My educational journey started in Gambella, Ethiopia where I was born. Growing up, I never had nongovernmental printed Anuak books. The school provided textbooks which we always returned at the end of each year. Since the schools couldn’t afford to print new copies each year, we were always given the same recycled books. It’s only …
Preserving a Rare Ethiopian Language for the Anuak People of Gambella Read More »
Thirty-one mammals are found only in Ethiopia. Amazing creatures are tucked away in the many eco-regions of the country that has such varied terrain: mountains, plateaus, river valleys, deserts, lakes, and rivers that allow for the survival of animals that can’t be spotted anywhere else in the world. As one example, the Ethiopian wolf – …
Only In Ethiopia – So many animals, birds and more to explore in books. Read More »
In 2016, I started the process of taking Open Hearts Big Dreams from the fundraising event we started in 2011 to a full-fledged not-for-profit. I was inspired by our amazing daughter and the opportunities we saw to contribute after funding and expanding a library in her birth-town of Bahir Dar (pictured here). That year was …
Open Hearts Big Dreams – Five Years into the Organizational Journey Read More »
It was a big month for Open Hearts Big Dreams. We had our best GiveBIG effort ever – thank you to all who matched, gave, or shared! None of this work is possible without the funding we receive through these types of efforts! We hosted our first locally-focused workshop event organized and led by our …
OHBD’s Leadership Focus Creates Our Newest Leaders Read More »
We are excited to launch our OHBD Big Dreams Heroes and Leaders in Literacy, Innovation, and Inclusion Awards to recognize their invaluable contributions. These volunteers and supporters are heroes and leaders in the truest sense of the words. They exemplify our mission of empowering youth to transform their futures and follow our tenets to accomplish …
In a study published last year in the Journal of Happiness Studies, researchers looked at data from nearly 70,000 subjects and concluded that volunteers were happier. People who start out at a lower level of well-being seem to get even more benefit from volunteering. But I don’t need a study to tell me that volunteer …
Why Do I Volunteer for OHBD? From our Creative Lead, Author Jane Kurtz Read More »
Our visit was incredible. We did cool things like climb the Simien Mountains and met great people like the ones I am going to tell you about. OHBD did so many good things. When we were in Dangla, we met a science teacher from Project Ethiopia. He was showing students how to measure viscosity of …
I’ve always followed my passion rather than running after money. So when it comes to work that matters, non-profit jobs offer the opportunity to be a part of something that will profoundly impact society. That is why I joined Open Heart Big Dreams. Ethiopian children want to read a good story, but with the lack …
I want to thank Open Hearts Big Dreams for giving me this chance. I am Phoben Alemayehu and I’m 13 years old and in grade 7. I got the chance to read a book entitled, The Lost Son, written by Finote Wongel and illustrated by Alemayehu Regassa, who is my father. I learned a lot …
RSG Readers Reflect: Phoben Alemayehu on lessons from RSG title, “The Lost Son” Read More »
Sharing interests. Enriching skills. Building friendships. Discovering connections. If someone had told me there was an organization that would provide all of these enriching experiences—as well as help families around the world understand the pandemic—I wouldn’t have believed them. “What an over-promise!” I would have said. “How can one organization do all that?” Truth is, …
