Adoption Week e-Magazine Article

Gulnara Davis

A couple of months ago, I was leaving the airport of Almaty, Kazakhstan (located in Central Asia, and previously a part of the Soviet Union). On my flight back to Orlando, I met several American families returning with adopted children from Kazakhstan.

These families looked so very happy, along with being extremely exhausted. The new children were resting or sleeping, closely embraced by their new parents. They had no idea that in 20 hours they would wake up in another continent, far away from their homeland and birth mothers.

It was my good fortune to be sitting next to one of these families. We had a very enjoyable informative discussion. John and Liz were owners of a private dentist clinic in Connecticut, and had 2 grown children of their own. They had decided to adopt a girl from Kazakhstan. They explained that their own children were now basically independent, and had lives of their own. They had made this decision to adopt a child, who had a real need for the love of parents.

Their new black-haired six-month-old girl was so sweet, with sparkling eyes, sweet soft lips, and delicate well-formed fingers. I wondered how her real mother could give up such a beautiful daughter. How will her real mother feel years from now regarding the loss of this unique beautiful person? My emotions went the route of sadness, to happiness, to discouragement and to concern, all regarding this sweet child that was leaving her native country.

I continued to observe these Americans feeding the child from a small bottle, while keeping her warm and sheltered from the many airplane drafts. The other adoptive families were also attending to their children, trying to forget the many past hours and days involved with the complicated legal adoption process they had just completed.

One couple was flying with two well-behaved baby boys. They were trying to comfort these boys by holding them closely to their bodies, and giving them gentle hugs. The boys were responding with happy little toothless smiles. It was easy to see that these boys and their new parents had already established a personal loving bond.

My intent was to not disturb these people, but I was still very curious. Did this adopted baby girl really not have any relatives who might have been able to raise her? By Kazakhstan law, a family can only adopt a child if it does not have legal parents or living relatives. If there are also any other couples from Kazakhstan that have expressed a desire to adopt, then these American families would not have been considered.

In watching these new parents, I was very moved by what they were doing. They had made serious sacrifices in order to adopt these children. They came at great expense to a far distant land, to locate orphans that were housed in many diverse locations throughout Kazakhstan. To finalize the adoption, there is a nightmare of legal requests, court hearings, language translations, and many special unanticipated fees encountered at almost every level of government. One had a feeling that these people were really doing as much for these adopted children as regular parents would ever do for their own natural born children.

Many of us have regularly observed adoptions of Asian, Afro-American, Indian, or Caucasian children. In the United States, we now understand and normally respect all types of adoptions. If qualified parents have sufficient resources and interests in supporting the adoption and raising a child, then here they generally are given a chance to adopt. How wonderful that these new caring parents were willing to make such sacrifices.

During this recent trip, I also learned about some upsetting situations and practices with international adoptions in Kazakhstan. Some representatives from parliament and government, as well as journalists, have described international adoption as a “business-for-profit” that is taking genetic treasures from their country. By playing to nationalistic sentiments in the country, these individuals are trying to convince people that orphan children should stay in the country for their future labor market. By letting these adoptive children leave the country, they may also forget their native language, traditions, and lose their ancestral roots. One representative, who is popular because of his views, has stated that international adoption should be categorically stopped, and that no permission should be granted to any outside countries. He also has stressed that nobody knows what foreign parents may be doing to these children. He has raised concern about ...“who will check these children in the United States to be sure they are OK?” There is now a proposal that the government add new amendments which will make it much more difficult for foreigners to adopt children. Another new request to the Ministry of Justice is for American agencies to pay additional taxes. Many are aware of a substantial amount of money already going into the adoption process, and have the feeling that more should be paid to support additionalagencies while at the same time discouraging the international adoption process.

I was informed that several directors of orphanages, and some workers in the Education Departments who had that supported international adoptions, have been demoted or reassigned. These new discussions and proposals have interestingly surfaced just before upcoming elections! Making these changes will in effect, make it harder for these orphans to find a better future with caring families.

To be fair, there have also been many discussions in newspapers and TV, showing the international adoption process from a positive side. Information is furnished about the life of orphans, who do not get adopted, and what happens after they leave school, and move into the real world. There is a difficult and dangerous life waiting for many of them! A large percentage of non-adopted girls become prostitutes and many of the boys head into a life of crime. There are numerous employees of non profit organizations, policemen, psychologists, doctors, and others, who do support international adoption. They also feel that orphans, from any country, should not lose the chance to to become accepted members of a caring loving family, even if this may mean going to families from another country. No one should not have the right to deny any orphan a chance for a better future.

It is my hope that the adoption agendas of some nationalists will be seen for what they are. The real issue should be the welfare of orphans now being challenged by new legal and monetary requirements that are designed to keep orphans as orphans within their birth country.

It is my hope to specifically inform Kazakhstan citizens regarding this new challenges for their orphan children. Orphans that have been adopted by American parents, have many wonderful opportunities they would never have. They find good homes, good schools, loving parents, and a good chance to be successful in life. Here in the United States, children are monitored closely by the government and defended by numerous private organizations. My message to Kazakhstan and to other countries that have adoption surpluses, is that these countries should not be concerned. Allowing loving American parents to adopt homeless orphans is a win-win situation for all concerned. Orphans, regardless of nationality, can contribute in the future their positive influences that will benefit all the world. No one should have the right to deprive an orphan of the hope to be part of a family; to be loved; or to be a positive influence for all our future lives.

About the author: Gulnara Davis is a 1- year resident of Orlando. Her daughter is a student at Valencia Community College, and her husband was originally from Wisconsin. She has in Almaty, Kazakhstan, most of her life, where she spent the last 8 years working for USAID, promoting local government initiatives for Kazakhstan..