for kids in the family (kill two birds with one stone)kind of deal!!!
Oh, I have this book! I just picked it up from a bookstore in Addis to read to my son. I am glad to hear the story behind it.
Thanks Nolawi.
i thought it was Mamo Qilu
NO Doro its kilu mammo apparently… but I have heard it said that way too!
[quote comment="26802"]i thought it was Mamo Qilu[/quote]
doro… i think that’s right.. but u cant say “mamo silly” for a book i guess…
Thanks Nolawi! I have once seen this site before and I was thrilled by the good job!
If we can not do such a big job, let’s at least help when some one takes the initiative.
I am just about to donate/or buy the book as well and plan to continue donating!
The ferenji’s donate out of good will - but for us, we are donating to ourselves (I would not even call it donating - we are sending money home!)
The best way to help Ethiopia is to invest on the future and we do so by educating our children - they are our futures! An educated society will take of itself and the country very well!
And . . . Charity begins at Home!
[quote comment="26928"]doro… i think that's right.. but u cant say "mamo silly" for a book i guess…[/quote] ha hah hah motukugn at mammo silly!
Nolawi,
This is great! Thanks for shedding light on it. …I heed your call to ‘Do Something’.
I, too, could swear it was titled “Mammo Qilu” back then and there. Although as I sit here, for the life of me I can’t recall the story. Oy! Ha Ha! This actually means I have to read it!
Following in this series should be one “The Ascerbic Wit and Wisdom of Aleqa Gebre-Hanna”! I say.
Nol - you have a great site. …Fun to read.
Selam to All.
p.s. - Is it just me, or does Mammo on the cover art look strikingly like Scottie Pippen?!
Selom
come on … it was mamoqilo as we all know it . . .
http://www.mamoqilo.com
you can’t say Mamo Silly but you can say Mamo Qilo.
You can also say Kilu Mamo.
i am pretty sure, the book i had learned said Mamo Qilo too.
… I would love to get that book as well.
But by the way, on the translation - silly is not really Qil, is it?
Qilo is meant to be foolish - not silly! Silly is balege !
And Mamo is foolish - not balege! Ahya teshekimo balege
yalem - mogn inji!
Indew lemetiqes yakil neuw . . .
We have the book. My son got a few giggles out of it. I remember the story from growing up as well. Illustration could have used some editing but that is beside the point. I say kudos for the guy who tried to keep the story alive. We are avid readers at our home, and hence support any effort to teach the younglings to read. Not sure if they still do book drives… have tons to share.
MindwithC;
hey people, its nice you are saying you want to get the book but I think its better to say I just got the book… eshi… its a few measly dollars so do something!
Really; the email address is written so please do contact the people and send them the books…
[quote comment="27546"]MindwithC;
hey people, its nice you are saying you want to get the book but I think its better to say I just got the book… eshi… its a few measly dollars so do something!
…[/quote]
OK, now I did order. thanks for bringing it out to the limelight.
Hey Nol, I just ordered the book too!!
Don’t know the story but will buy the book to support the cause.
Just got the book for my kid bro…
Tadias!
Nolawi - thank you for the press!
Thank you to everyone who has particpated in this thread. I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions regarding EthiopiaReads.org and its’ current programs and future goals.
I love the discussion about Silly Mammo and appreciate the feedback.
I am thankful, as a member of the EthiopiaReads.org board, for the support we have received from the Ethiopian community, both moral support and financial.
Without it, we cannot grow.
We are always looking for volunteers and are open to suggestions. Feel free to contact me if you would like to be involved in our programs.
Silly Mammo is available for purchase by visiting EthiopiaReads.org and clicking on the Buy Books link on the left side. You can also visit SilverChicks.com and click on the Ethiopia Reads link on the left.
Thanks!
Catie Dupont
catie@ethiopiareads.org
ethiopiareads@aol.com
Thank you Catie!
What percentage of donations at the ethiopiareads.org charity goes toward providing books and what goes into overhead for running the charity? Are the Ethiopian children also learning to read in English as well as their own language? A few years ago I spent a great deal of money shipping high school textbooks (biology, literature, geology, etc.) to Ghana where my step son was in the Peace Corps and I am hoping that the books are being utilized….they were printed in English.
Hi Othelia,
Thanks for your inquiry regarding Ethiopia Reads. I serve on the Board of Directors and appreciate your question and concerns about where the money raised goes. Ethiopia Reads is truly a grassroots non-profit. In the U.S. we are all volunteers, except for one paid staff member. All of our staff in Ethiopia are paid. Our fundraising is very simple, it takes about $83 a day for us to keep our libraries open. A percentage of each book that we publish is distributed for free to Ethiopian children and then a percentage is sold here in the United States to raise money to fund our projects. We are “down to the bare bones” organization.
I hope this helps you.
As far as the English textbooks - the Ethiopian National exam that is required for admittance to University is in English. At a certain level of education, the provincial language becomes secondary and English becomes the primary academic language. So, yes, English books as well as provincial language books are needed.
This Fall we received a grant to print books in Tigregna and Oromo - so our local language books now include those as well as the books we publish in Amharic and Sidama.
Thank you - and if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Nolawi - thank you so much for your support of our project.
Catie Dupont
catie@ethiopiareads.org