Kolfe, Kebetsehay, and Kechene

On Friday we got to visit the three government orphanages in Addis.
Jen met the in country rep for Gladney, which is an adoption agency
based in Ft. Worth, Texas, when she was at the airport and he took us.
He takes each group of adoptive parents when they come to pick up
their children at the Gladney Foster Care centers. Kolfe is for older boys, most of whom are past the age for adoption. No other agency takes their adoptive families to visit because it is not possible to adopt these boys. They are from about 14-21. They can stay there as long as they are in school. Gladney has set up a scholarship program and for about $600 US, it pays for school, books and transportation. It is very bleak there. There are not even tables and chairs in the cafeteria. There is a small garden, some chickens, the hope was that the boys could help support themselves. Travis told us a story about two friends who got in a fight and one boy got killed
with a metal pipe, but it was simply because they are a bunch of
teenage boys with little direction and just one director and some
kitchen staff. Next we went to Kebetsehay, which is for younger boys and girls. It appeared to be rather run down and there were so many children.
Probably double the amount of kids per room as AHOPE. The baby room
was meant to pull heartstrings. There were about 25 babies in the
room, some crying, some silent, some holding out their arms. I held
one little girl who was sturdy and smiled, but when I had to leave,
she was so sad. The older kids all yelled for their pictures to be taken. You have to wonder if they know that is the way to have someone know about them for adoption. Finally we went to Kechene which is mostly for older girls but there are also some babies. It is an old orphanage for the Deaf building and the girls keep their rooms nice. It is pretty bare in the common areas, but on a pretty piece of land with trees and woods.
Travis says most of the babies will find homes, with the exception of
the those with special needs, but beyond age 4 is pretty slim.
It was a rough day but I'm glad I went.