Experience the difference

Experience the difference

By Kristin Morency, The Suburban

Photo by Martin Chamberland, The Suburban

Chamandy: It’s important to promote the creativity of artists.

Gift store sells crafts from Africa, South America, Mexico and Canada.

It’s hard to imagine that shopping here at home could benefit destitute orphans on the other side of the world.

Vive la Différence, a small gift shop on Monkland Ave. in N.D.G., is a non-profit, volunteer-run store founded and operated by Beaconsfieldresident Tina Chamandy.

Net profits are sent to Families for Children (FFC), a non-profit Canadian organization providing support and care for women and children in two orphanages in India and Bangladesh.

The store, which promotes fair trade and features unique crafts from artists around the world, has been open for about a year.

Chamandy works alone, although sometimes her friends volunteer.

On top of supporting FFC, Chamandy’s goal with Vive la Différence is to promote fair trade.

“I like to provide an alternative to the usual mass-produced items we find everywhere,” Chamandy said at her store last week.

“I’m a strong believer in fair trade. And I think it’s important to promote the creativity of artists all over the world and in Canada, and to enrich the lives of consumers and expose them to the diversity and beauty of the world.”

Fine handcrafted glassware, original ceramics, purses, furniture and costume jewellery from Africa, South America, Mexico and Canada, can be found in Chamandy’s store.

Photos of some of the approximately 225 children from the two FFC orphanages hang on the store’s walls, and pamphlets about the orphans are available at the cash.

Chamandy, a mother of five who opened the store with her husband after they retired, has visited the children at the orphanage in Indiathree times.

“They’re extremely warm. They call you ‘Mommy’ and ‘Daddy,’” she said. “They’re always smiling and they were so excited to see us the first time we came. My heart melts for them.”

The orphanage in India spans a couple of town blocks and includes a small school, a library, and sleeping quarters.

FFC receives children who are abandoned or referred to them by Indian social services.

Occasionally, a family will bring their children to the orphanage if they’re too poor to look after them, but the kids will return home for holidays.

According to Chamandy, some of the orphans have physical disabilities or are infected with H.I.V.

Nonetheless, many of the kids and women who are at the orphanages produce items, like cards and silk purses, to be sold in her store.

Above a shelf holding cards with intricate needlework, Chamandy points to a photograph of a visually impaired boy hard at work on one of the cards that will end up in her store.

She said he didn’t want to wear glasses because he was afraid of how they made him look, so he had to hold the paper really close to his face to perfect his needlepoint.

“It shows that no matter how destitute or badly off they are, they’re still people,” Chamandy said.

Chamandy became involved with FFC when she was trying to adopt a child from Vietnam. (She ended up adopting a girl from Thailand who’s now 26 years-old.)

While going through the adoption process, she met Sandra Simpson, the founder of FFC.

“I’ve known Sandra a very long time and have been a supporter ever since,” said Chamandy.

Simpson, a native of Colombia who has homes in Pointe Claire and Toronto, said she adopted 24 children and has eight biological ones.

Along with her friends Bonnie Cappuccino and Naomi Bronstein, in 1968 Simpson founded FFC when she adopted a child from Vietnam.

“Because of the publicity and requests from other people wanting to do the same, I founded FFC to help people adopt,” she said.

Since then, FFC has developed from an adoption agency to having in-country care centres in India and Bangladesh.

“I believe all of us are born for a reason, and that reason if possible should be to help another. I feel very fortunate in being part of an organization that helps so many,” Simpson said.

“Tina is doing an incredible job,” added Simpson. “She’s working so hard without any staff and she herself does not take pay. Being a small charity that gets very little publicity, awareness is very important to us.”

Vive la Différence is located at 5525 Monkland Ave. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

2006-10-25 09:55:39

Persons: Naomi Bronstein

Couples angry at sex questions in adoption process

Sunday October 22 2006

NIAMH HORAN
CONCERNS are being raised over the intrusive nature of some sexually explicit queries which are being put to Irish couples during the adoption process.

