African Widows and Orphans Project
Adoption Program

 

The AWOP program is new and we appreciate your interest.  Our staff has facilitated the placement of more than 200 older children.  As we grew to know and love the children and their Ethiopian families we became convinced that we need to be more holistic as we consider each family’s situation.  AWOP is developing programs to help Ethiopian families with sponsorship, feeding, job skill training, micro-loans, and hospice care, as well as an evangelism and discipleship program.  Prior to looking for adoptive parents for these children we have worked to ensure that adoption is truly the best option considering each family’s circumstances.

 

 

CLICK HERE to view the photolist (password required)

As you view these pictures, please remember these details:

 

  1. Ages are estimates in most cases.  They may be off by a year or more.
  2. Names may be spelled incorrectly.
  3. Although we have done our best to ensure these children are actually available to be adopted, occasionally caregivers change their minds.  Please know that this may happen at any time until a case goes to court.  When a case passes court the adoption is final and caregivers may not re-claim the child.
  4. Many people wonder why these children are available to be adopted.  The most common reasons are:
    1. Both parents have died and the children live with other relatives or guardians.
    2. Children live on their own or with older siblings after the death of their parents.
    3. The father has died and the mother is HIV positive and wants a family for her children before she dies.
    4. The father has died and the mother feels she cannot care for the children.  This is largely due to poverty.  Sadly, often the only way a widow can provide for herself is to become a man’s second or third wife.  Normally she can’t bring her children into this new relationship.  Adoption can seem like a win-win situation – the woman knows her children will be provided for and she then has the possibility of a new relationship for herself as well.

Please be assured that these parents love their children.  It’s difficult for us to understand how they can make the impossibly hard decision to seek adoptive parents for their children, but under the circumstances they feel they have no choice.  The decision is almost always made out of love. 

CLICK HERE to view the photolist (password required)