Deciding which country to adopt from is a huge decision. Families usually spend time wrestling with which country program is the best for them before making their final decision. They weigh stability, predictability, need, eligibility requirements, desires and travel throughout this decision making process. Many families are initially drawn to the need for international adoption from Africa, but the unstable political climate of some African countries is a risk some may consider to be too high. MLJ Adoptions’ Burkina Faso adoption program gives families a Hague Convention country option while still allowing them to meet the critical need for adoption from Africa. Here are four reasons to consider adopting from Burkina Faso:

Critical Need for Adoption from Africa

I recently traveled to Africa . I’ve now been in orphanages in several different countries on three different continents, but visiting with children in need of families in Africa was a unique experience. No child is more or less worthy of a family; each family who seeks to adopt is meeting the needs of one child who would otherwise not grow up in a loving, permanent home. But children in Africa are exposed to poverty, malaria, malnutrition, and other diseases at a higher rate than in other countries. Medical care is not as easily accessible in Burkina Faso as it may be in another country. There is great need, and a unique need for international adoption from Africa. Families interested in adopting from Burkina Faso can help meet this need.

Children of All Ages Need Families

Families who decide to adopt internationally make the decision for various reasons. Depending on their reasoning, that can impact the age of the child they are hoping to adopt. Countries with children in need of families also make decisions regarding adoption, including what aged children should be legally free for adoption. This decision is usually impacted by the availability of families for children domestically and if a foster care system exists. In Burkina Faso, there are children of all ages in need of families, including children under the age of three years old. For families interested in pursuing the adoption of a child with special needs, including HIV, hepatitis, or sickle cell anemia, they may see shorter wait times.

Hague Convention Country Option

The Hague Convention requires that countries who have ratified the treaty complete adoptions with the highest commitment to ethical practices and transparency. When countries ratify the Hague Convention, they must elaborate on how their practices enable adoptions to be done in the best interest of the child. The process to become a Hague Convention country is not simple or easy; it requires training of governmental officials, oversight of orphanages, and implementation of systems that allow for the documentation required to issue referrals. Being party to the Hague Convention reduces the risk of reactionary behavior that we may see in a non-Hague Convention country. It is not uncommon to see unrest in African countries due to corruption or lack of infrastructure, but being part of the Hague Convention helps to limit the risk that unrest could affect the processing of adoptions, or cause a sudden change in adoption procedures. Having safeguards in a country where corruption and political unrest can happen is a benefit, and a reason why families should consider adopting from Burkina Faso.

History of Adoption to European Countries

Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo have become common places for families to adopt from, if they are interested in adopting from Africa. But don’t let a lesser-known country scare your family away from considering Burkina Faso as a good fit for your family. Since Burkina Faso joined the Hague Convention in 2008, the central authority has been processing adoptions for European families. While our adoption program may still be a pilot program, Burkina Faso has successfully processed adoptions for almost a decade so hundreds of children could be placed in forever families.

Photo Credit: SIM USA