MCFD has announced a hold on new adoptions from Japan in the wake of the earthquake this March. http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/adoption/alerts_fact_sheets/japan.htm
Licensed BC agencies are permitted to continue with applications which were underway *prior* to the earthquake.
If you are a BC resident pursuing adoption from Japan, please consult with your licensed adoption agency for an update.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Kyrgyzstan Adoption Moratorium lifted
For 65 American families, Mother's Day was especially sweet this year. This Sunday, Kyrgyzstan lifted their Ban on International Adoptions.
Two years ago, these 65 families were matched with children living in orphanages in Kyrgyzstan. When a ban was announced in February 2009, the families and children were left in limbo awaiting the rescinding of the moratorium. Sadly, two of the children passed away, with many others in urgent need of medical care that is more readily available in the United States.
Approximately 11,000 children reside in Kyrgyzstan's 120 orphanages and children's homes. Although the US has an established program with Kyrgyzstan, BC does not have a program running at this time.
Contact your local BC agency if you are interested in learning more about Kyrgyzstan or other adoption options in Eastern Europe.
Learn more about the children and the country here:
http://kidstoadopt.org/adoption-programs/kyrgyzstan-adoption/
http://www.rainbowkids.com/countries/CountryGuideLines.aspx?id=93
Two years ago, these 65 families were matched with children living in orphanages in Kyrgyzstan. When a ban was announced in February 2009, the families and children were left in limbo awaiting the rescinding of the moratorium. Sadly, two of the children passed away, with many others in urgent need of medical care that is more readily available in the United States.
Approximately 11,000 children reside in Kyrgyzstan's 120 orphanages and children's homes. Although the US has an established program with Kyrgyzstan, BC does not have a program running at this time.
Contact your local BC agency if you are interested in learning more about Kyrgyzstan or other adoption options in Eastern Europe.
Learn more about the children and the country here:
http://kidstoadopt.org/adoption-programs/kyrgyzstan-adoption/
http://www.rainbowkids.com/countries/CountryGuideLines.aspx?id=93
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Romanian Campaign to Reopen International Adoption
View the original article here.
Rethink of adoption ban gives new hope to Romanian orphans
Many Romanian children found new homes in the west before instances of child trafficking led to a ban on international adoption. With claims that many children have lost out as a result, some are calling for a rethink.
When Romania's Communist autocracy was toppled from power more than two decades ago, the plight of the children living under state care in the country shocked the world.
Television scenes of children left bereft of any form of love or attention proved heartbreaking and many western families were keen to adopt.
While those intentions were good, the system was also shown to have been exploited by child trafficking groups. As conditions in children's homes generally began to improve, the practice of international adoption from Romania came under a moratorium in 2001.
Legislation to cement the ban in law was put into place following pressure from the EU. Former member of the European Parliament, Baroness Emma Nicholson was a key figure in pushing for this as a special rapporteur for Romania's EU accession.
"I unveiled a huge network of global corruption and global trafficking," said Nicholson. "We really uncovered horrors of a scale and dimension you would wish never to know about."
"I'll give you the example of a poor Romanian boy, who was trafficked to London, on a false passport. From London they changed his passport again and he was trafficked to America, on a false passport."
"Uncovering that (trafficking) ring, uncovered one of the biggest pedophile rings in the globe. That boy has never been seen again."
However, there are those - such as the Romanian campaign group Catharsis - that believe an outright moratorium was an overreaction. The group is a leading a campaign to resume international adoptions and cites numerous cases where children have missed out on loving homes as a result of the ban.
Madalina grew up in a children's home from the age of two, where she suffered serious abuse. Catharsis found Madalina an adoptive family in Italy, to whom she herself said she became very attached. Unfortunately, the timing was wrong. Mandalina was a victim of the moratorium on international adoptions and the move was blocked.
"They asked if I'd like to be adopted by them, and I said yes," said Mandalina. "Only, then we found out that international adoptions had been blocked. It felt terrible for all of us."
Once the children leave full-time education, those who have not been adopted often end up in homeless shelters - such as Marius.
"It's a shame they stopped international adoptions," said Marius. "There are many, many kids in children's homes and they have no future. Most of them either die of hunger on the streets or they're in prison."
Azota Popescu from Catharsis argues that it is time to change the law, as the issue comes up for debate in the Romanian parliament. She denies the claim by Baroness Nicholson, and organizations such as the group Against Child Trafficking, that corruption is too rife in Romania for the system to be trusted to prevent trafficking.
"There is no corruption in Romania in the domain of adoptions," Popescu told Deutsche Welle. "If Emma Nicholson has an example of corruption, she should show us, to present it to everyone."
Author: Tom Wilson, Brasov, Romania / rc
Editor: Rob Turner
View the original article here.
