The prevalence of HIV/Aids, poverty and armed conflict in Africa has had a horrific impact on the children.
Millions of children are left orphaned in Africa, becoming victims of avoidable circumstances. In Ethiopia alone, there are an estimated 5 million orphans, left with limited means and no hope;Of course, the exception is those who are lucky enough to be adopted by foreigners who descend on Ethiopia every year, with the hopes of fulfilling two dreams - To change an orphan child’s life, and to fulfill their dream of becoming proud parents.
And for those orphans who are not as lucky, well, their future is unsettling and gloomy. They are the ones that can be found making up the statistics of:- forced labor, child slavery, prostitution, sexual abuse, child soldiers ETC
Meet Jenn from Canada
Jen wrote me in an email the following.
Hi there,
I recently discovered your blog and have enjoyed reading your viewpoints on the various topics you have discussed. I am an adoptive mom to 2 year old twin boys from Ethiopia. Ethiopia has long been on our hearts and spending 3 months there in 2007 with our new sons gave us an even deeper appreciation and love of the Ethiopian people and culture. We are currently in the process of adopting our boys’ biological brother and look forward to returning to Addis in the New Year to bring him together with his brothers. We are determined to raise our sons to be proud of their heritage and the vast beauty of their birth country.
I like to read everything and anything I can about Ethiopia which is how I happened upon your blog. I was just wondering what your views are on international adoption? When we were in Ethiopia we felt nothing but love and support from Ethiopian people. As adoption numbers are steadily rising, I wonder if the perception of international adoption will change. Just curious to know your thoughts as an Ethiopian national.
Thanks for your time!
Jenn
Jenn’s Twin Kids Adopted From Ethiopia
I must admit, for the first time in a long time, I had received an email that literally forced me to ’stop and think’
Like i have told Jenn, it was a light-bulb moment. Since receiving, i have lost count of the so-many articles on adoption (specially adoption in Ethiopia) that i have devoured in.
I probably would write a great deal on my new-found passion, but for now, the purpose of this post is to answer Jenn’s question -
As adoption numbers are steadily rising, I wonder if the perception of international adoption will change. Just curious to know your thoughts as an Ethiopian national.
Jenn, This Is How I Feel
It is my HOPE that,
-
All children will be loved for who they are
-
All children would be loved with an intensity that can move mountains
It is also my HOPE that children will have SOMEONE who will . . .
- Seek them, and only them
- Push them to reach for their goals and discover their unique gifts
- Hold them accountable for their actions with love and dignity
- Advocate for them through this maze called life
- Explain the unexplainable; and
- Smile when they walk into the room, just because they did
Mostly i hope that all children will have someone who knows them well enough and loves them deeply enough to see the divine spark that is unique in them.
I certainly hope that this be the birthright of ALL children throughout the world.
Finally . . .
Jenn if you are that parent, then I see nothing wrong for providing – to my Ethiopian younger brothers and sisters – what they lacked before your divine match.
And in your email your visceral love towards your kids shows and I was dazzled when you said – ” . . . We are determined to raise our sons to be proud of their heritage and the vast beauty of their birth country”
Filed under: Ethiopia, Parenting, Women and Children, addis ababa, adoption, aids, culture, eritrea, family, friends | Tagged: adoption, adoption in ethiopia, international adoption
WOW, EXCEPTIONAL AND LOVELY
Those two boys are so cute. I have always wanted to adopt since i was child in Addis there was this movie i saw as a kid we called it hibret tiret so it was about american parents going to romania at that time i didn’t speak English but i understood the movie LOL!!
Always told my mom i will have twins she laughs but i feel it will be true via adoption. I also follow adoption blogs this one i love is called Ethiopia or bust. So good.
What gorgeous little boys and they look happy…
I have mixed feelings about international adoption but I don’t doubt the good intentions of parents like Jen and the love and care they give to their children, orphaned children who might have none if they didn’t step in…
awwwww, aren’t they so cute………………………..?
