Rotary Club Addis Ababa (RCAA) Hosts Book Handing Over Ceremony to Boost Literacy in Metu St Gabriel School*

The Rotary Club Addis Ababa (RCAA), in partnership with the Rotary Club of Seattle, USA, celebrated a significant milestone in its Metu St Gabriel School Restoration Project with a Book Handing Over Ceremony held at The Hub Hotel on Friday, February 21, 2025. The event underscored RCAA’s commitment to enhancing educational infrastructure and fostering literacy through the creation of a dedicated reading room at the school.  

Key Attendees and Donations  

The ceremony was graced by representatives from local and international partners, including Ellenore from the Rotary Club of Seattle and her daughter Laila, who symbolically handed over sample books authored and printed by Yoseph, a renowned Ethiopian writer. The books were received by Kalifa Manneh, President of RCAA, assisted by Past President Melaku and Rtr Markos, PR Director of RCAA.  

In a pivotal moment, the RCAA team presented the sample books followed by the handover of 1,000 additional books to Gadisa, Director of Metu St Gabriel School, supported by the school board members Hailu and Alemayehu. These donations mark a critical step toward revitalizing the school’s reading space as part of broader restoration efforts.  

Commitment to Education and Literacy  

The Metu St Gabriel School Restoration Project aims to renovate the institution’s infrastructure while promoting literacy through accessible reading materials. During the event, the school management reaffirmed their pledge to expedite the renovation of the reading area, ensuring the books are available to students promptly.  

Gadisa, School Director, expressed gratitude, stating:  

“This donation transforms our vision for a vibrant learning environment into reality. We extend our deepest thanks to the Rotary Club of Seattle and RCAA for their unwavering support in empowering our students through literacy.”  

Ellenore, representing the Rotary Club of Seattle, highlighted the collaboration’s impact:  

“Education is a bridge to opportunity. We are honored to partner with RCAA and contribute to a project that will inspire generations of readers and leaders in Metu.”  

Acknowledgments and Closing  

RCAA President Kalifa Manneh commended all contributors, including board members, project partners, and volunteers, for their dedication. He emphasized RCAA’s ongoing commitment to educational initiatives across Ethiopia.  

The ceremony concluded with a shared vision to strengthen international partnerships and expand access to quality education.