Adoptee Kelemework Workeneh is searching for her twin sister born in 1995. Her birth name was Achamyelesh Workeneh but at the time of adoption it might have been listed as Achamyelesh Kebebe tsehai / Kebebetsehai. The twins were born in Addis Ababa to Buzenesh Tadele (mother) and Workeneh Yemane (father). Workeneh relinquished the twins as infants after the death of their mother. They have an older sister Zemedinesh Workeneh. Kelemework’s adoptive parents were initially told that Achamyelesh had died but they later learned that this was not the case. It is believed Achamyelesh was adopted in 1996 around the age of one. Her adoptive parents may or may not have been told she was a twin or may have been told the twin died. She might have been adopted through Stichting Afrika to the Netherlands as her twin was or she could have been adopted to any other country.
Submitted by Adoptee
Child’s Information
Gender of Child Girl
Ethnicity of Child Amhara
Additional information about child’s ethnicity Probably half Oromo Half Amhara
Year of child’s birth 1995
Name of child at the time of adoption Achamyelesh Kebebe tsehai
Ethiopian birth name of child Achamyelesh Workeneh
Age of child at adoption 1 years
Year child was adopted 1996
Give information about child’s Ethiopian family, if known. Achamyelesh and Kelemework have an older biological sister named Zemedinesh Workeneh who is now 28 years old. Their biologic mother’s name was Buzenesh Tadele and biological father’s name was Workeneh Yemane. Both Ethiopian parents have died.
Relinquishment or Abandonment Information
Age when child entered care center or orphanage 0-12 months
Year child entered a care center or orphanage 1995
To the best of your knowledge, child was Relinquished
Region of relinquishment Amhara Region
Zone of relinquishment Addis Ababa zone
City/town of relinquishment Addis Ababa
Name and relationship of relinquishing adult Workeneh Yemane who was their Father. He couldn’t take care of them after the death of their mother.
Do you believe child(ren) were relinquished willingly? Yes
Adoption Agency Information
Adoption agency through which the child was processed UNKNOWN Adoption Agency
List adoption agency workers with titles if known Stichting Afrika was the agency for Kelemework’s adoption. Kelemework ‘s adoptive parents were assisted by Alemu Tadesse and Getachew Shiferaw/ee. Getachew also signed the court decision in January.
Adoptive Country UNKNOWN receiving country
Additional information regarding adoption agency and/or country of adoption Kelemework’s adoptive parents confronted the manager of Kebebe Tsehai and Getachew about the “death” of Achamyelesh. A video recording of the Amharic conversation between the Manager and Getachew relieved that they were faking the death of Achamyelesh.
Orphanage/care center #1
Orphanage or care center used in the adoption Kebebe Tsehay
Orphanage or care center workers and their titles, Fanaye, a nurse
Region of orphanage or care center Addis Ababa Region
Zone of orphanage or care center Addis Ababa zone
City/Town of orphanage or care center Addis Ababa
