Adoptee searching for Ethiopian Family. Girl born in 1986, possibly Oromo or Amhara, named Tewabech Mengistu. She was found near a church in Jimma at approximately 18 months old. She was adopted in 1990 at the age of 4 to the Netherlands through Wereldkinderen/NICWO via Jimma City Council or Jimma City Community Association Charity and foster care.
Submitted by Adoptee searching for Ethiopian Family
Child’s Information
Gender of Child Girl
Ethnicity of Child Oromo
Additional information about child’s ethnicity Possibly Oromo or Amhara.
Year of child’s birth Born in 1986
Name of child at the time of adoption Tewabech Mengistu (Nickname Tewabu)
Ethiopian birth name of child Tewabech Mengistu (Nickname Tewabu)
Age of child at adoption 4 years
Year child was adopted 1990 Year of Adoption
Give information about child’s Ethiopian family, if known According to adoption paperwork, Tewabech was born in Jimma in the province or zone of Illubabor. She was found near a church in Jimma (name unknown) and stayed in the Orphanage, which has different names: Jimma City Council or Jimma City Community Association Charity Organization. On November 5th in 1989 child was brought to Addis Abeba and stayed with a foster family, Ethiopian woman named Leekie or Likkié was caretaker. For a short period of time child also stayed with a Dutch woman Diet J. In total, child stayed for about 3 months in Addis before she was adopted, on February 11th in 1990, to the Netherlands.
Additional information
Tewabech has a red birthmark on left leg close to knee and a birthmark on the back of right ankle.
Relinquishment or Abandonment Information
Age when child entered care center or orphanage 2 years
Year child entered a care center or orphanage 1988
To the best of your knowledge, child was Abandoned
Region child(ren) found Oromia Region
Zone child(ren) found Jimma – Oromia Region
City/town child(ren) found Jimma
Details of child(ren)’s abandonment Found near a church in Jimma. The name of the church is unknown. Child was approximately 18 months old.
Police officer involved with the case Unknown
Adoption Agency Information
Adoption agency through which the child was processed IN ETHIOPIA Wereldkinderen/NICWO (Netherlands)
List adoption agency workers with titles if known Wereldkinderen: intermediator/Attorney of the adopting parents: Marianne R and Director Wereldkinderen: Dhr. A.F.C.J. Hendriks. Names that are listed on adoption paperwork include those from Court Addis Abeba (Ras Mekonnen street) – Hanna H.; Head of Social Development department: Mengesha H; Function unknown Hanna Belay
Adoptive Country Netherlands
Orphanage/care center #1
Orphanage or care center used in the adoption Jimma City Council or Jimma City Community Association Charity
Region of orphanage or care center Oromia Region
Zone of orphanage or care center Jimma – Oromia Region
City/Town of orphanage or care center Jimma
Additional information that could be useful to the case In the period that Tewabech stayed in Addis Abeba she also reports she stayed in a house near Old Airport. It could be that she stayed with a woman called Huvet T.