Couples who have been through the process have complained about being asked about their views on topics such as homosexuality and their sex life before they met their current partner.

Questions which have been asked include 'How do you feel about oral sex?' and 'How do you feel about gay people?'. Some people were even quizzed on their sex life before they met their partner while their spouse was present. This has sparked calls for a review of questions put to couples during the adoption process.

Debbie Deegan, founder of the charity 'To Russia With Love', has called for social workers to be more sensitive when dealing with prospective adoptive couples.

"Social workers need to be much more sensitive about the people they're dealing with. I know some couples have been complaining about the questions and resent some of the things they're being asked. I think one of the biggest hang-ups they have is being quizzed on their sex lives.

"I remember when I was going through the whole process about 10 years ago, I often wondered how relevant some of the questions were and I know my husband refused to answer some of them too.

"But I think in some cases social workers have their reasons. For example, if a couple didn't have any children, they might try and find out if there was a sexual reason behind that. In other words, they are trying to find a chink in the relationship that could impact on the adoption.

"But I would still call for a constant review of the questions that are being asked. It's not a perfect science and I know some of the couples aren't very comfortable with some of the questions being put to them," Ms Deegan said.

"You have to remember that they're also very nervous about getting the baby so they're probably going to give answers they think the social workers want to hear rather than genuine opinions."

However, Marie Creegan, a social worker who assess couples and who has adopted children herself, said that certain questions need to be asked because of the seriousness of the issue.

"It is intrusive and should be. We're talking about the life of a child here. We need to know if the parents are suitable. But I still think that most social workers would consider the feelings of the couple. All I'd want to know about their sex life when I'm conducting my assessments is whether or not they are mutually satisfied because, if not, then the trouble can go into other parts of their relationship," she said.

Creegan advised anyone who feels uncomfortable with the questions being asked to raise the issue with a member of the HSE. "I would say, if you have a problem with the social worker, then say it to them first and, if you still have a problem with the way the interview is being conducted, then go to the line manager."

However, Irish couples hoping to adopt children are facing waiting lists of up to four years because of the lack of children available for adoption. Those living in the Mid-West face a longer wait due to a lack of social workers in their area, while couples living in the East face the shortest waiting times.

Last year, 253 Irish children were adopted, with 191 being adopted by family members and 62 children being adopted outside the family.

In the same year, there were also 403 Irish couples approved for foreign adoptions, with the top three most popular countries of choice being Russia, Vietnam and China.

Deegan has also warned that couples wishing to adopt abroad face a long road before they can take a child home.

"It's a terrifying journey for most couples. First of all, countries like Vietnam and Russia can be very scary when you're visiting areas that are outside the main tourist spots. But it can also an emotional roller coaster. I've seen couples before who would have flown out to collect their child on a particular day, after bringing all the baby clothes with them, only to be told when they arrive that they'll have to come back another day because the court is closed or the judge is on holidays or something like that. So you'd definitely want to be a rock-solid couple going into it because it can be a very stressful situation. The highs and lows of the whole process can be very emotional."

Ms Deegan also said that couples have to be aware of the extra nurturing which adopted children need in the years afterwards.

"It's a big thing to take a child from their own culture and bring them into your home. The child often doesn't turn out to be the 'grateful' child you've expected them to be because the most natural attachment they had in the world [with their mother] has been broken, so they need a lot of nurturing. They will have an 'attachment wound' for a long time to come that needs constant healing," she said.

Countries: Ireland

Organizations: To Russia with Love

Persons: Debbie Deegan

Minciuna "in interesul orfelinilor"

19 Oct 2006 Oana Craciun | 5 comentarii | 677 vizualizari

Rating:

7 voturi

Europarlamentarul Claire Gibault a dovedit ca nu a venit in Romania ca sa vada copiii de aici, ci ca sa prezinte la Bruxelles o imagine deformata de tara de orfani.

