HOW IT ALL BEGAN…
Elshadai Child Development started with the support of a child due to a discontent and holy calling of one Ethiopian woman, Adanech Janka, living in the outskirts of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
She knew many children living around her were not attending school and were falling victim to generational poverty. She couldn’t resist the pull to support a child. Feeling compelled to help in some way, she began sponsoring several children in her community to attend school.
The more she helped to support a child in need, the more she realized how great the need was. In 2008, Lisa Simon heard about Adanech’s work during a short-term mission trip to Ethiopia. After spending several months as a volunteer with the children, Lisa shared Adanech’s passion to help these children and began looking for people interested to support a child or multiple children in need.
![Lisa Simon | Executive Director - El Shadai US](https://elshadaichilddevelopment.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Photo-on-4-5-18-at-8.40-AM.jpg)
Lisa Simon
Executive Director
Elshadai US Inc.
![ATKELTSION SIMON](https://elshadaichilddevelopment.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/unnamed-1-1.jpg)
Maggie Obermann
Development Director
Elshadai US Inc.
![WASIE ABDELLA](https://elshadaichilddevelopment.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DSCN3194.jpg)
WASIE ABDELLA
Program Facilitator
Elshadai ET
![Founder - ADANECH JANKA<br />](https://elshadaichilddevelopment.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/adanech.jpg)
ADANECH JANKA
Executive Director
Elshadai ET