Rethink of adoption ban gives new hope to Romanian orphans
Many Romanian children found new homes in the west before instances of child trafficking led to a ban on international adoption. With claims that many children have lost out as a result, some are calling for a rethink.
When Romania's Communist autocracy was toppled from power more than two decades ago, the plight of the children living under state care in the country shocked the world.
Television scenes of children left bereft of any form of love or attention proved heartbreaking and many western families were keen to adopt.
While those intentions were good, the system was also shown to have been exploited by child trafficking groups. As conditions in children's homes generally began to improve, the practice of international adoption from Romania came under a moratorium in 2001.
Legislation to cement the ban in law was put into place following pressure from the EU. Former member of the European Parliament, Baroness Emma Nicholson was a key figure in pushing for this as a special rapporteur for Romania's EU accession.
"I unveiled a huge network of global corruption and global trafficking," said Nicholson. "We really uncovered horrors of a scale and dimension you would wish never to know about."
"I'll give you the example of a poor Romanian boy, who was trafficked to London, on a false passport. From London they changed his passport again and he was trafficked to America, on a false passport."
"Uncovering that (trafficking) ring, uncovered one of the biggest pedophile rings in the globe. That boy has never been seen again."
However, there are those - such as the Romanian campaign group Catharsis - that believe an outright moratorium was an overreaction. The group is a leading a campaign to resume international adoptions and cites numerous cases where children have missed out on loving homes as a result of the ban.
Madalina grew up in a children's home from the age of two, where she suffered serious abuse. Catharsis found Madalina an adoptive family in Italy, to whom she herself said she became very attached. Unfortunately, the timing was wrong. Mandalina was a victim of the moratorium on international adoptions and the move was blocked.
"They asked if I'd like to be adopted by them, and I said yes," said Mandalina. "Only, then we found out that international adoptions had been blocked. It felt terrible for all of us."
Once the children leave full-time education, those who have not been adopted often end up in homeless shelters - such as Marius.
"It's a shame they stopped international adoptions," said Marius. "There are many, many kids in children's homes and they have no future. Most of them either die of hunger on the streets or they're in prison."
Azota Popescu from Catharsis argues that it is time to change the law, as the issue comes up for debate in the Romanian parliament. She denies the claim by Baroness Nicholson, and organizations such as the group Against Child Trafficking, that corruption is too rife in Romania for the system to be trusted to prevent trafficking.
"There is no corruption in Romania in the domain of adoptions," Popescu told Deutsche Welle. "If Emma Nicholson has an example of corruption, she should show us, to present it to everyone."
Author: Tom Wilson, Brasov, Romania / rc
Editor: Rob Turner
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Vietnamese Education Society "Celebrate" Event: April 16th
This evening is hosted by Canadian families that have adopted children from Vietnam, and our many Vietnamese and other community friends. It is in support of our charity, the Vietnam Education Society, a registered Canadian non-profit that raises funds to build elementary schools and early childhood education centres in rural Vietnam. This is a way for many of us to give back for the gift of our children and to make a difference to children in Vietnam. Other than a few basic costs, 100% of the funds raised go towards the children and schools. In Vietnam, hundreds of thousands of children have limited access to basic education. In rural areas, schools are often in poor condition and are so crowded that students attend in two half-day shifts and sometimes only for a few years till they are often forced to leave to work.
Please help us to help young Vietnamese children build a better future.
Saturday, April 16th, 2011 5-9PM
Mulgrave School
2330 Cypress Bowl Lane, West Vancouver, BC V7S 3H9
Tickets: Adults $35.00. Children $15.00. (Children under 6 free)
Fraud Charges Laid in Imagine Adoption Case
CBC news reports that Imagine Adoption founder Susan Hayhow and general manager Rick Hayhow have been charged in connection to the 2009 bankruptcy of Imagine Adoption. Charges include breach of trust, fraud over $5000 and fraud under $5000.
The bankrupcty affected 350 families nationwide, including many BC families who were waiting to adopt from Ethiopia.
The first court date for the Hayhows is May 26th.
If you were impacted by the Imagine bankruptcy, or the current reduction in approvals in Ethiopia, please let us know! You can email me for one on one support or to connect with other families: sreid@bcadoption.com
The bankrupcty affected 350 families nationwide, including many BC families who were waiting to adopt from Ethiopia.
The first court date for the Hayhows is May 26th.
If you were impacted by the Imagine bankruptcy, or the current reduction in approvals in Ethiopia, please let us know! You can email me for one on one support or to connect with other families: sreid@bcadoption.com
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
I Love My Hair
This video has made the rounds on the internet, but it deserves a second running!!
And a big thank you to Mom Sophie for sending me the link to this awesome hair-care website Keep Me Curly. She and daughter B. are keeping busy trying out new styles from the website.
If you see something online you'd like to share with other intercountry families, please let me know! Email me at sreid@bcadoption.com
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)