Countries: Romania

Persons: Claire Gibault, MEP

Organizations: Tiriac Case - Pinera Manera Case

PAS-Paper 2006: Kick-off SiG

• October 19, 2006submitted to: Members of the House of Representatives, Committee of Justice | status: submitted | draftedby: Kim Verhaaf, Marcos Lukana Champi, Milou van UdenRecommendations for Specification of Post Adoption ServiceAccording to article 9c of the “Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 for the Protection ofChildren and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption”.IntroductionSince 1991, associations of and for intercountry adoptees have beenestablished in the Netherlands and are active in the adoption field.

Countries: Netherlands

Organizations: The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and International Cooperation in respect of Intercountry Adoption

Comentariu: Europarlamentarul Claire Gibault s-a întâlnit pe furi? cu orfani din Bra?ov

O sus?in?toare a adop?iilor interna?ionale, europarlamentarul Claire Gibault, împreun? cu al?i trei oficiali francezi, a avut, mar?i, o discu?ie neoficial? cu trei orfani din Bra?ov. Delega?ia francez? nu a dorit s? salute autorit??ile locale, astfel c? nici m?car Protec?ia Copilului nu ?tia de vizit?.

Cu ajutorul unui jurnalist local, europarlamentarul a stat de vorb? cu Alexandru ?i Bogdan – fra?ii binecunoscu?i pentru un alt scandal de la Poiana Soarelui, ?i cu Kalanyos Zsigmond, un orfan neinstitu?ionalizat. La apari?ia presei locale, orfanii au fost lua?i cu ma?inile ?i du?i la un local din Ghimbav (localitate de lâng? ora?ul Bra?ov), unde s-a discutat pân? la l?sarea serii.

Europarlamentarii au sosit în România luni, pl?nuind vizite în patru ora?e din România, printre care ?i Bra?ovul. Ei au ajuns la Colegiul Tehnic „Maria Baiulescu” (fostul MIU) din Bra?ov, unde înva?? cei doi fra?i, conform spuselor lor, între orele 15.00 – 16.00. „Au venit ?i am mers împreun? într-o sal? de la etaj. Erau patru francezi, nu ?tiu cum îi cheam?, împreun? cu Cornelius Popa, jurnalist din Bra?ov. Mai târziu a venit ?i directoarea cu ei, iar apoi, când au venit ?i al?i ziari?ti din Bra?ov, a început cearta. Bogdan nu a vrut s? vorbeasc? de fa?? cu presa. Francezii au în?eles acest lucru ?i ne-au luat cu ma?inile lor, pentru a merge într-un restaurant, pe undeva dup? Bartolomeu”, a spus Alexandru. Minorul spune c? au discutat despre adop?ii. „M-au întrebat ce a? face, cum a? tr?i, dac? a? fi fost acum în America”. Alexandru a precizat c? au fost lua?i de la ?coal? din timpul orelor. Bogdan – cel care a declan?at scandalul din Complex - nu mai putea s?-?i aminteasc? dac? restaurantul era din Ghimbav sau din Bartolomeu, „nici nu mai ?in minte”, probabil pentru c? au fost „stimula?i” s?-?i ?in? gura.

Bogdan a recunoscut îns? c? ?tia de ceva timp c? europarlamentarii îi vor vizita. „?tiam de vineri sau de sâmb?t?. Nu conteaz? cine mi-a spus. Oricum ?tiu când vor mai veni”, ne-a spus misterios minorul, „renumit” alt? dat? pentru detaliile cu care-?i povestea via?a la orfelinat. La ora la care au fost contacta?i, Alexandru ?i fratele s?u se întorceau de la ?coal?. „Ne-au ?inut cam pân? la ora 19.00. Ne-au adus la ?coal? unde ne a?tepta directoarea de la Complex ?i medicul (Liliana ?âmpea ?i Paul Dandu - n.r.). Ne-a certat pentru c? am plecat ?i ne-a întrebat ce am discutat. I-am spus c? fiecare î?i urm?re?te interesele, c? Poiana Soarelui a devenit o afacere. ?tiu c? m? vor a?tepta vremuri grele acolo”, a spus tân?rul.

