Overview:

CODE began its program in Ethiopia in 1987 in co-operation with a committee of government department heads in education, curriculum development and book production. The focus of the committee was to address the widespread shortage of appropriate learning materials in schools and communities. Activities included co-ordinating paper support for the production of textbooks, co-ordinating the production of rural newsletters, establishment of reading rooms, and North American donated book distribution. In 1994, CODE-Ethiopia was established as a non-profit, non-governmental organization. In co-operation with regional and municipal education departments and other agencies, CODE-Ethiopia has established and strengthened numerous reading rooms and associated schools in a number of regions, ensuring community commitment by maintaining close ties with community and local authorities. CODE-Ethiopia receives considerable support from the Ministry of Education, while donors include the Education for Development and Democracy Initiative (USA), the International Book Bank (USA), and OXFAM Canada.

CODE-Funded Program:

The goal is to support a sustainable literate environment in Ethiopia as well as to encourage development through education. CODE-Ethiopia focuses on three areas: book distribution, library development and publishing.

Activities:

• Strengthen existing reading rooms;
• Establish additional reading rooms;
• Strengthen existing children's magazine production centres;
• Establish new children's magazine production centres;
• Develop and produce reading materials for reading rooms and schools;
• Purchase additional reading materials and distribute these along with donated materials;
• Train members of reading room management committee.

For more information, the following articles were printed in our publications:

Vol. 27, No. 2 Winter 2005 (pdf)

• Encouraging girls and women to use libraries
  

Ngoma Vol. 27, No. 1 Spring 2005 (pdf)

• Telling it like it is! Living with HIV/AIDS

Executive Director
CODE- Ethiopia
P.O. Box 9443
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: (251) 1-510381
Fax: (251) 1-510381
Email: code.et@telecom.net.et