WALTHAM, Massachusetts, September 17 /PRNewswire/ --

- Berhe to explore and develop adoption and humanitarian child welfare
services within Africa

Wide Horizons For Children (WHFC), a leading non-profit 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 500th adoption from Ethiopia this winter.

"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.

About Wide Horizons For Children

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 US$10 million to build and support projects for children all
over the world. For more information, visit http://www.whfc.org.

Contact:  Tsegaye Berhe
              tsegayeberhe@whfc.org



Web site: http://www.whfc.org