CHICAGO: Sangeeta and Rajesh, a Guajarati Indian couple, had everything here in Michigan, USA that one can aspire for a good life – a lucrative job, a house and very comfortable life. But one fine day they decided after ruminating a lot to give that up to go back to India to look after their aging parents , to have their kids raised in THE right type of cultural environment and give back to the community through immersing in socially beneficial projects

That was way back in 1992 after twelve years of being here and they do not regret that decision even now. Rajesh was a qualified engineer and also held an MBA degree from an American University. Sangeeta was a housewife with an avid desire to help others She is busy now forging a link between new born babies and the families worldwide looking for adopting a child Both have conducted medical camps, science fairs, helping needy women or disabled- orphan kids. The family had a charitable trust, Shri Tokershi Velji Gala Manav Rahat Nidhi Trust. And that proved a good vehicle to start with.

Over a period of time, Sangeeta realized that the area that needs more attention relates to the new-born babies. Speaking to India Post, she observed: “Foster parents form an integral part of the adoption process and they are the first family for the child that is awaiting adoption. The little one needs lots of love, care and affection. Studies suggest this is quintessential for the child’s holistic development. It also provides an easy transition for the child from the foster family into the adoptive family.”

That was the field that she got attracted to and has been working for the past many years. It amounts essentially to fostering newborns for a while till they get the right type of family for adoption. There are a large number of couples in India and abroad who for one or the other reason, are looking for babes for adoption and it is not easy for them to get the right ones. Activists like Sangeeta are a useful link acting as short-term parents for new-borns before they get the right home for their life long journey

Sangeeta says there are only a few centers in Mumbai which get new-born babies – either from single women, or economically stressed out families or abandoned ones or babies with nobody to look after them. These centers look out for socially conscious persons like Sangeeta who take charge of the babies and then find really deserving families who could adopt them.

It's a sad reality that more than half the children awaiting adoption in India are those in the special needs category.

Adoption remains an almost taboo subject in most of the country, and adopting a child with special needs more so. But there are those who breaking this stereotype and doing their bit to spread awareness on the subject.

Like this Mumbai couple who adopted a baby girl with Down Syndrome.

In a moving post shared by the Humans of Bombay, Kavita and Huimanshu spoke about the moment they decided to adopt a child.

It was in May 2017 that they brought Veda home and their life turned around.

22 Flemish babies were given up for adoption last year

In 2018, 22 children in Flanders were ceded for adoption and adopted by other Flemish families. This is according to figures from Adoptiehuis, which mediates in all Flemish inland adoptions. Two of the children came from the foundling slider. In two cases, the mother finally returned to her steps. Het Nieuwsblad and Het Belang van Limburg report this today.

Adoptiehuis guides women who become unwantedly pregnant and seek a solution for their unborn baby. Last year, 73 women approached the organization. Seventeen of them decided after supervision and consultation to give their child up for adoption. The majority of the women had Belgian nationality, and for the majority it was a first pregnancy.

Of the 56 other women, the majority decided to keep the child, or they found a different solution. "We are not looking for adoptions," explains director Iris Vandeborre. “We are trying to find a solution. Adoption is the last link in youth care. In addition, Adoptiehuis was only called in by the hospital for five other children on the day of birth.

Two mothers eventually returned to their steps within two months - the legal reflection time.

Adoption children who ring the bell remain awkward when investigating fraud

After testimonies about fraud with adoptions from Ethiopia, Minister of Welfare Jo Vandeurzen (CD&V) promises an investigation. Adinda Aelvoet and Priyani Libert are left with a wry feeling. "Because they are almost elections, our politicians are now in motion. When we came out with our adoption story a year and a half ago, nothing happened. "

In recent days, fifteen more testimonials have been received from the newspaper about suspected adoption fraud. Spin in the web is the adoption agency Ray of Hope (RoH), which cooperated from 1997 to 2017 with a completely unreliable Ethiopian contact person according to the testimonials.

Flemish Parliament member Lorin Parys (N-VA) wants an extra session of the Flemish Parliament before the elections about possible fraudulent adoptions. He argues for a "thorough and independent investigation". Flemish Minister for Welfare Jo Vandeurzen is also in favor of such an investigation into past adoption practices.

BABY FARMS IN SRI LANKA

Jaak Albert was abducted from Rwanda and grew up in Belgium without identity

Jaak Albert is 66 years old, father of three children and grandfather of five grandchildren. After his military service, he became the first black police officer at the Antwerp police, where he worked up as an inspector and retired in 2012. That is the success story of his life, but also a very incomplete summary. "I have always felt like a third-class citizen."

