Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The African Center For Early Childhood Development (AfC-ECD) was deeply honored to receive a high-level delegation of senior executives from the Van Leer Foundation (VLF) at the end of October 2025.

This official business visit marks an important milestone in our shared commitment to advancing Early Childhood Development (ECD) and in strengthening our ongoing engagement and partnership.

The distinguished VLF delegation included Board Chair Nanno Kleiterp, Trustee Ory Okolloh, Chief Executive Officer Michael Feigelson, and Regional Representative for Africa Karima Grant.

Upon arrival, the delegation was warmly welcomed by AfC-ECD Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kebede Worku, along with members of the management team and staff at our Addis Ababa office.

During their visit, members of the delegation expressed great appreciation for the significant developments taking place in Addis Ababa to support ECD and foundational child learning—particularly the establishment of more than 2,000 standard children’s playgrounds now active across the city, as well as the rapidly expanding parent coaching program.

The VLF leaders also conveyed their confidence that the strong partnerships forged with the City of Addis Ababa, coupled with our shared vision for ensuring that every child thrives, will continue to grow even stronger in the years ahead.