According to the State Department, the U.S issued 105 Visa’s to Ethiopian orphan immigrants in 20022006, the number of Visa’s issued increased more than 7 fold to 731.
While the increased number of US adoption is a welcomed change of pace for a country faced with caring for 5 million orphaned children, little is known for the sudden popularity of Ethiopian adoption. There are few definite answers but lots of questions.Everyone wants to help the world in some way, but many people just don’t know how to do it.
Could it be possible that Americans always wanted to adopt Ethiopian orphans, but the idea seemed too Taboo? Many factors such as race, color, ethnicity and culture, play a role in the hesitation of adopting orphans from other countries, especially Africa. After these orphans are adopted, families are forces to deal with the social and personal components. They then have to consider cultural assimilation and making sure the children are taught about both their original culture and their adoptive parent’s culture. Why then Adopt Ethiopian children?
While the increased number of US adoption is a welcomed change of pace for a country faced with caring for 5 million orphaned children, little is known for the sudden popularity of Ethiopian adoption. There are few definite answers but lots of questions.Everyone wants to help the world in some way, but many people just don’t know how to do it.
Could it be possible that Americans always wanted to adopt Ethiopian orphans, but the idea seemed too Taboo? Many factors such as race, color, ethnicity and culture, play a role in the hesitation of adopting orphans from other countries, especially Africa. After these orphans are adopted, families are forces to deal with the social and personal components. They then have to consider cultural assimilation and making sure the children are taught about both their original culture and their adoptive parent’s culture. Why then Adopt Ethiopian children?
Some have linked the recent surge in US adoption to changes in social and cultural mores that have been driven by celebrities. It has become almost a fad in Hollywood these days to champion certain causes. It is not uncommon to see celebrities taking part in Bono’s ONE campaign to fight the scurage of AIDS in Africa, or the SAVE DARFUR movement. The newest of American celebrity driven social fad these days seems to be the adoption of Ethiopian orphans. It seems like ever since Angelina Jolie adopted little Zahara, Ethiopian orphans have become the new cause celebes.
Although, Angelina Jolie did give Ethiopian adoption much needed exposure, the overall increase in humanitarian awareness has also opened the eyes of many Americans who are giving their hearts as well as their hands out to an increasing number of orphans around the world. We also have celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, who have a huge influence on American mothers, contribute to creating awareness of the adoption crisis in Ethiopia.
Another reasons cited for increasing the number of American adoptions from Ethiopia, perhaps a more practical explanation, is the recent changes in Ethiopian laws According to the US State Department, the Ethiopian government has streamlined the adoption process and authorized only handful skilled international adoption agencies to work in Ethiopia. For instance, unlike South Africa where there is a 5-years residency requirement in the country before adopting a child, Ethiopia does not have a residency requirement of any kind. Adoptions in most instances could be completed within one year.
While changes have made it easier to adopt from Ethiopia, the government sill requires internationally recognized safeguards such as post placement reports on Ethiopian orphans at 3 months, 6 months, and one year after the adoption. There are also yearly reports required until the child turn 18. Yet another explanation given by some have been the physical characteristics of Ethiopian babies. Since the first pictures of Jolie’s baby Zahara were published, fans have fallen in love with her. These pictures along with the growth of the Ethiopian Diaspora has educated the world about the physical characteristics of Ethiopians, allowing prospective adoptive parents to forget the pictures of draught stricken Ethiopian children of the 1980s with the beautiful and adorable faces of baby Zahara and Ethiopian models such as Liya Kebede.
Explanation aside, what are the long-term consequences of US adoption trends from Ethiopia? Fads are only good when they are hot and in demand but like every fad before, this one could also become forgotten and end up in the dustbins of history. Too much is at stake for this issue to end up just like other fads.
Many Ethiopian orphans are finding new homes and loving families as a result of the increase in American adoption. However, there are many more orphans still waiting for a loving family. The governments of Ethiopian and the US need to find long terms solutions for Ethiopia’s orphanage crisis.
Bethel Tsegaye is a student reporter at George Mason University in Northern Virginia. This article is the first installment of a series that will examine the Ethiopian adoption crisis.
Bethel Tsegaye is a student reporter at George Mason University in Northern Virginia. This article is the first installment of a series that will examine the Ethiopian adoption crisis.
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