Located in Central Sub-Saharan East Africa the very bio diverse country of Uganda borders include Lake Victoria, Kenya, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Tanzania. Civil unrest ended a few years ago and a country the size of Oregon struggles with a large population (over 30 million) that suffers periodic famine, chronic maternal childbirth deaths, disease, and casualties from prior civil unrest.

Journeys of the Heart is fully supporting a newly formed small orphanage in the capital city of Kampala. The orphanage will care for 15 to 20 young orphans. The new orphanage has placed 7 children with Journeys of the Heart families in its first year. Another five children had joined their families by mid-April 2013. A dozen more children are matched with Journeys of the Heart families.

A doctor and nurse visit the orphanage monthly or as needed. Families will be able to receive a social history on the child (unless abandoned), current and original intake pictures, medical test results for HIV, Hepatitis B, and VDRL, medical and photo updates along with how the children are relating to caregivers and other children. Once in care at the orphanage, the children will receive good nutrition.

Adopting families travel to Uganda 4 or 5 days before their hearing with the High Court judge in Uganda. This gives the adopting parents and child time to get to know and be comfortable with each other before appearing before the judge. The judge grants the family a guardianship allowing the family to leave with the child for the U.S. where the family will retain an adoption attorney in their state to file and finalize the adoption through their local state court.

The total cost with two adults traveling and including agency, home study, immigration, orphanage support, travel and legal expenses is approximately $36,000 to adopt one child.

Children of all ages will be available including sibling groups of 2 or more children. When adopting siblings, in addition to the fees for adopting one child, Journeys of the Heart will add $5,000 per child to cover the cost of securing documents and orphanage care for the sibling(s) as well as supporting other charitable projects... Adopting more than one child at a time would also lead to additional cost related to immigration fees, Ugandan attorney’s fees, and travel expenses.