New Modern Amharic Education DVD to be Launched

By Tamiru Geda

A new Amharic educational DVD will be launched on Saturday May 15, 2010, in London. It has been translated in support of three major world languages: English, French and German. Engineer Belachew Chekene, author and producer of the DVD , stated that the DVD will teach children Ethiopian numerals, the Amharic alphabet and words, unique aspects of Ethiopian heritage, colorful Ethiopian festivals, children’s games and songs. He also mentioned that the new DVD would give children basic information about Ethiopia.

” Most Ethiopians kids ,who were born abroad, always watch negative news about their country. Ethiopia is usually presented as if there were always famine, diseases and war , but this is not a true picture of Ethiopia.” Belachew strongly insisted .

He further commented that: ”When they grow up, it would be easy for them to compare what they had watched via those biased western Medias with what they learned through the direct sources. It also helps them as a cultural bridge between Ethiopia and the countries where they live in.” Belachew, a PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering told NewsDire that his educational background as a Natural Sciences graduate assists him to develop different types of software in order to write his scripts.

He also said his friends from Addis Ababa, Germany and France are very helpful in the editing process and in getting the correct translation of Amharic into the three world major languages mentioned above. In the sixty five minute long DVD ten to fifty children participate as main actors and assistant actors.
In the future he plans to work on similar DVDs supported with other languages such as Arabic and Italian. Belachew suggests that a lot of work should be done for Ethiopian children, and he also said that this DVD, is not the end of his dreams and work.



Belachew also commented about a recent Amharic educational DVD produced in America. However, he claimed that his work is very different from that of others.”In my opinion, most of their works focus on the entertainment part. Before I go to teach children how to learn the Amharic alphabet and words , I try to show them a true picture of Ethiopia. I haven’t heard of an Amharic educational DVD that is translated in to the three major world languages before mine. I strongly believe that my teaching approach is also different from theirs. Nonetheless, I do respect their work.“ Belachew commented


NewsDire Staff Writer
Edited by Phillp B