Both Ends Believing Hosts First African Summit in Lusaka, Zambia

Summit exceeds non-profit's expectations with more than 70 attendees from five African nations

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Aug 28, 2018, 07:00 ET

PLANO, Texas, Aug. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Both Ends Believing announced today the success of its first African Summit, held August 13-15, in Lusaka, Zambia. Attended by approximately 70 people representing five African nations (Zambia, Kenya, Ghana, Benin, Angola), the delegation was encouraged by the enthusiasm and interest in Both Ends Believing's Children First Software (CFS) application. In addition to several key NGO's invited by the Zambian delegation, two individuals from the U.S. State Department also attended the summit.

The three-day summit allowed participating countries to share their current state of child welfare and to discuss potential solutions for vulnerable children living outside of family care for their respective countries. The summit also encouraged current Children First Software users to share experiences and discuss obstacles for the benefit of newer users. The summit included workshops where the attending countries could configure their own CFS programs and practice using the software in a test environment.

"The development of Children First Software is a major milestone in addressing the plight of vulnerable children living outside of parental care," said the Honorable Minister Emerine Kabanshi from Zambia. "The seed that Both Ends Believing has planted will change the way child welfare programming is implemented."

Based upon results at the summit's conclusion, Both Ends Believing expects three new countries to implement CFS – Angola, Zambia, and Kenya – which will add to existing African implementations in Benin and Ghana. These additional countries will bring Both Ends Believing's total African engagements to six nations.

The Both Ends Believing delegation made a separate visit to Kampala, Uganda, where the CFS implementation is planned to start the first week in September with an initial pilot program. The program includes five orphanages and plans to complete 25 additional locations by the end of 2018.

"All of us at Both Ends Believing are very excited about our recent CFS expansion into Africa and look forward to the positive impact for all African children living outside of family care," said Mark Schwartz, president of Both Ends Believing.

About Both Ends Believing

Both Ends Believing (formerly Both Ends Burning) was founded in January of 2010 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to promote family based outcomes for vulnerable children. We envision a world in which every child grows up in a family. Our primary goal is to minimize institutional care for at risk children and redirect these children into reunification with their family, foster or kinship care, or placement into domestic and international adoption programs.

Contact: Cheryl Bochner
Both Ends Believing
480-699-5161
[email protected]

SOURCE Both Ends Believing