Become a Forever Family
How to Adopt a Child in Namibiachanging the world one child at a time
Adopting a child is an incredibly beautiful thing. It does not just change that child’s world but yours as well. There are so many children waiting to call you mama or papa. Waiting to look into your eyes and say, “I love you.” Waiting to look for you when they feel afraid. Waiting to love you. They do not care that you might not have given birth to them. They just want to be loved and to love.
Making a difference
Legal Requirements
The Child Care and Protection Act 3 of 2015 governs how adoptions are concluded in Namibia.
Section 170 states the following:
(1) A child may be adopted by –
(a) the spouses in a marriage, jointly;
(b) the spouse of a parent of the child; or
(c) a widower, widow, divorced or an unmarried person, including the foster parent, kinship care-giver or primary caretaker of the child.
(2) A prospective adoptive parent must be –
(a) fit and proper to fulfil parental responsibilities and rights;
(b) willing and able to exercise, undertake and maintain parental
responsibilities and rights;
(c) living in circumstances which are suitable for the adoption of a child;
(d) 25 years of age and older, unless the applicant or applicants can show grounds why he, she or they are suitable to adopt a child at a younger age, but a child may be adopted by a married couple jointly where at least one of the spouses is 25 years of age or older;
(e) properly assessed by a designated social worker for compliance with paragraphs (a), (b) and (c), and any proposed exception to the age limit in paragraph (d);
(f) in possession of a valid police clearance certificate as contemplated in section 238; and
(g) habitually resident in Namibia or if a married couple each of them must be habitually resident in Namibia.
01. Initial Interview & Home Visit
Make an appointment with our designated social worker for an initial interview. This gives us an opportunity to get to know you a little and see if we will be able to assist you with an adoption. If it appears that we can move forward we will make an appointment for a home visit and to meet any children you may have and other family members.
02. Complete the Paperwork
- Fully completed prescribed application form including a detailed household budget.
- Medical assessment report with respect to the health of both parents.
- Psychological assessment report with respect to the mental health of both parents.
- Original police clearance (Code of Conduct) for both parents and all adults over the age of 18 living in the house, no older than 6 months.
- A reference letter from a pastor, religious leader or club leader as to character, family background etc.
- 3x certified copies of Namibian ID document or passport with legal residency in Namibia.
- 3x certified copies of marriage certificate.
- Three months payslips.
- Three months Municipal bill.
03. Next Steps
Acceptance or Refusal
Once you have submitted your fully completed paperwork our designated social worker will assess all the information and then make a recommendation to the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare that you either be accepted or refused. The Ministry then has sole discretion on whether to accept or refuse you. If they accept you then you will be placed on the Register of Adoptable Children and Adoptive Parents (RACAP).
Matched with a Child
A search will then be done for a child who matches your family. Once a child has been found you will be given the opportunity to meet the child.
Integration
This is a vital step for successful bonding. You will be given the opportunity to regularly visit your child and spend time with them so that you can form a bond with them. The social worker will inform you when you will be able to take your child home.
04. Legal Procedure
Final Adoption Report and Pack
Our designated social worker will compile the final adoption report and together with all your paperwork and the child’s paperwork submit the adoption pack to the Ministry of Gender for approval.
Court Date
Once the Ministry of Gender has approved the adoption, the adoption pack will be submitted to Children’s Court and a court date will be set. You will come to court with your child on that date. The Children’s Commissioner will go through a series of questions with you and our social worker and then make the adoption an order of the court. Come prepared with the new name of your child so that it can correctly entered onto the court order.
Final Registration
Once the adoption order has been granted by the court the adoption pack is returned to the Ministry of Gender for final registration.
New Birth Certificate
The Ministry of Gender will then issue you a final registration certificate which you can use to have a new birth certificate made with your names as your child’s parents.
Call For More Info
Office: 081 266 5544
Email for more info
Address
Pionierspark: 70 Aschenborn Street, Pionierspark, Windhoek
Monetary Donations
EFT:
Account Name: Hope for Life Foundation
Bank: FNB
Branch: 281872
Account Number: 6226 8439 661
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A wonderful as adoption is, it is also an emotional time with uncertainty and knowns. Please do not hesitate to ask questions.
