Buckner International: News

(DALLAS) — Buckner, a 127-year-old international child care ministry based in Dallas, Texas, has expanded its adoption program to include Ethiopia. They are currently recruiting families to pioneer the program, which should be registered by December 2006.

“We are thrilled to offer Ethiopia as a new adoption program through Buckner,” said Debbie Wynne, director of Buckner International Adoption. “The Ethiopia program should be the lowest cost program we provide, and will offer a faster adoption process of only six to 12 months.”

Buckner also provides international adoption through China, Guatemala and Russia.

Buckner has provided humanitarian aid and support to the Christian ministry Bright Hope based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia since 2000. Upon a recent visit by Buckner executives in May, the decision was made to collaborate with Bright Hope and expand the program to include international adoption and the renovation of a new orphanage.

The Buckner-supported orphanage will hold up to 12 children from infancy to 3 years old, and all will be legally available for adoption. Buckner will also construct and support a school in the Oromiya region through collaboration with the presidential office.

“We are embarking on an unprecedented and intentional plan to move Buckner to the next level of ministry,” said Buckner President and CEO Ken Hall. “Our 127 years of ministry to children and families in Texas and the past 10 years of international ministry have positioned us for the next phase of Buckner’s life and ministry in Africa and around the world.”

A recent UNICEF report states that more than 4.5 million of Ethiopia’s children are orphaned due to poverty and illness. This means that more than one child in10 is an orphan. Additionally, the maternal mortality rate for pregnant women is very high one in four women will die in childbirth.

“[Buckner is] most welcome in Ethiopia,” said Ethiopia president Girma Wolde-Giorgis when he met with Buckner officials in May. “The AIDS epidemic is affecting every part of our society. We must provide families for these children.”

For more information about Buckner’s international ministry, visit www.helporphans.org. For more information about Buckner International Adoption, visit www.bucknerinternationaladoption.org.