Rowan Veltman (18), or better known as 'Mats' in 'Good Times, Bad Times', would like to see an adoption storyline in the soap opera. He said this during a question round on Instagram.

Mats is a new character in the soap opera and makes a big impression as a homeless person in Meerdijk. For example, Shanti has dyed his hair, but he runs away without paying for it. He also does not pay for his meal in the café of the BOKS gym and thus manages to antagonize Rik. Yet both characters have forgiven him when they find out he is homeless. Mats currently even lives at Rik's house.

If it were up to the actor, he would soon be adopted by Shanti, he says during a Question and Answer on Instagram. "I am also adopted in real life, so it would be funny. Because then I would really just be playing my own storyline," says the actor. He believes that the role of Mats is tailor-made for him. “Mats is kind of a less expressive version of what I am.” 

He also hopes for a different storyline: "What I would find very cool to be able to put on screen is men with an eating problem. I have never seen it on TV myself." 

Rowan is no stranger to the TV world. In 2022 he will participate in  Holland's Got Talent  to put both the Frisian language and gender diversity on the map. "Gay, trans, bisexual or pan, it doesn't matter. You have to feel accepted," said Rowan during his audition, which he does in high heels. Thanks to the golden buzzer from jury member Edson da Graça, Rowan is in  the final , which he unfortunately loses to the dance group CDK JR. 

Nagpur: “Social Worker?!! Please don’t call me that – I consider ‘social work’ as minding other people’s business – that’s not my cup of tea! I run Shradhanand Anathalaya because I promised my late mother in law that I would do it.” “She passed away in 1989, I became a Trustee in 1990 but became Secretary only later – when the Orphange had really fallen into bad hands and lots of illegal things were going on. I had to set matters right.” “The Anathalaya land belongs to my (Buty) family, we built the building, so I feel a responsibility to keep it running – but I often ask in frustration ‘ couldn’t the family have started something else?”

You realize 5 minutes into the chat that Nisha does not mince words, she expresses what she feels without hesitation, but rather eloquently! She is a D Litt in English Literature after all and an Author of two books and an Academician/ Researcher to the core. Being point blank and straight forward also comes to her from being an Army child. The middle daughter of Brigadier Moghe , Nisha’s mother Vimal was a ‘princess’ of the Jamkhandi Principalty near Belgaum. Her elder sister, younger brother and she were all sent to various Boarding Schools from the age of 5 to 15. Nisha and her sister went to St. Joseph’s Convent in Panchgani. It was one of the best schools of the country at that time. Till 1948, it was run completely by English, German and French sisters but Indians took over after that. “From 48 onwards we had Goan sisters who were very into Music, Art, Sports, Gymnastics and games like Hockey. For picnics we walked from Panchgani to neighboring Hill station Mahabaleshwar and back. Discipline was everything, there was no mollycoddling.” And if you think it must have been a very luxurious life in the lap of all creature comforts think again! When Nisha joined, it was War time (second world war was on which ended only in 1949) so food was often scarce. They had to make do with what was available – it taught them to be non fussy and be thankful of what was put before them. Boarding school was also a necessity since her father was in the Army and was always getting transferred. There was no transfer allowance then and the children could often visit their parents just once a year during summer holidays – travelling by themselves and changing trains 2-3 times. Their Army dad too took them on long treks in forests and mountains on his free days – so physical fitness is something ingrained into them right from childhood

“Moping, sulking, making demands of parents… were absolutely not known to kids then! I observe it in children only now – even in the Orphanage kids.” College was partly in Loretto Calcutta and then Delhi where Nisha had to be a Home Scholar despite getting admission in Miranda House since her mark list did not arrive in time. When she got married into the Buty family of Nagpur both her husband and she were still students. He a Medical student and she English Literature. Her mother in law was fully into running of the Anathalaya. Nisha, who was busy raising her family and reading and writing her books was given just one instruction by Sasuma. “Keep this Anathalaya for orphans and destitute women going after I am gone.” Nisha first joined as a Trustee.She was at first just an observer and did not believe in rocking the boat. Also meetings were held just 3 – 4 times an year. But she could sense something was wrong – very wrong. Though lots of funds were supposed to be coming in from foreigners the children looked malnourished and had rickets. Then she heard rumours of children/ babies being sold to foreigners without proper adoption proceedings. Sumatibai Dhanwatey was the President and Mrs. Abrol was Secretary. The racket that was being run by these two finally came out in the open and created a scandal. The shit hit the fan. Yeshwantrao Chavan, who was C.M. at that time had to mediate and a High Court Committee was set up to supervise the running. Meanwhile, Basantlal Shaw, whose NECO was new to Nagpur that time and the family was “just coming up” according to Nisha, was made President. He gave donation of Rs. 5000/ for which he never got a receipt! That was the state of affairs. Finally in 1999 Nisha reluctantly took over as Secretary. “Only because I had promised to do so.” She then realized how beset with problems the Anathalaya was. Women and children did not have enough to eat. There was sickness and unhappiness all around. At the first opportunity girls tried to run away. Unwed pregnant females came in from the ages of 13 to 40 – sometime widows even.