Albert is also the man without a birth certificate, who has a family name made up by a nun and who, although his father was a Belgian, had to apply for citizenship himself and had to wait four years. Someone who has spent more time in the Belgian administrative maze than is good for a person.

When Albert wanted to marry his current wife in 2006, he first had to go to court with two witnesses to declare that he was born in Rwanda. That was not the first time, and again he had to wait months and months for a decision. “Until the end of July it was unclear whether our wedding could take place on 5 August. For my wife that was nerve-racking. ”

Albert, living in Kasterlee near Turnhout, is a "metis": the son of a white, Belgian colonial and a black woman. He was born in 1952 in Gisenyi, Rwanda, then a "mandate region" of Belgium. Children from mixed relationships were seen by the colonial government in the 1940s and 1950s as a threat to the colonial system. In many cases they were taken away from their mother and brought up in Catholic boarding schools.

New testimonials about fraud in adoption from Ethiopia

New testimonials have appeared about fraud in adoptions from Ethiopia. The adoption of the 936 Ethiopian children who came to Flanders between 1997 and 2017 may have made mistakes, as was shown last weekend by a testimony from a 17-year-old girl from Denderleeuw in Het Laatste Nieuws. The newspaper has now received 15 new testimonials. VRT NWS is looking for parents and children who may be the victims of adoption fraud.

After the story of last weekend, 15 testimonials were received from Het Laatste Nieuws of adoptions from Ethiopia that were cheated on. In adoptions, for example, biological parents were wrongly declared dead and children had to present themselves as siblings while they were not even blood relatives. Children also had to lie about their age.

The adoptions took place between 1997 and 2017 and almost all were handled by the same adoption agency, Ray of Hope. They were all treated on the spot by one and the same contact person, as is usually the case.

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Amy was adopted in a late age from Ethiopia to Denmark. Donations must secure her a new home and help her get started with her studies.

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Vandeurzen: "Anyone with doubts about adoption file can have it investigated"

'Anyone with questions or doubts about his file or adoption procedure can go to the adoption service or to the Flemish Center for Adoption (VCA). They can provide insight into the file and together with the adopted persons or the adoptive parents view if and how there can be more clarity. If necessary, an on-site investigation can provide a definitive answer '. That is what Flemish Minister for Welfare Jo Vandeurzen (CD&V) says

Between 1997 and 2017, Ethiopia was by far the most popular adoptive country for Flanders. A total of 936 children came here. The question is whether that always happened correctly. Last weekend, a 17-year-old girl from Denderleeuw revealed how her file was lied to from beginning to end. The Flemish government does not exclude that there are still victims. "It is very difficult to give that guarantee," says Het Laatste Nieuws. Flemish Minister for Welfare Jo Vandeurzen "understands that the article raises many questions among adoptive parents and adopted children and that this causes concern." The CD&V minister also says that people can turn to the relevant adoption service or the Flemish Center for Adoption (VCA) if they have questions or doubts. "In recent years, we have been confronted with stories that show that adoptions have not been successful in all cases in the past," Vandeurzen acknowledges. The rules are stricter, but intercountry adoption is 'put in a negative light'. "Consequently, many adopted people ask themselves about their origin," it sounds.

According to Vandeurzen, the problem certainly does not only concern Flanders. Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden, for example, have already decided to look at adoption practices from the past. 'Such an investigation is, for the time being, the only possibility of gaining more insight into where it went wrong in the past. We also take this concern to heart and look at how we can bring more clarity about adoption practices from the past, "concludes the CD&V minister.

Dutch:

Vandeurzen: 'Wie twijfels heeft over adoptiedossier, kan dat laten onderzoeken'

29/04/19 om 19:46

Bijgewerkt om 19:46

Bron : Belga

'Wie vragen of twijfels heeft over zijn dossier of adoptieprocedure kan terecht bij de adoptiedienst of bij het Vlaams Centrum voor Adoptie (VCA). Zij kunnen inzage geven in het dossier en samen met de geadopteerden of de adoptieouders bekijken of en op welke manier er meer duidelijkheid kan komen. Indien nodig kan een onderzoek ter plaatse uitsluitsel bieden'. Dat zegt Vlaams minister van Welzijn Jo Vandeurzen (CD&V)