Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Black News’ Staff
Published on 2024-02-14 10:25:14
Open Hearts Big Dreams (OHBD) and the Ethiopian Section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY Ethiopia) had the honor of seeing two OHBD Ready Set Go Books (OHBD-RSG) recognized at the 29th Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2023 in Riyahd, Saudi Arabia. “Friends Forever: A Tale of Two Fruits” by Yoseph Ayalew was awarded third place in the categories of “Best Food Books for Children—Africa” and “Best Fruit Books in the World.” Additionally, “Thank You, Cow: The Origin of Some of Ethiopia’s Best Foods” by Mastewal Abera and illustrated by Abel Tekleyes was awarded fourth place in the category of “Best Dairy & Cheese Books in the World.” These accolades mark a total of four books published by OHBD-RSG that have received similar honors.
The Gourmand Awards, established in 1995, select winners from a pool of over 100,000 publications from 230 countries and regions worldwide. The awards are highly regarded and likened to the Oscars of the film industry.
OHBD Executive Director Ellenore Angelidis expressed her gratitude for the recognition, emphasizing the importance of having authors and illustrators based in Ethiopia contribute to the creation of these award-winning titles. She highlighted the significance of building local capacity, a key objective for OHBD, and a reason for sponsoring the launch of IBBY Ethiopia. Angelidis noted that many content creators donate their talents, making international recognition like this a valuable gift.
Yoseph Ayalew, a Project Manager for the NGO and a key figure in IBBY Ethiopia, shared his perspective on the recognition, acknowledging the challenging nature of writing children’s books and expressing gratitude for the support of the editors, creative team, and illustrator. Ayalew stated that winning two honors for the same book is a fulfillment of a lifelong goal and emphasized the book’s message of promoting equality and acceptance among children.
Mastewal Abera, an Ethiopian children’s book author, focuses on creating bilingual picture books to promote child literacy. By incorporating Ethiopian cultural perspectives into her work, Abera aims to engage young readers from diverse backgrounds and cultivate a love of reading that will endure throughout their lives.
Abel Tekleyes, an accomplished artist from Addis Ababa, shared his journey from a young cartoon enthusiast to a versatile artist skilled in various mediums. Tekleyes expressed gratitude for the award and highlighted the role of cartoons in inspiring his artistic journey.
The OHBD-RSG Books program publishes culturally appropriate bilingual books and distributes them to readers in Ethiopia and beyond. With a growing catalog of over 160 books in nineteen languages, the initiative has printed and distributed more than 360,000 books in Ethiopia. The award-winning titles are part of the OHBD-RSG inclusion series, the “Mike Carr Legacy Project,” which aims to address educational disparities for Ethiopian children with disabilities.
OHBD is a non-profit organization based in Seattle dedicated to enhancing literacy, inclusion, innovation readiness, and leadership skills in Ethiopia and beyond. The organization supported the establishment of IBBY Ethiopia as a new National Section, aligning with IBBY’s mission to connect books and children globally. With millions of Ethiopians lacking literacy skills and a need for culturally relevant children’s books, IBBY Ethiopia will strive to increase access to quality literature and nurture a love of reading among young audiences.
For more information on OHBD and its initiatives, please visit their website at OpenHeartsBigDreams.org. For press inquiries, you can reach out at 425-295-8841 or email [email protected].
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