Growing up in a family of 11 children in rural Gubre, Ethiopia, Cheru Atraga knew how hard it was
to get a good education. Books were hard to come
by and even textbooks in the classroom had to be shared. It was difficult to find a quiet place to read, let alone study. Only 29.33% of the population is literate and barely 20.47% attend elementary school.
The strong Catholic faith of his parents and their commitment to education were a guiding force in the lives of their children. Despite the hardships, most of Cheru's siblings graduated from college. Today, Dr. Cheru Atraga is a clinical associate professor of nursing at Georgia State University.
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It is now his life's mission, to give back to the children of Ethiopia by building a public library to serve the 1500 children in his hometown of Gubre.
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Why a library...
What is it like to live in Gubre?
Gubre town is found in the rural Gurage zone, a little over 85 miles southwest of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. According to the Gubre town health office in 2017, the town's population was 5,113 with 2,662 male and 2,451 female residents.
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Education is very limited as only 29.33% of the population is literate. School attendance is equally limited as 20.47% of children aged 7-12 was in primary school, 5.28% of the children aged 13-14 was in junior secondary school, and only 6.67% of the population aged 15-18 attended senior secondary school.
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The town's main economic activities of the town are farming and trade with trade as the main livelihood. Crops include chat (a stimulant in leaf form chewed by the user) and enset, a false banana, teff, an edible seed similar to quinoa that cooks quickly and cash crops such as coffee. Farmers are greatly affected by seasonal rainfall patterns to determine the area's crop.
Much of the population also engages in peddling or operating services such as shoeshine or tea shops.
Contribution of the Local Community & Government
The local government is solidly behind this project, donating the land and ongoing staffing for the library. The people of Gubre are excited for this opportunity for their children and many have volunteered to help in the construction to augment the paid labor. The value of these contributions totals US $2,000,000.
The Plans & Logistics
The plans construction plans are ready but we still need to raise funds for the construction materials, furnishings, books, and labor. It is our goal to raise $600,000. Prior to this request, Dr. Atraga and his family have spent their own money to set up the non-profit structure, construction blue prints, website as well as countless hours dedicated to writing grants and getting the word out. He and his wife, Rachel and daughters have stood in many supermarket parking lot just asking for funds.
The Impact
According to UNICEF, Ethiopia can lift itself out of poverty by ensuring children have access to quality education. The 1500 children in and around Gubre will be able to read, study, and have access to computers. This will give them, especially girls, a chance at a brighter future.