The family
We are already more than 6 months back in Malawi and it feels like home again. Where the girls follow the local language 10 months had not mastered the Netherlands well, most conversations with friends are currently being held in Chichewa. Teleza also answers most questions in the local language, but fortunately still understands Dutch and English. Her health is good and she hasn't been sick much lately. She once had malaria but was quickly over it with the right medication. She often catches a cold easily, but luckily she gets over it herself. A new problem are her teeth, due to the many vomiting over a long period her teeth are affected. Her front tooth has crumbled and other teeth seem to follow soon. Fortunately, it's her milk teeth and they come naturally, in a few years, new again. Diana and Maria currently have 2 weeks of vacation and it's great not to wake up every morning 5 hours to prepare packed lunches. The girls play outside a lot and are always looking for monkeys that often come into our garden for the corn, which is almost ready to be harvested, to eat. Diana in particular feels more at home in Malawi than in the Netherlands. The culture, the food, the temperature and the people here give her a sense of security and confidence. Maria is easier and misses the Netherlands from time to time, but it is also very nice to be back in Malawi. Both girls are very happy at school and enjoy all the children's parties and activities that are organized at school such as swimming and dancing. After the holidays, they will start their third term of this school year that will end in mid-June, then the school year is over. We hope to come to the Netherlands at the end of June. Teleza has its annual check-up in the hospital in Leiden on 29 juni. We hope all is well and that she will not have to undergo surgery for the time being. The girls are really looking forward to coming back to the Netherlands!
Adoptions
The Afriana house has an average of between 15 in 20 children. When a mother dies, the family is offered help with baby milk and other basic necessities usually up to the age of 3 year. The goal is always to have the orphaned child stay with the existing biological family first. In many cases, this also works when the grandmother is still young and healthy and when the baby has no diseases. When the grandmother or family indicates that they cannot take care of the baby, the next step is to offer the orphaned child a place in the Afriana house for 2 year. The first 2 years are often difficult in the village because there is no electricity and running water. Hygiene is usually poor, which makes the child quickly ill. In addition, a mother often leaves several children behind and it is difficult for the grandmother to feed all the extra mouths. The third step is to bring the orphaned child to the Afriana house and put it up for adoption. It sometimes happens that the orphan's grandmother has already died and that there are no aunts. In this culture, the father and uncles never take care of the orphaned child and therefore sometimes there is simply no one in the family who can take care of the orphaned child.. Another reason is traditional beliefs. The people/family sometimes believe that the child is bewitched and therefore not welcome in the village. Another reason may be the number of children. Sometimes a mother is late 7 of 8 children behind. These are often divided among the aunt(s) and grandma. The aunt(s) often have children of their own and another baby is just too much. When the family indicates that the orphaned child can go for adoption, I inform Youth Care in Malawi and they will pick it up from there. It is important that the decision is always made with and by the biological family. We give them the options but leave the choice to them. We are here to help and assist the families, not to take children away from their biological family for adoption. Every choice is difficult and has pros and cons. But I am convinced that a
orphan is in the best place with his or her biological family when possible.
