In May, I had the opportunity to visit our team in Ethiopia and experience firsthand the incredible work happening to transform the lives of vulnerable children. Throughout the week, I met with government partners, spent time with our BEB team, and visited Kebebe Tsehay (KT) Children’s Home. It was a trip that challenged me, encouraged me, and reminded me why this work matters so deeply.
One of my favorite parts of the trip was simply spending time with our team. Watching them work alongside government leaders and child welfare organizations made it clear that meaningful change happens through relationships built on trust. Their dedication has helped create partnerships that are strengthening Ethiopia’s child protection system. Through collaboration and Children First Software, paper records are becoming secure digital records that give children visibility, identity, and a better chance of finding safe, permanent, and loving families.
One conversation that has stayed with me was with the leadership of Abraham’s Oasis, an organization serving children in Ethiopia’s conflict-affected Tigray region. They shared heartbreaking stories of caring for children during times of war, when homes were destroyed and paper records disappeared forever. Yet despite everything they have endured, they spoke with remarkable hope. Today, because children’s information is securely stored in Children First Software, they no longer fear losing a child’s history. They also shared their excitement about expanding the Family Registry module to help identify and connect children with potential families. It was a powerful reminder that technology can preserve something incredibly valuable: a child’s identity and their opportunity for a different future.
Another moment that left a lasting impression on me was hearing from local adoptive families. One mother shared her journey of adopting six children with special needs. As she spoke, it was evident that attitudes toward family-based care are changing. She reminded everyone that children without families are no less worthy of love and belonging. Drawing from her own faith, she spoke about how God has adopted us into His family and encouraged others to open their hearts and homes to children in need. Her story reminded me that while strong systems are essential, lasting transformation also happens one family at a time.
Our meeting with the Addis Ababa Bureau of Women, Children, and Social Affairs was another encouraging highlight. Government leaders shared how Children First Software has improved reporting, transparency, and access to child records across departments. We discussed future enhancements, including the Home Assessment module and interactive dashboards that will provide even greater insight into child welfare trends. Their excitement about continuing to expand the Family Registry to support local adoption efforts was encouraging, and we left with a shared sense of purpose for what lies ahead.
Visiting Kebebe Tsehay Children’s Home was equally meaningful. KT serves as the primary receiving center for abandoned children in the Addis Ababa area, many of whom are infants with urgent medical needs. It was encouraging to see the facility improvements BEB has helped make possible, including additional workspace to support the digitization of thousands of child records. Although the staff continues to care for an overwhelming number of children, having immediate access to digital records is helping them work more efficiently so they can spend more time doing what matters most—caring for children.
There is one moment from my visit that I know I will carry with me for a long time.
As I stood talking with staff in one of the infant care rooms, I noticed a baby girl—perhaps only three to six months old—looking at me through the slats of her crib. She smiled with one of the brightest, most joyful smiles I have ever seen.
I don’t know what medical challenges she faced. I don’t know what circumstances brought her there. But in that moment, all I could think about was how that beautiful smile deserved to be seen every day by a loving family.
For me, her smile became the picture of hope.
It reminded me that behind every digital record, every government partnership, every software enhancement, and every long day of work is a real child with a name, a story, and a future worth fighting for. Our work is about far more than technology. It is about helping children be known, protected, and given the opportunity to grow up in the love and security of a family.
As I left Ethiopia, I carried home countless memories, but none more meaningful than that little girl’s smile. It continues to remind me why we do this work, and why every child deserves to belong.
Will Sanchez,
Vice President, Implementations
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