The origin of this charity is about 2 different persons that met by coincidence.

Dr Eriksen is a consultant plastic surgeon & burn specialist, currently working at Department of Plastic Surgery & Burn Center, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. He grew up as a missionary kid in Ethiopia. Since 1987, he has faced medical challenges  as a medical doctor in Ethiopia for about 11 years.  During his first 6 years, he was serving as a missionary doctor to south Ethiopia.  During 2000 - 2005, he was in charge of developing the first Burn Unit in Ethiopia at Yekatit 12 Hospital in capital city Addis Ababa.  The project was a collaborative venture between Ministry of Health in Ethiopia and Department of Plastic Surgery/Burn Center /Unit for International Collaboration at Haukeland University Hospital. The project has received substantial funding from NORAD (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation).

The Burn Unit at Yekatit 12 Hospital is equipped with 19 beds.   7 beds are allocated for children.

Dr. Eriksen is greatly concerned about expanding the burn services for children.

In August 2005, a terrible accident happened in the northern city of Harstad, Norway.  Hans Petter Schjelderup sustained a high voltage injury of 22,000 volt during cable connection work. He was transferred from the University Hospital of Harstad, Norway, to the National Burn Center at Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway.  Week after week, he went through a number of surgical procedures and dressing changes daily. He was on ventilator for several days and suffered serious infections.  Before he gradually came back to life, his wife Marita had put several family pictures on the wall.  Dr. Eriksen, in charge of his surgical treatment, noticed a picture of Emrick, their son, who was adopted from Ethiopia in 2003.

In the course of the rehabilitation period, close ties were developed between Hans Petter and the surgeon that saved his life.  Hans Petter felt that his life is a gift and expressed a great desire to support other burn victims with the same help he himself had received. They now share a common vision. Through generous support and help from friends, the Children's Burn Care Foundation Ethiopia was formally established April 27, 2007.

The main objective of the Foundation is to establish a Pediatric Burn Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  The centre will collaborate in formal teaching programs for doctors and nurses in addition to support burn prevention activities.