Building Families Through Education

Many of you ask us – “why aren’t more kids adopted from Kuda Vana?” The answer is complex. At this time, international adoption is not typically allowed, and domestic adoption has many challenges. Stereotypes, fear and deeply set cultural norms, no matter how harmful, run deep.

In Zimbabwe,  although many families adopt a child who is related to them, adopting a child who is not a part of the family is uncommon. “That kind of adoption is frowned upon by our culture”, said Stanislaus Sanyangowe, the deputy director for Child Protection Services at the Ministry in a 2019 interview.

Zimbabwe has one of the highest number of orphans per capita of any country in the world. 

Many Zimbabweans believe that bringing in an outsider breaks traditional protections afforded by ancestors and brings in “bad spirits.”

Thus, although Zimbabwe has one of the highest rates of orphans per capita of any country in the world, only 27 children were adopted domestically in the entire country, and 14 more internationally between 2015 and 2018 according to the Ministry. Further, many are overlooked or abused in the school system, which is why Kuda Vana runs its own primary school. 

Zimbabwe’s government, along with nonprofit organizations such as Kuda Vana, Hope’s Promise, Zimbabwe Without Orphans and many others are running programs to educate and support Zimbabwean families in adopting.  

Kuda Vana’s FAMily program (Foster Adopt Mentor) program is designed to match Christian families with children at Kuda Vana. The FAMily program includes a thorough interview, assessment, visitation and education process, ensuring that all will benefit from the arrangement. At present, only citizens of Zimbabwe are considered eligible for this program. Thus far, we have placed several children in successful foster care and adoptions!

If you would like to help a child at Kuda Vana find a forever home, please consider making a donation today!