Here I am a couple days late and more than a few dollars short. But, better late than never, right? OK - done with the cliches (actually, I have more . . .!) Seriously, I was delighted to see that Georgetown University focused their MLK Day tribute on the AIDS pandemic in Africa.

"The world still needs [King's] dream and we must continue to live the dream," Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia said at the university's annual Let Freedom Ring program in the Concert Hall at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing... more

The "Organization of African First Ladies Against AIDS" (OAFLA)'s 'Save the Unborn Child First Ladies Campaign' has finally been launched.

The campaign has been launched in all the 50 OAFLA African members countries.

This campaign is aimed at preventing the unborn child from the Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of the HIV/AIDS.

Zambia's First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa, who is OAFLA president, launched the campaign in Kitwe on Tuesday, January 9 with an emphasis "to attack the HIV/AIDS with the same viciousness with... more

Is there a little sugar-coating going on? From CCNMatthews, a Canadian news service, is a UNICEF press release today. Strange juxtaposition after the previous post on ARVs not making it to the children of Zambia. Is there really much to be excited about?

In the press release, UNICEF reports that there are positive signs of progress and momentum in the global response to children and AIDS and indicates that some countries have achieved breakthroughs, particularly in preventing HIV transmission... more

A shortage of pediatric testing kits and specialised medical staff in Zambia is causing delays in rolling out antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for children infected with HIV/AIDS.

Despite the National AIDS Council (NAC) having enough ARV medication to treat about 19,000 children, only about 5,000 are able to access the drugs.

An estimated 1.6 million Zambians are living with HIV - about 17 percent of the adult population - but only about 75,000 have access to ARVs, and even with the low penetration of the rollout so far, analysts say the programme... more

From the MSN website today is an article about pop star Madonna's recent visit to David Letterman's show.

When Madonna initiated the adoption of a Malawian boy, she was “saving a life,” the singer told David Letterman on Thursday, as she called for increased adoption from the African nation.

“There’s over a million orphans in Malawi, and in my opinion the laws need to change because these children need to be rescued,” the Material Mom said on CBS’s “Late Show.”

Madonna,... more

Want to be inspired? This short little DVD will do that for you. At only 25 minutes long, you could get the whole family to watch it, then discuss it. This is the inspiring story of Napolean Dzombe who decided to reach out and make a difference. Giving up schooling to support his family, Napoleon begins to work the harsh land around him. Through his hard work and determination, he creates prosperity for himself, but it is not enough. He teaches others to also work the land. When famines strike, he gives everything he has to help his... more

*Go to an adoption-related conference - there are local conferences, regional conferences and national conferences. Pick a JCICS conference, or a NACAC conference, or even a social worker conference that deals with adoption issues. Holly van Gulden does some fascinating conferences, Nancy Thomas does conferences dealing with tough attachment issues. Adoptive Families of America has state-by-state listings of pre-adoption events, cultural... more

*Keep a journal – the more detailed the better. While you are living it, I know you are just SURE you will not forget a single detail, but guess what - you will!

Write it all down, the ups and downs, the hopes and dreams, the setbacks and disappointments, the tears and fears - all of it. You will NOT regret it later, I promise! I have incredibly detailed adoption accounts for most of my kids because I type and type and type while I'm traveling to adopt (a laptop is invaluable) and end up with great amounts of detail that have been... more

Information from "Reaching Out thru International Adoption", continued from here:

When families travel, we have found a very reasonable hotel that is in the center of Maseru and it comprised of small, several room, cottages or cabanas. They have a living room and one or two bedrooms with televisions, a bathroom and a kitchenette with a microwave oven and a refrigerator. These places are air-conditioned for the hotter... more

This information is from Sonia Baxter, Executive Director of Reaching Out thru International Adoption and is posted with her permission.

First, the Dept of Social Work which oversees adoptions wants it to go smoothly and predictably. We have decided to say that it will take about 6 months from the time of submission of the dossier to travel. It may take less time, but that is what is currently is taking for some Dutch cases and so it just feels better to go with that estimation. The process is... more