I think that your post shows that whenever and however you become a parent, Dr. Ethiopia, you are likely to make a good one! My feelings on international adoption are mixed at times, but the bottom line for me is that I believe EVERY child deserves a chance, and sometimes those chances are provided by God in strange ways.
Now if we got into a discussion on international aid or the distribution of global natural resources, it might be a bit more controversial.
Alas – a topic for another day.
@Janet – Why or how is your feelings on international adoption mixed? Curious.
Well, I know that the adoption process is complicated in the US, and this pushes some people to look to countries that “more willing to expedite” the process. Yet, I have seen first hand with my own children the number of kids that remain in foster care and are often considered throw away children. Add to it the sometimes debatable topic of mixed race adoptions, by mixed race I mean people of one race adopting a child of another. I know that true paternal love has no limits. Thus with the right motivation, someone could adopt a child of another race, and still seek to enrich ( by enrich of course I mean continue to provide information, sources of pride and even travel to that country) the child’s outlook on their “native” race. I sometimes find it unfair that some people get upset to see “white” people adopting children from countries in Africa. Children need love and care and a chance to grow – I’m not sure if the race of the adoptive parent is the most important component. In my perfect world (the one that I’m unlikely to ever see) People from all countries will have the resources available to them to feed, clothe, nurture and provide health care for their children, thus eliminating the adoptions that are based on a families inability to care for their children. IN my ideal world, we wouldn’t have starving children in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd world.
Hi Dr. I`m a adoptive father, too. I undestadn that Jen said and I pleaded your opinion.
We have three sons (13, 8 and 6 years) from Ethiopia. We come back to Addis the lñst summer and we travel in the north (Gondar, Lalibela, Axum, Bahar Dar) and in Shashemane, Awasa… We allways fell the good opinon of the people about internacional adopcion. But somebody said us, here in Spain, that the Government dont like the parents walk in the street with his adopted children. So, I dont belive that. but, did you know somethig about this?
http://www.mamaetiopia.blogspot.com
Hi.. Jenn here, Mom to the handsome pair in the picture. Thanks for your response. It was well thought out and beautifully put
I have to say that even *I* as an adoptive mom have mixed emotions about International Adoption. I share the same sentiments as Janet and have said many times that in a perfect world children would not go hungry, would have access to health care, would not be affected by war and disease that so often tears families apart. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of the boys’ Enat and the unimaginable decisions she has faced in her young life. My heart breaks for her and I struggle with the knowledge that my greatest joy in life has come out of her pain. This literally keeps me up at night.
We will be returning to Ethiopia this year to adopt our boys’ biological brother. We plan to stay a month and will be bringing the twins with us (yes.. we’ll be the crazy people traveling with three toddlers.. our apologies to anyone who ends up on a flight with us
The boys will probably be too young to remember this trip but we feel it is important to reconnect them with their culture and their people. We are so grateful to have the opportunity to welcome our sons’ younger brother to our family and can’t wait to have the 3 boys together forever.
Thanks again for your thoughts and Melkam Addis Amet
Jenn, You have cute daughter or son on the picture.
God Bless to the parents
Jenn your boys are gorgeous, and their smiles are, awww, sweet ….it is lovely that all the boys , the twins and the older by are all growing up together…Congratulations and good luck…
jenn,ankami and all adoptive parents,god bless you.I wish all parentless kids in Ethiopia had such a chance.
@Jenn Thanks for stopping by and for sharing your amazing and inspiring spirit that is open to the most innocent among us.
Melkam Addis Amet to you and your kids.:)
@Ankami I sometimes wish your blog was in English
, but i am very much aware of it. Thanks for stopping by, and most of all thanks for opening your heart to kids from A heck of a distance from where you are. I am sure you are being blessed for it in leaps and bounds.
Thank you Dr Ethiopia. I`m sorry but my English is no so good to write the blog in this lenguage. So, we put a automatic translator link.
Melkam Genna
Jenn and Ankami God bless you and your families.