Adoptee searching for Ethiopian family. Girl born in 1993 in Jimma, birth name Wolansa / Wolanza Balcha. Wolansa’s parents were reported to be working and living at the home of a Aster W. in unknown capacities. After they were reported to have died, Aster relinquished Wolansa to the authorities in Jimma. She was then transferred to Addis Ababa in to the care of Selam Children’s Village. Wolansa was adopted to the USA directly from the orphanage in 1993 without an agency as her adoptive parents were living in Ethiopia at the time.
Submitted by Adoptee
Child’s Information
Gender of Child Girl
Year of child’s birth 1993
Ethiopian birth name of child Wolansa Balcha, Wolanza, Welansa
Age of child at adoption 0-12 months
Year child was adopted 1993
Give information about child’s Ethiopian family, if known. Welansa Bulcha’s parents were both working in Jimma for an individual named Aster W. in unknown capacities and were living there with Welansa when according to reports they both dead.
Relinquishment or Abandonment Information
Age when child entered care center or orphanage 0-12 months
Year child entered a care center or orphanage 1993
To the best of your knowledge, child was Relinquished
Region of relinquishment Oromia Region
Zone of relinquishment Jimma – Oromia Region
City/town of relinquishment Jimma
Name and relationship of relinquishing adult w/o Aster W. who was reported to be her parents’ employer.
Do you believe child(ren) were relinquished willingly? Yes
Additional information Welansa was taken from Jimma to Addis Ababa where she was placed in the care of Selam Children’s Village. Paperwork indicates that by June 12, 1993, she was in the care of Selam Children’s Village.
Adoption Agency Information
Adoption agency through which the child was processed UNKNOWN Adoption Agency
List adoption agency workers with titles if known Ms. Sahay the founder of Selam Children’s Village. At the time the adoptive family was residing in Ethiopia and did not go through an agency. They found out about the infant via Ruth Meakins.
Adoptive Country USA
Additional information regarding adoption agency and/or country of adoption December 31, 1993 she was adopted by an American couple. Her adopted family spent some time in Jimma in 1998 for 2-3 months at the Kale Hewot Compound before being medically evacuated. The adoptive family did the adoption paperwork themselves and did not go through an agency because they were residing in Ethiopia at the time.
Orphanage/care center #1
Orphanage or care center used in the adoption Selam Children’s Village
Orphanage or care center workers and their titles Sahay Roeschli- founder of Selam
Region of orphanage or care center Addis Ababa Region
Zone of orphanage or care center Addis Ababa – Addis Ababa Region
City/Town of orphanage or care center Addis Ababa
Additional information about this orphanage or care center They no longer do adoptions, but still take care of OVCs
