[natascha]

Hello,
let me first introduce myself. i'm Natascha , i'm Dutch and i'm living in the Netherlands, Holland. (english is not my nature language so i hope you'll understand me)
i registered on this forum because i've heared that before the adoptions in lesotho were halted in june 2007, there was a adoption contact between the USA and lesotho. In Holland the adoptions from Lesotho started in 2006. the first children came from Beatiful gate in maseru. i believe the first childrenadopted bij American parents, also. we've sent our documents to lesotho in nov 2006. very happy and excited we were when the phone rang in may 2007 and the dutch adoption organisation told us that we had a son. a little boy, born the 20 of january 2003. at that time he was 4 years and 3 months old. he's not living in beautiful gate but staying in the phelisanong community project,what appears to be near Pitseng. we were told that we were going to travel injuly or august 2007.
sadly for us, and for our little boy, in june 2007 all adoptions were halted,including the procedures already started like ours.

during this long time waiting, not knowing if lesotho would decide to restart the procedures, i've searched a lot on the internet. and made contact with foreigners living and working in lesotho.

one of the things i found out was that at the time that we've heared from our son, at the same time about 11 american opples hearedfrom their children and also about 6 canadian copples.these doucments were all laying at the social welfare in lesotho but until now never these children went to their parents.

on the 4 of december lesotho decidedto open the adoptions again. since then we haven't heared anything any more form the adoptionagency. butas you understand we are very anxious tomeet our son, who in the meantime is 6 years old.

together with us there are other dutch coppleswaiting forthere children also aslong as we do, but also there are in canada andin the usa parents waiting as long as us.

now lesotho is restarting slowly.
i've heared that right know there are probably canadian parents in lesotho to meet there child and bring him home. also i've heared that local adoption , by lesotho people but also by foreigners living there(what also was halted) has started already.

it's not easy to find out things aboutthe adoption and how it's now going further.
what i would like very much is getting in contact with american or canadian adoptive parents, who just like us already heared about there children in 2007 but were not alowed to travel there.
or maybe some one hear knows where i can finf more information.

it's also nice to have more information because maybe, who knows, our kids (to be) are from the same orphanage and know each other but finallywill grow up in holland, usa and canada.

we'll i hope someone over here knows anything.

thanx and everybody here who still is waiting for their kids, wish you all the best!!

natascha

[sak9645]

The latest State Department update I've seen thus far is only the following:


April 16, 2008

Adoption Suspension
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) of the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho suspended the adoption of Basotho children by foreigners effective June 8, 2007. The Government’s “Commission of Inquiry” (COI), established after the suspension to study allegations of abuse of adopted Basotho children, began its work in January 2008. The COI is reviewing cases of children who were previously adopted. According to MOHSW officials, the COI plans to submit a final report to the Government Cabinet by early May 2008.

Subsequent to the adoption suspension, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare decided to allow Basotho courts to issue foster care orders, which basically grant guardianship to prospective adoptive parents. The target audience for the foster care option is foreigners with long-term residence in Lesotho who seek to adopt a Basotho child.

The U.S. Embassy in Lesotho and the Office of Children’s Issues will continue to monitor the situation and will provide further information as it becomes available.

[2moretocome]

We are in Canada and have been waiting for a proposal from Lesotho since Dec. 2006.
Yes, adoptions have restarted. The USA government website has been updated as of February 12, 2009 reflecting this. The USA will have one agency working with Lesotho as will Canada.
As far as I know, there are families in country right now that had accepted proposals prior to the closure and going through the court process. I wish you travel very soon to finally meet your child!

[Elizabeth101]

Can you let me know what agency is working in Lesotho, good or bad information, thanks, Elizabeth

[2moretocome]

As far as I know Elizabeth, the government is currently reviewing the 4 countries and confirming agencies..adoptions aren't actively moving right at this time

[Elizabeth101]

OK, thanks, does anyone know when a decision will be made to as to the agencies, AFAA told me that they are working in Lesotho now, could that be possible? Does anyone have any infor good or bad about AFAA, Thanks, Elizabeth

[2moretocome]

It could be possible, they were named as the "official" agency for the US in Feb., but as far as I know with the review going on right now no referrals are being given to any agencies. It could be days or months, unfortunately that is how it works in Africa...

[Elizabeth101]

HOw do you think oe could find out when referrals will be coming, Thanks

Elizabeth