May 5, 2016
Dear Friends and Supporters,
It is with gratitude and optimism that we share with you a report detailing the six-month stay in Ethiopia of Mr. Tafesse Woubshet, the Executive Director and country representative to Ethiopia of the Fregenet Foundation.
Mr. Woubshet was in Ethiopia between September 1, 2015 and February 28, 2016 to achieve three principal objectives: to evaluate the operation of the Fregenet Kidan Lehitsanat School (FKL School), to follow up on the land request for a new school building, and to encourage businesses in Addis Ababa to partner with the Fregenet School. Mr. Woubshet is proud to report that he has been successful in meeting these objectives and more in spite of bureaucratic delays and other hurdles.
During his stay, Mr. Woubshet assisted the local staff of the FKL School to renew an operational agreement with the Addis Ababa Administration’s Economic & Finance Office, Education Bureau, as well as Women and Children’s Bureau, and played a major role in renewing the FKL School’s license at the Charities and Societies Agency until 2018. (The operational agreement and the NGO license are renewed every three years.)
In addition, Mr. Woubshet successfully registered The Fregenet Foundation to operate as a foreign charity. The Fregenet Foundation is now licensed to operate in all Ethiopian Regions, as a foreign charity headquartered in California, by the Charities and Societies Agency, an agency that governs all local and international charities in Ethiopia. Furthermore, the Addis Ababa City Administration, which Mr. Woubshet visited twice a week to meet with city officials, has decided to look into the Foundation’s land application for the first time since April 2015. A positive decision is expected soon.
Mr. Woubshet also worked closely with a consultant hired by the Global Fund for Children, and sponsored by Three Graces Foundation, in drafting the FKL School’s five year strategic plan as well as administrative and financial manuals. The Foundation would like to take this opportunity to pay its highest respect and gratitude to both organizations for hiring a consultant to assist us in efficiently and effectively serving the needs of vulnerable children. Beyond that, Mr. Woubshet with the help of a new local board member, organized two training workshops on teaching methodologies as well as on employees’ work ethics. A new manager and administrative staff have also been recruited.
Another achievement was the successful partnership established between a number of businesses, individuals, and the FKL School. These included the Wabi Shebele Hotel, which donated Eth. 10,000 to the school and offered, without fee, a meeting space for FKL School board members. Also, a company called MISTAD made a pledge and first-year donation to support the school with stationery and detergent at the cost of Eth. 10,000 a year.
The Executive Director described his six-month stay in Ethiopia as the most fruitful and productive so far and informed the board that the support and spirit of collaboration he witnessed among partners and friends gave him great optimism for the future of the school and the Foundation.
While we announce these accomplishments, it is also worth noting that since the inception of our Foundation, Mr. Woubshet has dedicated his time, money and knowledge for the benefit of FKL students, employees, and the surrounding community. Mr. Woubshet continues to cover his round-trip airfare to Ethiopia, local transportation expenses, as well as all other business expenses during his stays in Ethiopia. The Foundation is much appreciative of Mr. Woubshet’s generosity, as the Foundation could not well afford to pay such expenses.
The Foundation calls upon its esteemed partners and friends to continue their support for the Fregenet Foundation, which day by day is making a very real difference in the lives of 341 young boys and girls whom it currently serves.
The Fregenet Foundation