May 26, 2005
No. 22/05

U.S. Embassy Donates over 23,000 Books to 24 Ethiopian Schools and Other Institutions

Addis Ababa (U.S. Embassy) -- U.S. Ambassador Aurelia Brazeal, in a ceremony May 26 at the U.S. Embassy, donated textbooks to 24 schools and community education centers located in different parts of Ethiopia.  The books will be used by kindergarten and elementary school students.  The donation includes a total of 23,000 books valued at U.S. $ 200,000 or 1.7 million Birr.  The books were donated through the Brother’s Brother Foundation, an American nongovernmental organization, which contributes educational, medical, and agricultural materials to recipients throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America.  The books were donated to the Brother’s Brother Foundation by numerous private sources in the United States.

The U.S. Embassy periodically contributes books throughout Ethiopia, as they become available from donors, in response to the large number of requests received from schools and other institutions.  The Embassy also ensures that some donated books are reserved for rural schools and institutions that may subsequently make such requests.