Can I choose my child?
Yes and No.
No, you cannot visit our Baby House and meet the children in order to choose one.
Yes, you can tell us what your preference is regarding sex, race and age. eg A boy, any race, younger than 2 years old.
Can I get a newborn?
No.
There is a rigorous legal process that needs to be followed in order to declare a child adoptable. Adoption is permanent so great care is taken when declaring a child adoptable. If everything works perfectly, which it rarely does, the youngest a child will be is between two and three months old.
How long does the process take?
Each case is unique with several variables but here is a rough guideline.
Registration as an adoptive parent – 2 months from initial interview until registered. This also depends on how long it takes you to get your paperwork completed.
Finding a child – there are many children waiting to be adopted. If your preferences match a waiting child then immediately. The more specific you are, the longer you will probably wait.
The legal process – approximately two months. It also depends on how busy the Ministry of Gender is, if they request extra information and how busy the court is.
Do we have to do the medical report and psychological assessment
Yes, these are required. They form part of proving the legal requirements of being fit and proper and willing and able according to the Child Care and Protection Act (s)170(2)(a) and (b).
How long does it take to be matched to a child?
There are many children waiting to be adopted, waiting to say mama and papa to you. The less specific you are about race, skin colour and age the quicker a match can be made.
Can I adopt a white baby?
Probably not. White babies hardly ever come up for adoption. The few cases we have dealt with have been what is called a directed adoption. This is where the birth parents identify a family who they want to adopt their child.
When can I take my baby home?
There are a few requirements that need to be met first and then the social worker will advise.
Both you and the child must be registered on RACAP, the adoption pack must have been submitted to Ministry of Gender and their letter of approval received.
While waiting for the letter of approval you will hopefully be building a bond with your child. Once the social worker has assessed the bond and abserved you with your child she will be able to advise when the time is right to take your child home.
Can the biological parents get the child back?
Once the child has been declared adoptable and registered on RACAP the chances are extremely slim that the child will go back to their biological parents. The Act makes provision for an adoption to be rescinded or reversed, but these are in exceptional circumstances and a very strict set of criteria need to be met.
Do the biological parents know who we are?
There are two types of adoption. Closed and Open.
In a closed adoption the biological parents and adoptive parents do not know each other or each others’ names. We strongly recommend closed adoptions.
In an open adoption the biological parents can request to meet the adoptive parents or know their names. The adoptive parents can agree and specify what is known about them. We do not recommend open adoptions.
What if the biological parents want to be involved in the my child's life?
Once you adopt the child you are that child’s parent just like any other parent. You choose who can and cannot be in your child’s life. You can choose to know who the biological parent/s are and have them involved but we strongly recommend against this.
Can our whole family come to court?
The Children’s Commissioner will require you, your child and any other children to be in her chambers for the hearing. She may allow extended family to also attend but this is at her discretion.
Can we take photos at court?
Yes, of course. This is a celebration! It is the beginning of a family’s new life.
Is there a grant?
No there is not. An adopted child is seen in exactly the same light by our law as a biological child.
How soon can I travel once I get my baby?
Once the baby has been placed with you, you can travel within Namibia.
Only once the adoption is finalised and you have the new birth certificate can you apply for a passport which allows international travel.
Can I adopt a Namibian child if I am not Namibian an but live in Namibia
If you are married to a Namibian then yes, if you meet the criteria.
If neither of you is Namibian but are both foreigners then this is an intercountry adoption. We are not certified to complete intercountry adoptions but work together with the Ministry of Gender. Please call us or email rosalind@hopeforlife.org.na if you want to enquire about intercountry adoption.
What if I do not have medical aid?
That is not a problem. Katutura Hospital is able to do a medical assessment report. The Psychological Ward at Central Hospital can provide a psychological evaluation.
Children Through our hands
Babies adopted
Carers working shifts
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Help us save lives
It is our goal to impact every little one that passes through our house. They should not leave us the same way they arrived. Some arrive shaking with fear and within days are laughing and playing. Some can’t sleep and cry for hours and leave us knowing what safety feels like. So every little bit that you help us, helps to change someone’s world.