Ethiopian adoptee searching for Ethiopian family. Bekelech / Bekelu (name may have been given by orphanage) was born in 1999 in the outskirts of Addis Abeba. Her mother died in childbirth when she was around 5 years old. She remembers having a younger brother and an older brother who may be 5+ years older and named Teka or Tamrat. She remembers being in more then one orphanage including one called Atetegeb Worku which was closed due to bad conditions and Missionaries of Charity. She was adopted to Spain in 2004 through Associació Iniciativa Pro Infància (IPI).
Submitted by Adoptee
Child’s Information
Gender of Child Girl
Ethnicity of Child Oromo
Additional information about child’s ethnicity I think, I was born in the outskirts of Addis Abeba. Perhaps, in the southeast of Oromia region.
Year of child’s birth 1999
Name of child at the time of adoption Bekelech ( written in the passport), I think this name was giving by the orphanage. Bekelu
Ethiopian birth name of child My older brother and my mum used to call me little. I think, it was in Oromia.
Age of child at adoption 5 years
Year child was adopted 2004
Give information about child’s Ethiopian family, if known. We used to live in the outskirts of Addis Abeba. We used two houses. One in front of the other one. My mom used to wear hijab, but I am not sure if my parents were Muslims, Christian Orthodox or a mix. Mother died in child birth along with the child. My older brother’s name is Teka or Tamrat. Currently, I am 19 turning 20 soon. Therefore, my older brother might be 5 or more than five years older than me. Perhaps, he was with me in the first illegal orphanage that was shut down due to the bad conditions. I also had a younger brother. I think, our father stopped looking after us when my mother died.
Additional information I have a bite of a hyenna en my right toe. Additionally, I have a birthmark at my back.
Relinquishment or Abandonment Information
Age when child entered care center or orphanage 5 years
Year child entered a care center or orphanage 2004
Region of origin Oromia Region
Zone of origin UNKNOWN zone
City/town of origin UNKNOWN city or town
Give information about how the child became available for adoption My birth mum died while giving birth one my siblings. We are in total four. I think one died while our mum was giving birth to him/her. Additionally, we were facing economic difficulties.
Adoption Agency Information
Adoption agency through which the child was processed Associació Iniciativa Pro Infància (IPI) (Spain)
List adoption agency workers with titles if known The director of this adoption agency is Santi.
Adoptive Country Spain
Additional information regarding adoption agency and/or country of adoption The full name of the adoption agency ( written as it is on my documents ): Atetegeb Worku Metaseba Welage Aleba Hitsanat Mergu Maheber. I joined this orphanage on June 29th, 1996 E.C. I guess, E.C stands for Ethiopian calendar.
Orphanage/care center #1
Orphanage or care center used in the adoption Atetegeb or Atetegeb Worku
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 Orphanage It was shut down due to the children’s bad condition.
Orphanage/care center #2
Orphanage or care center used in the adoption Missionaries of Charity
Region of orphanage or care center UNKNOWN region in Ethiopia
Zone of orphanage or care center UNKNOWN zone
City/Town of orphanage or care center UNKNOWN city or town
Additional information that could be useful to the case I remember that I have been in more than one orphanage.