Problem: Many young students in Ethiopia drop out of school before becoming functionally literate in the Amharic alphabet, with its daunting 231 characters.

Solution: Deconstruct the alphabet into a system of roots that are taught by Tsehai, a popular puppet on television who has also become a role model for young children.

Impact: The weekly show reaches 2.5 million Ethiopian children, improving their knowledge, health, and behavior.