Jessica and Adam Davis from Ohio embarked on a mission to expand their family by adopting a child in need, making it their fifth. After some research, they discovered that Uganda has a significant rate of orphaned children. With this in mind, they contacted an Ohio-based adoption agency, EAConsultants, and began what would become a nearly $60,000 journey.
Meeting Their New Girl
After a year of filling out forms and enduring a long wait, they finally met Namata, who they affectionately called Mata. Her records indicated she had suffered neglect and starvation under her mother’s care and had never attended school. Additionally, her father had passed away. It seemed, at first, like the Davis family was rescuing a destitute orphan. Yet, they soon felt something was amiss, and eventually, their intuition proved right.
Puzzle Pieces Come Together
Mata’s rapid acquisition of English, an unlikely feat for someone who had never been to school, was the initial clue that something was off. Once she knew enough English, Mata began sharing her story, recounting fond memories of her biological mother. She talked about cooking together, going to church, and her mother walking her to school, revealing a stark contrast to the orphanage narrative.
Reuniting the Orphan and Her Mother
It became clear that 6-year-old Mata was not actually an orphan. The Davis family then aimed to reunite her with her biological family. Mata was able to reconnect with her mother via Skype and even met her new baby sister. Emotionally, Mata asked why she had been given away, only to find out her mother had been tricked, prompting both tears and heartbreak.
Falling Victim to Trickery
Mata’s biological mother had not intended for her daughter to be permanently taken away. She believed Mata was participating in a temporary educational opportunity. It wasn’t until September 8th, 2016, in sworn testimony, that she revealed she hadn’t understood she was relinquishing her parental rights completely. Jessica Davis felt devastated, realizing she had unwittingly contributed to taking a child from a loving family.
Wrongfully Selling Orphans
Investigations revealed that several other American families had been similarly misled by agencies, adopting children who were not truly orphans. These children’s families were duped into believing their kids were getting a better education, while in reality, they were wrongfully adopted and sold for around $15,000 each.
Laws to Protect Orphans
Many countries have laws to prevent such exploitation, acknowledging that humans, unlike objects, cannot be bought or sold. Everyone is advised to rigorously research adoption opportunities. Especially in developing countries, desperate parents are often misled, becoming easy targets for unscrupulous practices.
A Mission for Change
Reunite, an organization established in 1987, is dedicated to reuniting wrongfully orphaned children with their biological families. They investigate cases, hold charity events, and offer mediation for victims and their families. Founder Keren Riley underscores that many Ugandan mothers fall prey to deception because there is no word for adoption in their language.
Preventing Fraud
Jessica Davis, recounting her first meeting with Mata in a desolate, barred-window orphanage, emphasizes the importance of thorough research when adopting. Even trusted agencies can falter, highlighted by the scandal involving employees accepting bribes. It’s essential to always verify facts, trust your instincts, and ensure an adoption agency’s legitimacy before proceeding.
Many loving families seek to adopt children, and thorough investigation can ensure these children truly need homes and are lawfully available for adoption.
Editor’s Note: The lead image is for representational purposes only and does not depict any individual mentioned in this story.