Persons: Claire Gibault, MEP

Organizations: Tiriac Case - Pinera Manera Case

Libera circulatie a orfanilor

18 Oct 2006 Oana Craciun | 0 comentarii | 644 vizualizari

Rating:

6 voturi

Lobby-ul europarlamentarilor pentru reluarea adoptiilor internationale foloseste ca argument libera circulatie in UE: a persoanelor, a marfurilor si, "de ce nu?", a orfanilor.

Persons: Jean-Marie Cavada, Claire Gibault, MEP

Organizations: Tiriac Case - Pinera Manera Case, European Parliament

Countries: Romania

Guangchang a couple inexplicably lost daughter

?????????????????????????????? Ganzhu town government explained: illegal adoptions has been sent to welfare welfare claims: there is no adoption records

???? ? ? ? ? ? ???? ? ??? ?Font: Big middle small ? ? into the Forum ? Dajiang Wang 2006-11-13 01:42 2006-11-13 01:42

???? Core tips

2004?4?5?????????????????????????????????????? April 5, 2004, birth of a child by Application has been willing to bamboo town of Zhu Zhongxi Village village Wei Dingguo's wife also birth to a healthy baby girl. ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? When husband and wife when their foster Yuemu Jia, Gan bamboo Guangchang Family Planning Commission and the town of family planning office staff to the illegal adoption in the name of this baby taken away, adding that the adoption has been sent to Guangchang welfare. ?????????????????????????????? But the orphanage has claimed not to receive the baby, now, just one month old baby girl will be a fascinating missing. ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? One year later, after working in the field, home of Wei Dingguo couples know their daughter was missing, after a painful torment, the couple decided to entrust lawyers Wei Dingguo no news of her daughter to seek justice.

“?????????” "Where is our daughter?"

????????????????? ? Wei Dingguo couple: her daughter was taken away just one month on

1997?12????????????????????????????????1999?12????????????????? December 1997, the town of Zhu Zhongxi Village Guangchang ganzhu villagers Wei Dingguo couple made "one-child family planning certificate", in December 1999, Yao Wei Dingguo's wife gave birth to baby girl flower pieces. 4????????????????????????????????????2004?4?5?????????????????????????????? 4 years later, Wei Dingguo application has achieved "one-child family planning, renewable license," after acquiring the Zhunsheng Zheng, April 5, 2004, in ganzhu hospitals with the help of a doctor, Yao pieces of flowers and produce Under a healthy baby girl. ????????????????????????????????????????????????? Daughter was born, shortly to be husband and wife to work outside the home of Wei Dingguo foster grandmother at home, can the couple have gone, and have not seen his daughter.

2004?5?15?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? At 3 o'clock on May 15, 2004 more Guangchang Family Planning Commission and the county town of family planning office in the Tang Guizhen ganzhu, Chung Shui wait for six to seven staff members, together with Wei's mother went to Wei Dingguo woody family, as they Cha Hukou name opens the door, the little girl to find Wei Dingguo, they asked who the child woody Wei, in reply to woody by Wei Wei Dingguo daughter said it was not later, several staff members will be taken away a little girl.

??????????????????????????????????????????????? The next morning, Wei woody find out that the family planning office and ganzhu Guangchang town family planning office staff with the baby sent to Guangchang social welfare. ????????????????????????????????????????????? In the following period of time, Wei had been to several woody Guangchang social welfare, have indeed been adopted granddaughter saw in the orphanage. ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? But after two months, when the orphanage to visit Wei woody go granddaughter, the granddaughter discovered missing, ask the orphanage staff, who said her granddaughter, the information is not recorded.

