News & Articles
Updates and stories from Berhan Lehetsanat
December 29, 2025
BL’s Orthopedic Center Started Operations
The long waited orthopedic center of BL has successfully finalized machine functionality test finalized, human resource arranged and all necessary inputs purchased. In October 2020, the center commenced its operation by taking measurement and casting for 20 children and youth with physical disability. Accordingly, fabrication of the Orthosis materials continued and some also further progressed into finalizing work of bending joints and finalizing the work for delivery.
December 29, 2025
BL Reopened Physiotherapy Center
BL had long been providing physiotherapy services in headquarter here in Addis Ababa. However, due to different challenges, service was halted though high demand of the service by the children with disability and their parents. The center restarted providing physiotherapy service and skill transfer for parents/family members of children in January 2020. In short period, many children show progress in their physique and mobility.
October 24, 2023
ENAT Bank recognition
In recognition of Berhan Lehetsanat’s committed engagement in the social services initiatives, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, W/ro. Etenesh Wondmagegnehu, received the Recognition Award. ENAT Bank, Etenesh Wondmagegnehu Branch was officially opened at Ferensay Legation area in Addis Ababa, on October 14, 2023, in recognition and appreciation of her contribution in the field of social services initiatives targeting children and families.
September 11, 2023
Ethio-Telecom recognition
Berhan Lehetsanat (BL) is an Ethiopian Residents Charity organization established on December 23, 1997 with certificate No.0123. BL is currently working in Addis Ababa city Administration (Lideta sub-city); oromia Regional State( Bishoftu and Ada’a woreda); Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (Hadya Woreda); Sidama Regional State (Hawassa Town); Amhara Regional State ( Chilga Woreda, Dessie and Haik Towns) and Afar Regional State. BL has been implementing multiple project components that focus on prevention of Child Disability; Rehabilitation of Children with Disabilities and other vulnerable Children and their families /guardians; promotion of Access to Quality Education; Livelihood and Economic Empowerment; Child Rights and Safeguarding; Disability Right, inclusive Education; Harmful traditional practices; IDPs and related interventions for the past 26 years. Ethio-Telecom awarded Berhan Lehetsanat by donating Birr 625,000.00 and other educational materials for 330 BL beneficiary children on September 8 & 10, 2023.
September 11, 2023
Bego Sew Award
In recognition of Berhan Lehetsanat’s committed engagement in the social services initiatives, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, W/ro. Etenesh Wondmagegnehu, received the Recognition Award. One of On the 11th “Bego Sew “Award ceremony, W/ro. Etenesh Wondmagegnehu, has been awarded for her contribution in the category of “Bego Adragot” on September 10, 2023.
March 15, 2023
W/ro Etenesh Wondmagegnehu has managed to share her life and work experience for future Girl leaders
Berhan Lehetsanat Founder and Chief Executive Officer W/ro Etenesh Wondmagegnehu has managed to share her life and work experience for future Girl leaders in Bishoftu on the workshop organized by Plan International as part of Women Voice and leadership project.
June 14, 2022
Two Centers established in two Regions.
In the year 2016 BL has constructed two centers that enable to serve the community in a more organized and sustainable manner. The Multipurpose rehabilitation and vocational center that was constructed in Dessie was officially inaugurated. Present during the inaugural ceremony were BL Executive director W/ro Etenesh Wondemagnhu and Ato Wondante Demessie, Dessie City Municipality Office Head delegated by the mayor representative from Dessie City Administration. On the other hand, the Women and Girls resource center that was constructed by BL has officially launched in the presence of BL. Executive, DDP Executive Director, and Ato Girma Genbo Social and Political wing Head that was delegated by the mayor to attend the inauguration program. The two centers have started to provide service for the community in general and the target Children, women and Girls in particular. These two centers were constricted by the financial support of SIDA through Save the Children International and Disability and Development Partners respectively.
June 9, 2022
Investing on the System
BL has a culture of working at different levels of social strata, where the community, local government structures, beneficiary target groups and other stakeholders have a role to contribute their share to address the multidimensional problems of children with disabilities, HVC and others through community based initiatives. Promotion of inclusive education well managed where Southern Nation Nationalities and people region has adapted the inclusive manual produced by Berhan Lehetsanat and Addis Ababa Education Bureau. The manual play a crucial role in supporting Government efforts on creating access to education for children with special needs in general and children with Disabilities in particular. In addition to the efforts exerting at national level, BL is farther expanding its scope and sharing its strategies, effective working and best experiences for other African countries on CBR program implementation. More over, the experience sharing that was taken place on CBR Africa conference have also focused on exhibiting the benefit of applying comprehensive rehabilitation services for the well being of children with disabilities where children, community, government offices are active participant on its implementation.
