Challenges in adopting from Africa

Adopting from Africa is not always an easy thing to accomplish. In fact, it is often quite complicated. There are several well-established adoption programs, such as Ethiopia and Liberia, but in most cases there are very few laws and regulations regarding international adoptions, and in some countries, there is not even a native word for “adoption”.

Traditionally in Africa, if a child were to become orphaned, then the extended family would automatically take that child in and care for him. There were no legal proceedings or big to-do, it is just the way that things were done.

However, with the civil wars, famines and the HIV/AIDS crisis that have plagued Africa, the number of orphans has boomed to millions. Adults have died in large numbers. Children have been orphaned, and because their extended family has already taken in more children than they can care for, because their extended family has died themselves or because their extended family lives in fear of HIV and the associated stigmas, these children have no where to go.

Orphanages are over-flowing. Children live on the street. Children care for each other. Children live in unthinkable poverty with little to no hope for their futures. Children are all alone in this big old world.

Africans also tend to be very proud of their culture and to value culture very strongly. Many also have a distrust of white people, after the histories of colonization and slavery that many African countries have.

Many people in many African countries are starting to realize (or have already realized) that the orphan crisis in their country is overwhelming, and that international adoption is the best chance that many of the children have at living a life that includes love, security, education and medical care. And yet at the same time, because of civil wars, corruption, political instability and a lot of big problems to deal with, there are often no policies or procedures in place for international adoption, and even when there are, actually getting the steps accomplished through the legal and immigration systems can be highly challenging and very time consuming.

International adoptions can also be challenging because of the lack of documentation that is often needed to prove that a child is a legal orphan, and child trafficking occurs much too frequently. Several adoption programs, such as Sierra Leone, have started, only to be shut down because of concerns of unethical practices.

So on one hand, many African countries right now have countless orphans, and way more orphaned children than they can care for, so international adoption could be a very good option for some children.

And yet on the other hand, there are many things that make adoption from Africa challenging.

My advice to any prospective adoptive parents wanting to adopt from Africa is to do your research. Know the adoption related laws of the country you are considering. Know the adoption related laws of U.S. immigration. Connect with other adoptive parents who have adopted from the country you are considering. Be prepared that things may be more complicated and take longer than you expect.

In my next post I will provide some resources for starting your research.

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