????????????????????????? The couple is also at this time Wei Dingguo foreign workers, has no knowledge of all this. ??2005?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Until the second half of 2005, when Wei Dingguo that occurred after the couple returned home this, they immediately find ganzhu town government family planning office, asking them to explain the matter, but to no avail. ??????????????????????????? Later, they found Wei Dingguo Guangchang social welfare discussing the results exactly the same.

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Much loss of the pain of Wei Dingguo women at a time to find the relevant department but without the slightest result, the decision to commission a lawyer responsible for the disappearance of their daughter, discussing the relevant departments.

???????????????????????? ? ganzhu Town Government: is taken away by welfare for illegal adoption picked up the baby

?10?11??????????????????? October 11, the reporter first came to understand the situation Guangchang ganzhu town. ??????????????????????????????????????????? Town government Du Xiaoliang press secretary had come out after hearing that he was just shortly after taking office, and on this little heard of, but not very clear. ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? In the reporter's repeated requests, the final year he called the baby taken away with the willing participation of the town mayor Fan Wuchuan Bamboo, Fan told reporters at the town received a report from the masses, said Wei woody family has a child, I do not know who, it is probably illegal adoption of children. ????????????????????2004?5?15???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? To understand the situation, the county and the town was immediately organized a staff in May 15, 2004 Wei woody arrived home early, when they found the baby, the staff also asked Wei costas this baby is not born of her daughter, But that is not woody Wei, Wei Dingguo since the baby is not, and Wei woods to the civil affairs department has no procedures for handling any of its adoption the baby illegal adoption.

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????“?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????……”??????????????????????????????? Fan Wuchuan Here, the reporter interrupted him, said Wei Dingguo lawyer from there, provided in its press materials, saw Wei woods this statement: "Finally, Tang Guizhen and a man went to the second floor , and granddaughter sleeping in my bed, asked me this is not the Yao gold flower child. I said no, then Tang Guizhen said: I do the Zhunsheng Zheng, you deceive us? So they took the baby hold go ... ... "Since the Tang Guizhen clear that the baby girl is Yao peanut pieces, and why is it taken away to? ????????????????????????????????????????????? Fan Wuchuan or stressed because of woody Wei Yao said the baby is not a peanut pieces, and they only will the baby taken away, then picked up by welfare come.

????????????????????????? ? Guangchang welfare: no one willing to take over the town of bamboo baby and no adoption records

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????2004?5?15???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? In the afternoon, this reporter went to social welfare Guangchang, the current president of Dai Welfare Institute's purpose in coming into the hearing after the next he kept denying that they adopted the daughter of Yao gold flowers, then the staff in the adoption of information presented in this abandoned baby , the reporter did not see May 15, 2004 adoption of abandoned children around the record, and willing to bamboo town mayor Fan Wuchuan has insisted, the morning is the orphanage sent a car to be picked up the baby for the problems, Dai Cheng said he was not the Dean, and Dean when they are out on extended leave, and the specific situation he is not very clear, anyway, he learned no one is willing to take over the town of bamboo baby girl. ????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Even if the orphanage to pick up really extraordinary, that the town government should also go through the procedures of welfare, the town government that they pick up extraordinary, then called the town come up with evidence.

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? In this case, the reporter then they called the Fan Wuchuan mobile phone, as reporters into the meaning of the expression of wearing out, Fan Wuchuan the phone said: I can not talk nonsense, and suddenly asked me to take evidence time in the past so long, I go pick up? ????????????????????? Fan Wuchuan hear the dialogue between reporters and wearing into immediately went out.

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Reporters with out, when a reporter asked the baby is not likely to be adopted to this problem, the one female staff member surnamed Huang, said to reporters, in fact, adoption orphanage for abandoned babies and to welfare houses Adoption abandoned babies, the state has a set of procedures.

