It’s Book Week in Canada and the country is celebrating the importance of reading.

We’re celebrating too, because last month we opened another school library in Ethiopia.

At imagine1day we’ve long encouraged reading in our supported schools. We’ve supplied over 66,000 books, created reading corners in classrooms, and recently, started constructing full libraries in our new schools.

The latest is at Shallo Primary School, located in Southern Ethiopia’s Sinana District, which we inaugurated last month.

“I’m so happy to have this new school, because this new school includes a library,” says 13-year-old Tegan Beyena.

Tegan Beyena. 13 with his favorite book.

Tegan Beyena. 13 with his favorite book.

“There are a lot of different books in this library. It creates opportunities to get reference books and improve my grades.”

The aspiring English Professor points to his favorite book; Classroom Language: How to speak in English, written, coincidentally, by Haleform Gezaei.

Haleform is a former principal and now imagine1day’s Program Coordinator for the Tigray Region.

Fellow student, Shamsiya Kemal, 12, (pictured above) is also delighted with the new library. “I love the opportunity to read so many different books. I read every chance I get.”

The library’s fiction books have motivated her to join her school’s media class, where students come together, write plays and perform them for the community.

This year imagine1day is building nine new full school libraries in Ethiopia, at a cost of C$320,625. You can help make these libraries a reality by donating today.