Help Ethiopian Adoptees with their Homeland Trips

As the founder and director of an Ethiopian Heritage Camp for adoptive families here in Oregon, I have had the honor and privilege of forming relationships with countless families and young adults who have shared their adoption stories. At the heart of all of them is a profound loss that occurred during their young lives, be it as an infant or somewhat older. While many adoptees from Ethiopia have no information that might help them connect with possible family members, a number of adoptive families have the determination, resources, and ultimately good luck to hire a finder and locate birth family.

Two of our young adult counselors have mentally and emotionally been preparing with the hopes of returning to their place of birth and young lives. They’ve been invited to travel with two other families this November to make this life wish a reality. Both were adopted at 6-7 years old and reckon with memories that run the gamut from sweet and loving to haunting and confusing. It’s vital that they reconnect and start the important task of editing their life stories to make them more complete.

Rozina ( right side of the photo) and her sister Meron were adopted to the states in 2006. Their mother had likely contracted HIV from her husband, who died from AIDS, and was desperate to give them a better chance at life. She posed as Rozina’s aunt, told a false story of the mother's death, and, heartbroken, relinquished them. Rozina has vivid memories of her life in Ethiopia and hopes to reunite with her brother and learn about her birth mother.

All donations will go directly to expenses for finder fees, flights, lodging, and translators. Thank you so much for considering playing a huge role in helping these kids complete the loop of their life stories!

Venmo: @coffeecamp

Paypal: @coffeesummercamp

Checks can be made out to:

COFFEE Camp LLC

1580 NW Albany Ave

Bend, OR 97703