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? The staff member also said that welfare of the child in adoption, after, in principle, two months after the baby in the provincial media, public information, within two months have not yet come to claim his parents, then welfare would the infant as an abandoned baby to deal with officially, that is publicly advertised within two months after the birth parents did not come to claim, then the welfare of the abandoned baby on the right to make to meet the conditions of the well-meaning people adopt adoption processing. ???????????????????????????? However, his daughter said Wei Dingguo welfare, they do of finding the baby's condition. ???????????????????????????????? In the end is the wrong address, or other causes Wei Dingguo daughter can not find, she was not hard to say.

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? In Guangchang welfare reporters also learned that Yao gold flower girl's mother had run off, and in institutions engaged in health staff was also seen to Wei woods several times, but that name was found in the press informed female staff, she told the press's questions noncommittal, then leave.

????????????????????? ? Civil Affairs Bureau by Application: finding out adoption records does not mean not to receive

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????5?15??????? Civil Affairs Unit is responsible for social assistance Guangchang people Weigui Ning told reporters that the Bureau of Civil Affairs Wei Dingguo long to find them, they received Wei Dingguo reflect the situation, he would send someone to check before, but did not find relevant information , information on finding out on May 15 of any record. ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? When asked Weigui Ning, Dai understanding into words Can not adopted for the welfare simply to Wei Dingguo's daughter, Wei Guining repeatedly denied a press statement, he said, is finding out Wei Dingguo only clue to his daughter, not on behalf of welfare does not receive her matter has come to this sake, there is always a solution of.

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? In the interview drew to a close, Wei Dingguo told reporters that his daughter has Guangchang petition disappearance, called the coordination of relevant departments on this matter, but the two sides did not reach an agreement regarding compensation. ??????????????????????????????????? Wei Dingguo told reporters that if the matter does not have a satisfactory result, he will resort to the law for the daughter to seek justice.

????????????????????? ? Gan Xing Law Firm: abandoned baby adopted by the department of civil affairs administration

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Jiangxi Xionghan Fu Xing counsel law firms, Wei Dingguo little girl had made "one-child family planning renewable certificate", its location shall enjoy the right of life of their parents, as a birthright. ??????????????????????????????????????????????? Guangchang relevant administrative organs and administrative chaos as staff suspected a result Wei Dingguo little girl is now missing, their right to life be questioned. ???????“??”?????????????????????????????????????? Even if the baby is "unwanted babies", adopted an abandoned baby is not widely County ganzhu town government and Jishengxitong statutory duties, but by civil affairs departments according to law.

???/????? Article, photos / reporter Wu Zhao Lei

??? Source: ???-???? Dajiang Wang - New Legal News

??? Editor: ??? Wang Shiqiang

http://www.jxnews.com.cn/jxfzb/system/2006/11/13/002372282.shtml

Countries: China

PROGETTO: " COSTRUIAMO UN PONTE" IN ETIOPIA

08/10/2006

PROGETTO: " COSTRUIAMO UN PONTE" IN ETIOPIA

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» 29/09/2006 - NOTIZIE DALLA “MISSIONE SHAMBU” DI ETIOPIA

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Countries: Ethiopia, Italy

Organizations: Amici dei Bambini

Babies in limbo

ABOUT 20 South Australian families who have been waiting up to three years to adopt Indian babies remain in limbo after an adoption agency was accused of baby trafficking.

The State Government has also said the private agency – known as Preet Mandir – asked for exorbitant "donations" of $5000 on top of the usual $5000 fees from SA couples.

The Indian Government revoked Preet Mandir's inter-country adoption licence in July, following an undercover CNN investigation where babies were sold to foreigners for $16,000.

That followed the adoption agency being investigated and cleared of tricking poor, vulnerable women into giving up children last year.

Preet Mandir has brokered around 40 babies for SA families since 2000. It is believed many would have paid the so-called $5000 donation.

Organizations: ACT CASE Preet Mandir

Countries: Australia