1.1 Background

The Fregenet Kidan Lehitsanat  was established in 2003 to cater after the interests of orphans and children from underprivileged families in . The NGO is established by Ethiopians in . The NGO has organic links with other NGOs in different parts of the world. It may draw financial support from organizations established to support education and health care activities for underprivileged children.

The Fregenet Kidan Lehitsanat (FKL)  was named after Fregenet Tafesse who had the great ambition to establish an orphanage in . She had completed her education in and was setting-up a network of interested individuals and organizations to form a core group for the establishment of the NGO. Soon after her graduation she lost her life in a tragic car accident in July 2003. Immediately after her passing away her friends and family members vowed to continue working along the same path she had set on.

An NGO was established in with the aim of collecting fund and organizing an NGO for the purpose of helping the children of who have little access to education, basic nutrition, and who have little or no access to proper education.  Another line of the same activity was simultaneously being established in in late 2003. A group of individuals had come together and had discussed the various alternatives of realizing the ambition of Fregenet. They drafted the essential tenets of an NGO operating to help assist children from poor families attain the essential education. They named their organization The Fregenet  Kidan Lehitsanat .

The Fregenet Kidan Lehitsanat  will be having its head office in Addis Ababa . It may have different stations in Addis Ababa establishing various Kindergartens, primary education and post-primary education in due course. The NGO will set-up the necessary facilities for children education as per the standard of the educational authorities in the country. Children's education requires that they should have the basic facilities for educational process and it should also have the necessary playground and accessories. 

At the earliest stage, it would be necessary to rent a suitable building facility and equip the classrooms and the offices with the essential items. Trained teachers will have to be employed and the necessary support facilities should be provided.

Children from underprivileged families not only lack access to education but they also are in dire need of nutritional support. Therefore, it would be essential to aim at supporting children materially, socially, medically and psychologically.

1.2. Situation of Children in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has a population of 70.2 million by mid 2004. Population growth rate is 2.7% and the urban population is only about 15%. By 2020 the population is expected to reach 106 million. The average population density is 52.2 per square kilometer. Also 17.5% of the population is aged less than 5 years. The total fertility rate (TFR) is 5.9 children per woman. There are regional variations of TFR- the highest with 6.4 births per women . The UNDP Human Development Index (HDI) for Ethiopia stands at 0.309. Because of the poor condition of living there is a very high incidence of illness among children. The prevalence rate of ARI (Acute Respiratory Infection) symptoms is 24%. Malnutrition in conjunction with ARI, diarrhea, malaria, or measles is a major cause of morbidity in children . On average, children under five years experience two episodes of serious illness per year.

Only 15% of Ethiopians have access to improved sanitation compared to Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) average of 55%. Access to clean water is only 24%, which is much SSA average 55%. 59% of the adult population is illiterate (with SSA average being 36%). Primary school enrollment rate is 49%. More than 50% of Ethiopians are having food insecure .

Under -5 mortality rate is 166.2 per thousand births. This is extremely high by any standards. Children stunted are 51.2% and children under weight are 47.1% on the average. Most deaths among children in Ethiopia are attributed to pneumonia (28%) and diarrhea (24%) - a situation that is disappearing almost everywhere. The problems have been solved in every country except Ethiopia. HIV/AIDS is growing to take its prominent place as killer of Ethiopian children, standing at 6.2% as of 2004.

Ethiopia rates among the highest group of countries suffering from under-weight and stunting of children. Even by SSA standards, the situation is desperate. Almost one out of two children (about 47%) in Ethiopia are moderately to severely under weight. Chronic malnutrition in Ethiopia is the worst in SSA countries. About one out of two children (51%) are moderately to severely stunted.

It is also important to note that the lowest levels of child malnutrition are observed Addis Ababa.

Children from poor families do not have access to kindergarten education. In many cases, even though, primary education is theoretically free in Ethiopia. Children from underprivileged families do not go to school. They would rather be engaged in some form of menial activities at home. The schools systems also required certain provisions to be fulfilled by parents. Among these are stationeries, books, school uniforms, and various other details requiring steady supply of money.

Ethiopia has adopted several internationally set goals like Millennium Development Goal (MDG). Ethiopia has also adopted a new Health Sector Development Programme (HSDP). The World Bank and UNDP adopted programme of reducing poverty by half by 2015 has also been aimed at by the government. These programmes need all the support from NGOs, donor organizations, and by lateral and multi-lateral organizations. The Fregenet Kidan Lehitsanat will contribute its level best for the achievement of these goals.