New crimes at EU level would include forced marriage, illegal adoption and surrogacy for reproductive exploitation

Broader scope for law enforcement to dismantle criminal organisations

Penalties for companies convicted for trafficking

Ensuring victims are not prosecuted for criminal acts they were coerced into committing

On Thursday, the committees on Women’s Rights and Civil Liberties adopted a draft position on revised rules to combat human trafficking and to help its victims.

- Hey, I just want to know if you're still standing here later today.

A man's voice interrupts my thoughts while I am standing on Jagtvej in Nørrebro waiting for a colleague this Monday morning.

I look up and see a young family man with a child seat on the bike. He looks like someone on his way to work.

After a few seconds it dawns on me what he is actually asking me. And for the rare occasion I get so pissed off that I get nothing but "uh, NO!" before he cycles on in a hurry.

'Land in the wrong family'

CHILD, INTERRUPTED: INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION IN THE CONTEXT OF CANADIAN POLICY ON IMMIGRATION, MULTICULTURALISM, CITIZENSHIP, AND CHILD RIGHTS

On September 17, 2023 the New York Times published an article titled “World’s Largest ‘Baby Exporter’ Confronts Its Painful Past.'” In response, Holt President and CEO Dan Smith wrote a letter to the editor reinforcing Holt’s long-standing commitment to ethical international adoptions. Below you can read this letter as well as a description of Holt’s history and an explanation of our work on behalf of orphaned and vulnerable children around the world.

To the Editor: 

Holt International Children’s Services commends your story titled World’s Largest ‘Baby Exporter’ Confronts Its Painful Past that sheds light on past adoption practices. But it didn’t tell the whole story. 

Holt International Children’s Services, an accredited child placement agency, has advocated for 65 years for stronger and standardized adoption practices worldwide, which led to U.S. adoption in 2008 of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption to ensure the interest of children is given priority. 

Holt has a longstanding commitment to ethical standards that emphasize family-strengthening services that result in children remaining with their birth families. For children without the option of remaining with a birth family, we advocate domestic adoption so children grow and thrive in the culture of their birth. 

The National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has apprehended the founder of Arrows of God Community Children’s Home, Anambra State, Rev. D.C. Ogo, for illegal child adoption.

A statement on Wednesday issued by Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, the media aide to the Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, said the ministry handed over Ogo to officials of NAPTIP, two months after busting the “baby factory”.

The activities of the orphanage home were busted in August 2023, by security operatives led by the ministry, following a report by an investigative journalist, ‘Fisayo Soyombo, which uncovered some illegal activities of the facility.

The report which made the rounds on social media and local television stations alleged that the state Ministry of Women and Social Welfare was involved in an illegal adoption of a baby girl alongside one of her registered homes in the state.

Following the development, the orphanage home was sealed and 20 children including a newborn baby, recovered.

Kenya's government will abolish all privately owned orphanages and children's homes within the next eight years, a government minister has said.

Minister of Social Protection Florence Bore said their closure was aimed at ending child trafficking.

She said the children would be placed in family and community care, which offered a better environment for them.

A 2017 UN children's agency report estimated that 40,000 children lived in 811 registered institutions in Kenya.

Data on the number of children in unregistered institutions is unavailable.

When Surat resident Arun Kumar Nikam was not selling vegetables in his teens or early youth, he spent his time writing and crooning songs. The veggie vendor who set up a stall in Surat's vegetable market, has released a Hindi song dedicated to girl child adoption, online. The song, called ‘O Papa' was released online on October 3 and is available on YouTube.

The song

Said Nikam, 36, of his song, "I work as a vegetable seller, but my passion is writing. I have written the lyrics for several songs, and the latest is for the cause of adoption of girls. I think this is truly worthy, giving a little girl a home, and the joy of having parents, a family." Nikam said, "Statistics show that of 11 million abandoned children in India, 90 per cent are girls. When I heard this, I wanted to make a difference. This song: ‘O Papa' are my feelings in melodious form, as music has no borders."

Arun Kumar Nikam selling veggies in Surat

Some of the lyrics of the song go: ‘What is our relationship, I do not know…you called me papa and I was moved, yet bewildered…" The video features a young man, rescuing an abandoned female infant from a stationary rickshaw one monsoon night and handing her over to a home for adoption. She is now a little girl, and he visits her occasionally, sponsors her and when he arrives at the home, she runs to him and calls him: papa'.

New crimes at EU level would include forced marriage, illegal adoption and surrogacy for reproductive exploitation

Broader scope for law enforcement to dismantle criminal organisations

Penalties for companies convicted for trafficking

Ensuring victims are not prosecuted for criminal acts they were coerced into committing

On Thursday, the committees on Women’s Rights and Civil Liberties adopted a draft position on revised rules to combat human trafficking and to help its victims.