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Adoption Information for Ethiopia |
There is a huge need for families to adopt from Ethiopia. It is estimated that by 2010, Africa will have 42 million orphans. Ethiopia has the highest percentage of orphans in Africa.
My name is Lisa Anderson and I am honored to be the Ethiopia Program Coordinator for Children's House International. We have been serving children and families since 1975. I am proud to have been a Childrenís House Program Coordinator for the past 9 years. Ethiopia is our newest adoption program and we have had great success in placing orphans with families very quickly! We are authorized by the Ministry of Justice of the Government of Ethiopia to conduct international adoptions as well as support our humanitarian aid projects in the country.
The Children of Ethiopia
Poverty, disease and war have left a large number of children without parents. The one thing I want adoptive families to know about Ethiopian children is that even though they have been through so much in their lives, they remain joyful, strong and resilient. Some children are available for immediate placement, or parents may receive a referral within 2-4 months after their dossier is approved by Ethiopia's Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. Very young children, toddlers and older children can be referred. We always have older little boys waiting for a loving family. All children are examined by CHI's doctor in Addis Ababa and are tested for HIV and other major illness. Parents will receive a complete child study which includes all medical information, legal documentation and proof of orphan status, photos and a video. My staff in Ethiopia, headed by our Country Representative, will have spent time with your referral and will provide updates and new photos during your adoption process. Children that have been accepted by a family are transferred into our foster care at The Thomas Center. The Thomas Center is Childrenís Houseís own foster care center and having your child live there during the adoption process allows us to give the best care possible. We are able to send our adoptive families photos and updates of their children many times during the adoption process. I travel to Ethiopia often to oversee the adoption and humanitarian aid programs.
Waiting... waiting... waiting... why are these children without families?
Children that are available for international adoption are orphans. They are orphaned for many reasons. This is most often due to their birth families inability to parent based on poverty. Poverty worldwide creates the need for international adoption, but it is not the only reason.
Education is another common factor. In many countries, birth control is not widely offered nor is it taught in the family, community or in school. Birth mothers also can lack education on how to parent a child or have the capability to earn a living wage to support the child. So education can play a large part in children becoming orphaned.
In some situations, when a birth mother does become pregnant she may be shunned by both her family and her community. Many times this leads to desperate situations that force a birth parent to either abandon or relinquish their child.
Sadly there are other factors that create orphans, war, worldwide famine, drought and the AIDS epidemic have also created orphans in many countries. These factors are the most common reasons for children to become available for international adoption.
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 Ethiopian Government Requirements
- Heterosexual Single women are welcome to adopt from Ethiopia
- Couples must be married for at least one year prior to application
- You must be at least 25 years old and no more than 45 years older than the child you want to adopt. This upper age limit is flexible if you are adopting an older child.
Time Frame
- One to four months for a referral (after approval of your dossier), infant girls take longer. Please consider adopting older children and boys - there is such a great need and we always have waiting children.
- Two to four months after a referral is accepted before you will be asked to travel to pick up your child.
Travel Requirements
- You may have your child escorted, but we highly encourage you to travel to bring your child home. Ethiopian Airlines has a direct flight from Washington Dulles to Addis Ababa. There are also numerous connections in Europe.
- One or both parents may travel - stay in Ethiopia is approximately one week and we have a beautiful guest house for our families to stay in.
- My staff will be with you during your stay to assist you with the guest house, hotels, transportation, official meetings, etc. Most people in Ethiopia speak English and the hotels are beautiful, the food is great, and you will have a wonderful time.
Note: Due to the nature of international adoption, this information is subject to change without notice. All families in process of adopting through Children's House International receive updates every few weeks to keep them informed of any changes, new information, humanitarian efforts, etc.
Ethiopia Adoption Fees
Ethiopia is one of our least expensive adoption programs. Please contact Lisa Anderson at CHI for more information on fees: CHIEthiopia@aol.com
Humanitarian Efforts in Ethiopia
 Children's House International sponsors the Monastery of Debre Alama Asira Metria, Saint Mary Andinet Gedam, for One Hundred (100) Orphans: A Multi-purpose Project for Orphan Children at Risk, rendering financial support towards the psychosocial and economic rehabilitation of orphans who are abandoned in the town of Atsbi, and assisting them to be responsible citizens. These children are not available for adoption.
Children's House International sponsors the Debre Alama Asira, Saint Mary Monastery Irrigation Project: A Multi-purpose Project for Monks & Farmers at Risk, rendering financial support for the implementation of the irrigation system and animal husbandry for monks and neighboring farmers who are affected by drought in the eastern part of Tigray State in order to create sustainability and contribute in the national efforts to reduce the disaster of drought in parts of Ethiopia.
Children's House International is committed to sponsoring these programs. The funds to support these programs come from generous donations and adoption fees.
Is the mystical land of the Queen of Sheba calling you?
- Ethiopia is celebrating it's Millennium in the summer of 2007
- Home of the Queen of Sheba
- Eighth Wonder of The World - Eleven Churches carved from solid rock - still standing today!
- Believed to be the site of the origin of mankind
- Home of "Lucy" - a skeleton of a woman that lived more than three million years ago
- Orthodox Christians believe the Ark of the Covenant is in Axum, Ethiopia
 To Get More Information
Please contact Lisa Anderson, Ethiopia Program Coordinator via email at CHIEthiopia@aol.com or call 504-324-1477. Or if you prefer, you can fill out this simple Information Request Formif you would like us to contact you with more information.
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