EWU prof gives back to Ethiopian village

 

Kassahun (Kass) Kebede, a professor of sociology at Eastern Washington University, journeyed halfway around the world to Cheney to establish Libraries in Ethiopia, a literacy program in his home country.

His "walk" to his current home and role as associate professor of sociology and justice studies at Eastern Washington University began in rural Ethiopia.

His parents, who didn't finish school, believed education was important. They sent him and his siblings to the closest school, which was miles away.

"I walked to school every day. Other children walked more," said Kass. "It was cold to walk without gloves at 8,000 feet in the highlands."

Reflecting on his parents' advice to tell his story, he shared how he went from rural Ethiopia to Cheney.

"Few would believe a kid who sometimes walked barefoot to school, and who studied and read by kerosene lamp went to university and now teaches in the U.S." Kass said.

"God helped me. That's why I remember the kids back home who struggle like I did. Even though things improved, they haven't changed that much in the 20 years since I came here," he said.

In rural Ethiopia and most rural towns, there are no bookstores or libraries. So Kass started Libraries for Ethiopia to improve literacy.

"When I was growing up, no one read for pleasure. I never owned a book until I graduated from college. It was expensive," he said. "When I was in school, the only textbook was used by the teacher. I was active and talked in class. Teachers encouraged me."

Once a teacher gave Kass her only textbook to take home. Excited to read it under the kerosene lamp, he spilled coffee on it. Embarrassed, he didn't return to school for a week because he felt he had failed his teacher.

His mother confronted him. "One book, one stain. You have to go back and tell her what happened." It took courage to tell her. The teacher asked him to pay 5 Ethiopian Birr, less than $1, but a hardship for his family, who owned their land, grew their food and were self-sufficient, but bought little.

"I struggled. My mother and I scrounged up things so I could repay the teacher. I learned it wasn't worth missing a week of school because I stained a book," he said, noting that the memory stays with him.

For him, the Libraries in Ethiopia project is a way is to rectify the scarcity of books. He believes every child has the right to books, because they open opportunities, as they did for him.

"The last time I went to Ethiopia, I gave kids free books. I tell kids, 'Take it. It's yours to take home. Read it, read it again and stain it with coffee,'" he said with a big smile.

When Kass and his friends started primary school, there were 180 students. Many dropped out. By 12th grade, there were just 18 students.

Students who could afford to go to a better school in the city left. He couldn't afford to, so he attended a newly opened high school run by a Norwegian charity 40 miles outside the capital, Addis Ababa. The school was under-resourced. With the support and help of his elder sister, he finished high school when he was 18.

He was the only student from this school to pass the national exam to go to college. Kass attended Addis Ababa University bachelor's degree program from 1993 to 1996. It is one of three colleges, so the competition to attend was high.

"Addis Ababa was like Paris compared to where I grew up," he described.

"My parents were happy. They didn't expect me to finish high school, given our limited resources. College was more challenging as a first-generation student. I didn't know how to navigate the university and struggled because classes were harder than high school," he said.

At one point, Kass thought finishing high school was enough, and he had done all he needed to do, but his sister wanted him to continue his studies and study law. Instead, he studied sociology, a field in which he could use values from his upbringing.

"I never heard about sociology. I told my parents a sociology degree would give me the opportunity to work for non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In Ethiopia, they pay well," he said.

Kass was the first in his family to complete college, graduating in 1996. He worked with the Ethiopian Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in Jimma,  in Southwestern Ethiopia.

He connected with an NGO that created employment opportunities for single mothers, using UNICEF funds to fix broken sewing machines so women could learn embroidery and become self-sufficient. He was proud to realize sociology has practical applications.

"It can make a difference in people's lives," Kass said.

After a few years he went back to college, earned a master's degree in social anthropology at Addis Ababa University, and became a lecturer there. He met a professor from Syracuse University, who recommended him to study in their doctoral program in sociology, starting in 2004.

Coming to Syracuse University in northern New York was life changing. During one of the deepest snowfalls, he experienced a shock. After walking to class one frigid snowy day in 2006, he found classes were canceled. He felt like quitting, but realized he was there for a reason.

"I finished in 2012. It was dreamlike. It has been a long walk," said Kass, who worked the next three years at Southwestern Oregon Community College. Although he earned tenure there, he wanted to teach at a larger, diverse university where he could do research.

In 2015, he started at Eastern Washington University, teaching medical sociology, global migration and global social problems, while researching immigration issues. He is interested in immigrants who come to the U.S., how they adapt, their impact on their new culture and their relationship with their home country.

Kass asks, "Are they becoming more American? As they are, do they lose interaction with home or connect more?" He also observes immigrant health issues and how cultures affect health.

Kass grew up a devout Ethiopian Orthodox. His heritage is integral to who he is.

"When I waiver, I return. I try to be philosophical. I don't go far from the Orthodox tradition," said Kass, who worships at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, at an Ethiopian Orthodox Church and watches videos.

"It's in my system, deep in my blood. People try to teach me to follow other Christian traditions, but I return to the Orthodox tradition. It's how I grew up and became God-fearing. I had opportunities to stray, but I'm not curious about other things," he said.

"My faith made me humble. It made me focus on my studies and instruction. It reactivates me when I veer off," Kass said. "It informs me to give back to my community. U.S. culture also influences me with the idea of serving the community, giving back without expecting a thank you, just passing it forward."

When Kass would say, "Thank you," the professor who invited him to Syracuse would respond, "Don't thank me, pass it forward." That idea stuck: "As I did for you, you should also do for others."

Kass dreams one day of establishing a library in Ethiopia and telling the professor he finally paid it forward.

The U.S. has been good to Kass. His son and daughter are doing well in school. Area wheat farms with meadows dotted with cows remind him of where he grew up—despite cold winters.

Then he remembers the Ethiopian kids who walk to school often barefoot. Many do not attend school—only 35 percent of rural children attend school and only six percent of primary school students read at grade level.

"How do I help?" he asked.

This question inspired him to start the literacy campaign for children in his hometown, Sendafa-Beke. He envisions helping five-to-15-year-olds who want to read, by providing a welcoming place prioritizing health and literacy, a place with tables and chairs, a space to read books in Amharic, Oromo and English, and to eat healthy snacks.

He returned to Ethiopia two years ago to do research to understand community needs. He learned that in the 20 years since he left, the number of students in K-12 had tripled. There are three new high schools, but they have limited resources.

On his third visit this summer, Kass shared his vision for a library with the mayor and community members. They liked it and offered an empty building.

"Now we need to repair the building and fix the leaky roof so the library can receive books. There is also a need for tables, chairs and bookshelves.

Kass established the library project as a nonprofit and has a GoFundMe on Facebook. His goal is to raise $20,000. He has raised a quarter of the funds needed to renovate the building.

He is working with Open Heart Big Dream (OHBD), a Seattle nonprofit promoting literacy in Ethiopia. It prints colorful, mother-tongue, early-reader children's books. Rather than ship them, he will buy books from them in Ethiopia for about $4 each.

Kass is sharing about the project with area churches and other organizations.

For information, call 541-808-8595, email hailekk2021@gmail.com or visit https://libraryatsendafa.com.