A camel library is giving children out of school in some of Ethiopia’s most remote villages a unique opportunity to
continue reading and learning, despite COVID-19 lockdowns.
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. 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 forced her
school to close in late March, 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. When she grows up, Mahadiya says she hopes to become an engineer.
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."
Mahadiya’s family have also suffered financially during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Their family 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."
Save the Children has launched an appeal to help countries in need fight Covid-19, if you can help donate to https:// www.savethechildren.org.nz/how-to-help/donate/monthly-donation