Wide Horizons For Children Appoints Dr. Tsegaye Berhe as Director for African Programs
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Wide Horizons For Children, Inc.
Contact:
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PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wide Horizons For Children Appoints Dr. Tsegaye Berhe as Director for African Programs
Berhe to explore and develop adoption and humanitarian child welfare services within Africa
Waltham, MA – September 17, 2007 –
adoption and child welfare agency, has appointed Dr. Tsegaye Berhe as Director for
African Programs. In this new role Dr. Tsegaye will explore, develop and implement adoption
and related humanitarian child welfare services throughout Africa.
Dr. Tsegaye has been overseeing WHFC’s adoption and humanitarian aid work in Ethiopia
since the program’s beginning in 2003. He established two private transitional homes in Addis
Ababa, Horizon House I & II, and has built a sponsorship program for children living with
relatives or foster families. Over 400 of Ethiopia’s orphans have been adopted by WHFC
parents and another 720 children are being sponsored so they may remain within their
communities. The agency expects to celebrate its 500
“When we started our Ethiopia Adoption Program in 2003 we couldn’t imagine how quickly it
would grow and the huge number of children it would serve,” said Vicki Peterson, Executive
Director of External Affairs at WHFC. ”The children we have placed with families all over the
U.S. include infants, toddlers, older children, sibling groups and children with special medical
needs. Ethiopia is a country where parents are saving lives through adoption. Many have the
opportunity to meet birth relatives of the child they are adopting and learn about the child’s
background, which is unusual in international adoptions. Ethiopians want their children to have a
better life.”
“Without adoption or sponsorship, Africa’s children face a grim future,” said Dr. Tsegaye Berhe,
WHFC’s Director for African Programs. “Being able to give hundreds of Ethiopian children a
hopeful future makes me truly happy, but the need extends beyond Ethiopia. I am hopeful we
can soon make an impact on the lives of many needy children throughout Africa.”
Dr. Tsegaye is currently Chair of the Network of Adoption Agencies in Ethiopia, a group of
governmental departments and private agencies that meet regularly to provide oversight for
issues of child welfare. Prior to working with WHFC Dr. Tsegaye had over 30 years of
experience in child welfare as the head of Child Care Services for the Ethiopian Orthodox
Church. During his career he has helped thousands of orphaned children benefit from shelter
and education which have enabled them to have a more hopeful future whether they have
remained in Ethiopia or have found a loving family through adoption.
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About Wide Horizons For Children (WHFC)
38 Edge Hill Road, Waltham, MA 02451 • Tel: 781~894~5330 • Fax: 781~899~2769Tsegaye BerheWide Horizons For Children (WHFC), a leading nonprofitth adoption from Ethiopia this winter.Wide Horizons For Children is one of the largest private, non-profit adoption and child welfare agencies in the United States. The agency has placed over 10,000 children from 53 countries with American citizens since its founding in 1974. WHFC’s humanitarian aid programs have donated approximately $10 million to build and support projects for children all over the world. For more information, visit www.whfc.org.