Adoptive parent searching for Ethiopian family of sisters Beti and Beamlak Assefa. The girls were born in the Gursum area in Oromia in 2006 and 2007. Mother’s name is Helen / Heelan / Hilen and their father’s name is / was Ephraim. The girls were adopted in 2011 to the USA through Adoption Avenues and Biftu Orphanage.
Submitted by Adoptive Parent
Child’s Information
Gender of Child Girl / Girl Siblings
Year of child’s birth – give your best guess if you are unsure Born in 2006 and 2007
Ethiopian birth name of child Beti Assefa and Beamlak Assefa
Age of child at adoption 5 years and 4 years
Year child was adopted 2011 Year of Adoption
Give information about child’s Ethiopian family, if known. Mother’s name is Helen / Heelan / Hilen. At the time of the adoption she lived in Gursum District, East Hararghe Zone, Oromia. The mother said she had a brother which we don’t know anything about (location, profession etc). Father’s name is/was Ephraim. The father of the children is deceased according to the adoption papers and the Mother. The children were born in Gursum. They are biological siblings who were adopted together.
Additional information Several scars the Ethiopian family may recognize.
Relinquishment or Abandonment Information
Age when child entered care center or orphanage Estimated 4 years and 3 years
Year child entered a care center or orphanage 2010
To the best of your knowledge, child was Relinquished
Region of relinquishment Oromia Region
Zone of relinquishment East Hararghe – Oromia Region
Name and relationship of relinquishing adult Mother, Helen
Do you believe child(ren) were relinquished willingly? Yes
Additional Information Both Beti and her sister Beamlak were relinquished to the Biftu Children Center in Gursum, East Hararghe Zone in 2010.
Adoption Agency Information
Adoption agency through which the child was processed Adoption Avenues (USA)
List adoption agency workers with titles if known Ethiopian Lawyer for Adoption Avenues: Mr Alemu Girma Dadi; Orphanage Director: Tarikua Orega / Arega
Adoptive Country USA
Orphanage/care center #1
Orphanage or care center used in the adoption Biftu Orphanage
Orphanage or care center workers and their titles, if known General Manager of the Orphanage: Tarikua Orega / Arega
Region of orphanage or care center Oromia Region
Zone of orphanage or care center East Hararghe – Oromia Region
Additional information about this orphanage or care center We are unclear if the Biftu Orphanage had a local “branch” in Gursum Woreda or if the children went straight to Addis. We were given to understand so but the timeline does not seem to support it. All the letters written to Biftu do not state a town.
Orphanage/care center #2
Orphanage or care center used in the adoption Biftu Orphanage
Region of orphanage or care center Addis Ababa region in Ethiopia
City/Town of orphanage or care center Addis Ababa
