Artist Alison Seda Donates Tee Shirts to Shola Children's Library in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Please take a look at the beautiful children (ages 4-7) that were given these tee shirts donated by Alison Seda of sedaink.com. Alison is a talented artist that is represented by SilverChicks.com.

The children were so appreciative of the tee shirts. For 95% of these children it was the first new piece of clothing they had ever received.

Every time that I travel back and forth to Ethiopia I am humbled by how little it takes to make what might otherwise be a bad day really good.

Thanks,
Catie Dupont

Coming Soon! The SilverChicks Wholesale Catalog!

The SilverChicks.com wholesale catalog will be available soon to retailers. To reserve your copy, e-mail Valissa@SilverChicks.com.

We are looking for sales representatives for our wholesale line. Contact Valissa McGuffee at Valissa@silverchicks.com or Catie Dupont at catie@silverchicks.com for more information. There is no inventory requirement and there are low minimum sales requirements.

Literacy Campaign for Ethiopia: Take One Book

Take One Book: Literacy Campaign for Ethiopia

There has been an overwhelmingly positive response to the literacy campaign that has been launched by EthiopiaReads.org and Zethiopia for the year 2007.

Ethiopia Reads, founded in 2003, has a mission to improve literacy and create a culture of reading in Ethiopia. Ethiopia Reads does this by planting libraries and publishing books in local languages. To reinforce the core program of Ethiopia Reads, they are offering continuing education programs to help educators in Ethiopia nurture a love of reading.

Since Ethiopia Reads opened Ethiopia’s first free children’s library in 2003, thousands of children have experienced the joy of reading, they logged 60,000 visits to the library in 2006. Ethiopia Reads sees first hand the difference that one library, one book, and one story can make in the life of a child.

The commitment of the volunteers and supporters of Ethiopia Reads, and the vision of it's founder, Yohannes Gebregiorgis, has created a new level of excitement about learning, reading, and empowerment through education in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia Reads and Zethiopia are now challenging the community to stand behind their projects and to support the goals and mission of Ethiopia Reads.

If you or someone you know is traveling to Ethiopia during 2007, Zethiopia and Ethiopia Reads challenge you to TAKE ONE BOOK with you, because we believe that education is hope and books can change lives. Books can be dropped off at Shola Children’s Library in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Shola Library is located in Beklo-bet, behind the Dashen Bank off of Debre Zeit road.

If you aren't traveling and would like to donate books to Ethiopia Reads in the U.S., there are currently two book drives in place in the Greater D.C. Metro area.

For more information on the TAKE ONE BOOK campaign, please contact Catie Dupont at ethiopiareads@aol.com. For additional information regarding Ethiopia Reads and how you can help their mission, please visit www.ethiopiareads.org.

(Would you like to donate books, but are unsure what is best? Any books, fiction or non, with African or Ethiopian themes are greatly appreciated. Non-fiction books, such as the DK books, that have specific themes like the Ocean, Dinosaurs, the Human Body, Animals, are favorites of the children who visit the libraries.)

WILL YOU TAKE ONE BOOK?

A special note of thanks to the SEED Public Charter School students who have spear headed the book drive in the D.C. Metro area.

Coming Soon! Ethiopian Children's Festival in Washington, D.C.

The excitement is building around the Ethiopian Children's Festival that will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2007 in Washington, D.C.
Mark your Calendar and plan for a day of fun.

Music, games, contests, food, entertainment: it will all be there in one location! It will be exciting!

For more information contact Catie Dupont at EthiopiaReads@aol.com.

Many Thanks to Author Alem Bantayehu

Author Alem Bantayehu generously donated copies of her newly published book to Ethiopia Reads in support of the Take One Book Campaign, that we will take to Ethiopia with us when we travel to Addis Ababa in March.

Read more about Ms. Bantayehu and Clever Mimi:

Clever Mimi, by Alem Bantayehu, is a light-hearted story based on the Ethiopian folktale, Silly Mammo. This a warm story about Clever Mimi, who convinces her mother that she needs keremela.

The illustrations are bright, eye-catching, and sure to entertain the young reader. This 28 page book is published in English and is for an audience age 4-8, although this 36 year old enjoyed the story.

The author, Alem Bantayehu, was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. As a young child she lived in Mexico, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. Ms. Bantayehu received her higher education in the United States, attending college in Virginia and obtaining an MBA from prestigious Georgetown University. She now resides in the United States with her husband and two small children.This book is available for purchase on Amazon.com.

SilverChicks add Topaz Swarovski Crystal Earrings to Site

These earrings feature Light Colorado Topaz Polygon Crystals that measure 12 x 8 mm. The earrings are accented with Bali Sterling Silver and a 4mm Round Swarovxki Crystal all dangling from contemporary Sterling Silver French earwires. They measure approximately 1 3/8 inches from top of earwire to the bottom.
We love the sparkle of Swarovski Crystals.