About CFAO-EOC

	Ethiopia followed the Old Testament before the introduction of Christianity.
	Christianity was introduced in Ethiopia during the 1^stcentury AD. ( Act. 8:26-40)
	The fact that Ethiopia is mentioned over forty times in the Holy Bible testifies to Christianity's long existence and strong hold in the country.
	Today, the EOC has over 40 million followers about 400,000 clergy and 20,000 churches.
	Besides its traditional role of Christian teaching, the EOC has been the fountainhead and repository of education, culture, history and tradition of the country and its people.
	Its structure is stretching from the Holy Synod to the Local parish.
	It has thirty-three Dioceses distributed all over the country.

	The CHILD AND FAMILY AFFAIRS ORGANIZATION ( CFAO) of the EOC was set up in 1973 as the Council For Child Care ( CCC) as a Christian response to the natural and man-made calamities.
	Began its work in a shelter with 224 needy children.
	After rendering full institutional care for 20 years the program was evaluated by professional social workers from Addis Ababa Universitygovernment departments and other similar leading NGOS and partially shifted to Child-Family Reunification/Reintegration in 1992.
	The CCC joined DICAC for a while and became CFAO in 1998 as a result of the restructuring decision made by the EOC.

	The vision statement emphasises betterment in the spiritual, intellectual physical, social and economic wellbeing of children, families and communities.
	Its mission states that "Child and Family Affairs Organization of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (CFAO- EOC) contributes towards holistic development and self-reliance of children in especially difficult circumstances and poor families in the context of the Ethopian society".
	Helping people to help themselves, irrespective of their sex, race, religious or political affiliation.

P.O. Box: 30269 Tel: 552216, 560140 Fax: 00251-1-550699