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The Mobile Camel Library in Ethiopia Takes Remote Learning To New Levels ??

5 min read

Better Society
Source: SaveTheChildren.net

Camel library gives kids in some of Ethiopia’s most remote villages a unique opportunity to continue reading and learning, despite COVID-19 school closures.

ETHIOPIAN CAMEL LIBRARY TAKES REMOTE LEARNING TO NEW LEVELS

A camel library is giving children out of school in some of Ethiopia’s most remote villages a unique opportunity to continue learning, despite COVID-19 lockdowns which have seen over 26 million children out of school across Ethiopia. 

Source: savethechildren.net

Save the Children first began the camel library programme in 2010

Save the Children’s camel library programme began in 2010 and today includes 21 camels, which are traditionally used by communities in the Somali region of Ethiopia to transport goods across the hot lowland areas. Camels can carry up to 200 storybooks at a time in wooden boxes strapped to their backs. The project currently reaches over 22,000 children in 33 villages.

Across Ethiopia, over 26 million children are out of school due to COVID-19 lockdowns. By continuing its camel library outreach program, Save the Children is making sure children can continue to read and learn while at home.

Mahadiya, 13, is in grade seven in a remote part of the Somali region of eastern Ethiopia. Since COVID-19 hit her community, her school has been closed and she has been unable to go to class.

To help her keep up with her studies, Mahadiya is making use of Save the Children’s mobile camel library, which visits her village every week to give children like her the opportunity to keep learning during lockdown.NWhen she grows up, Mahadiya says she hopes to become an engineer. Continued below…

With Save the Children's camel library, she is able to continue reading and learning at home.
Like 26 million other children in Ethiopia, Mahadiya, 13, pictured, is out of school because of coronavirus restrictions. With Save the Children’s camel library, she is able to continue reading and learning at home. Source: savethechildren.net

Mahadiya’s family have also suffered financially during the COVID-19 lockdowns

Mahadiya’s family’s income used to come from a small shop, but because of increases in the price of goods and a decrease in the number of customers, her family is struggling to make ends meet. Her family also used to own livestock, but the ongoing drought in the region meant that most of the animals needed to be sold.

Ekin Ogutogullari, Save the Children’s Country Director in Ethiopia, said:

“It has been nearly three months since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was recorded in Ethiopia. The virus poses particular challenges for vulnerable populations living in high density or resource poor communities, migrants and displaced children.

“In Ethiopia, we recently conducted a survey where children told our team about their perceptions and concerns about COVID-19. Children raised concerns around increases in child labour, early marriage, and abuse due to the outbreak and closure of schools.

“On top of this, Ethiopian children and their families are facing floods, desert locusts, cholera, measles, food insecurity, and rising poverty levels. The scale of this crisis is huge, but we are determined to meet the needs of the most vulnerable and ensure no child is worse off at the end of this pandemic.” 

Source: SaveTheChildren.net

The programme includes 21 camels, which are traditionally used by communities in the Somali region of Ethiopia to transport goods across the hot lowland areas.
Save the Children first began the camel library in 2010. The programme includes 21 camels, which are traditionally used by communities in the Somali region of Ethiopia to transport goods across the hot lowland areas. Source: SaveTheChildren.net

Mahadiya said:

“Before the coronavirus, we used to go to school regularly. The school used to provide us with a meal each school day, but now that has stopped. I feel sad and disappointed that I cannot go to school.

“I am worried it may not open soon. Because of this, I am worried that we could forget some of the things we learned in school and we could fail our exams.  

“After schools were closed, many children were out of school and they were exposed to child labour and exploitation. Many children have become herders and some walk into the bush to look for firewood. When schools were closed, I was very sad.  However, the camel library continued to come to our village and supplied us with storybooks. I feel very happy and I am now able to borrow and take home the storybook that I would like to read.”

Camels can carry up to 200 storybooks at a time in wooden boxes strapped to their backs. Source: SaveTheChildren.net
The project currently reaches over 22,000 children in 33 villages. Source: SaveTheChildren.net
“Before the coronavirus, we used to go to school regularly. The school used to provide us with a meal each school day, but now that has stopped. I feel sad and disappointed that I cannot go to school. I am worried it may not open soon. Because of this, I am worried that we could forget some of the things we learned in school and we could fail our exams.”
Mahadiya, 13, is in grade seven in a remote part of the Somali region of eastern Ethiopia. “Before the coronavirus, we used to go to school regularly. The school used to provide us with a meal each school day, but now that has stopped. I feel sad and disappointed that I cannot go to school. I am worried it may not open soon. Because of this, I am worried that we could forget some of the things we learned in school and we could fail our exams.” Source: SaveTheChildren.net
Hessen, pictured, volunteers his time and effort to escort the camels to remote villages and act as librarian for the unusual bookshelf.
Across Ethiopia, over 26 million children are out of school due to COVID-19 lockdowns. Hessen, pictured, volunteers his time and effort to escort the camels to remote villages and act as librarian for the unusual bookshelf. Source: SaveTheChildren.net
Volunteer, Hessen, leads the camels to and from the villages and acts as librarian.
By continuing its camel library outreach program, Save the Children is making sure children can continue to read and learn while at home. Volunteer, Hessen, leads the camels to and from the villages and acts as librarian. Source: SaveTheChildren.net
To help her keep up with her studies, Mahadiya is making use of Save the Children’s mobile camel library, which visits her village every week to give children like her the opportunity to keep learning during lockdown.
Since COVID-19 hit her community, her school has been closed and she has been unable to go to class. To help her keep up with her studies, Mahadiya is making use of Save the Children’s mobile camel library, which visits her village every week to give children like her the opportunity to keep learning during lockdown. Source: SaveTheChildren.net

Save the Children’s global COVID-19 response is

  • Save the Children is supporting Mahadiya’s family and others in the community with essential livelihoods support to help them keep afloat through this crisis. 
  • The organisation has provided start-up capital to families with low income and Mahadiya’s family has used this funding to run a small shop.
  • Save the Children also provides veterinary services, crops and seeds, and financial support to farmers in the community. 

To support Save the Children’s global COVID-19 emergency appeal, click here.

As Covid-19 lockdowns continue: A camel library takes remote learning to new levels A camel library is giving children out of school in some of Ethiopia’s most remote villages a unique opportunity to continue learning, despite COVID-19 lockdowns which have seen over 26 million children are out of school across Ethiopia. Source: Facebook/BrightVibes
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SAVE THE CHILDREN’S GLOBAL COVID-19 EMERGENCY APPEAL — HELP FAMILIES GET THROUGH THIS

All over the world, coronavirus is tearing children’s lives apart. This is the biggest global health, social and economic crisis of our lifetime. Together, we must act now to stop the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the world’s most vulnerable children. Save the Children has launched a $100 million appeal - the biggest appeal in our 100-year history – to protect children no matter where they live. And to protect every child's right to learn, we've launched the Save our Education campaign. Together, we can help children and their families get through this, both in our own communities and around the world. We urgently need your support. Please give to our coronavirus emergency appeal.