April 14, 2020
BL’s COVID-19 Reaction
It’s noted that the pandemic affected global society and eroded customary socioeconomic interactions and relationships. As a result, already marginalized groups of society like children with disability, girls and women were suffered most. BL, in partnership with CRED-Foundation, Light for the World, Lillian Funds, media and other local partners provided prompt response by delivering life saving supports for families of children with disability, televising disability focused awareness on the pandemic, and advocating for mainstreaming disability issues in national intervention to tackle the impact of the pandemic. In its lifesaving intervention total of 260 children with disabilities and their families (81 in Dessie, 72 in Haiq and 107 in Addis Ababa) received cash transfer, nutritious food, face mask and sanitary materials for one to three months. Besides, mobilizing its staffs, BL supported government’s national level interventions.
February 10, 2020
BL’s Five Year Strategic Plan
For the last four months, BL’s management team and independent consultant were intensively working to finalized preparation of its strategic plan (2020-2024). Necessary inputs collected from partners/guardians (beneficiaries, donors, project staffs, local community representatives and government partner/guardians offices). The SWOT analysis compiled and action areas at organizational and project levels and across departments itemized. Then finally, the five years strategic plan was finalized and endorsed by the board of directors on April 10, 2020.
January 21, 2020
BL’s Chief Executive Director Visited Mobility India
BL has been working hard for functionality of its orthopedic center in Addis Ababa. Thanks to its partnership with Disability Development Partners (UK), and Mobility India. Through this partnership it acquired a modern suction machine and other molding machines. December 2019, BL CEO visited the Mobility India for experience sharing and technical supports for active operation of the center and communicated with the staff members and tope management.
January 6, 2020
New Projects Launched in 2020
Even though 2020 is the most challenging year due to the global COVID-19 crisis and recurrent conflicts in the country which affected activities of CSOs, BL able to successfully implement existing projects and also launchthree more projects receiving fund from new partners. The first project entitled “Enhancing Quality and Inclusive Education” funded by NORAD through Right to Play will run from January 2020 to December 31, 2024. The overall objective of this 5,786, 346 fund project is to improve holistic learning outcomes of boys and girls including children with disability in primary and preprimary schools in Ada’a Woreda of Oromiya region. Second 1,553,500 fund project of “Create Access to Education and Rehabilitation of CwDs in Haiq town” was funded by Light for the World while project which has been implemented in Adama town with financial support of ECDD is aimed at improving sexual and reproductive health services among youth with disability in the town.
September 17, 2018
ALL Students Joined Higher Education.
BL has a motto of investing on the system to materialize result oriented actions by bringing government and the community on board. The strategy that BL has adopted focus on the overall needs of children with disabilities and other vulnerable groups demands to work at family, school, government structures , higher institutions and the community level. Further results are observed and gained would serve as a spring board. Three years ago BL has constructed a G+1 building and opened the first preparatory class in Tulla, Hawassa town. Before 2013 there was no preparatory class (i.e.Grade 11 and 12) in the project area. As a result of this many students especially students with Disabilities and Girls were not able to attend grade 11 and 12. All 56(33 female, 23 male) students of the first batch that took national examination in the year 2015 have joined universities and colleges. The result was achieved thanks to the collaborative effort of Tulla high school and Berhan Lehetsanat that focuses on capacitating the school through different materials including laboratory chemical and apparatus for physics, chemistry and biology. Moreover, the contribution made to support to the tutorial program launched by BL and Tulla high school and other materials like Book computers, photocopy machines were also contributed for the achievement recorded in the year 2015. Currently, the school is working aggressively to maintain its legacy in the year to come.
August 31, 2018
20 years anniversary (1997 – 2017)
Berhan Lehetsanat has organized a dinner party on August 23, 2018 at Elilly International Hotel on the subject “ስለልጆቻችን እንነጋር”. The event is organized to say thank you to its supporters and also to make BL more visible disseminating its core achievements to different stakeholders including media. On the event there were donors, government, non government organizations and Medias, photograph exhibition, presentation on core accomplishments of BL were major programs of the day. Beyond these, giving recognition for its two ambassadors namely Ato Biniyam Melaku and Ato Brook Yeshitila a major one. The following pictures are showing the event.
January 5, 2015
Women of Excellence 2015
BL founder and Executive Director, W/ro Etenesh Wondemagnhu has been awarded Women of excellence 2015 trophy. The award exhibited the well-built effort W/ro Etenesh Wondmagnhu made to serve the community in general and children with disabilities and other vulnerable children in particular. The award and recognition given to Etenesh W/A will have a positive impact on serving as a model for other Women and Girls in their future endeavor. In the year 2015 seven outstanding women who made a difference in the life of the community have reached the last stage of the nomination process and got recognition for their limitless effort out of which W/ro Etenesh is one of those successful Women. In this regard, the Management and Staff of BL proud of BL founder and Executive Director, Etenesh Wondemagnhu.