Dubai: Living in an orphanage, hoping for someone to welcome them into their home - an orphan's plight is an emotional and lengthy wait, especially because time does not work in their favour. Most parents planning to adopt, often look for younger children or newborns to make for a smoother family transition, whereas teenagers or preteens are overlooked.

However, for one Abu-Dhabi based couple, they were specifically looking for older children. Their names are not disclosed by personal request for reasons of privacy. The mother spoke to Gulf News about their experience.

"We knew we wanted the children that were older. We wanted the children that nobody else wanted, children that had no hope of being adopted," said the soon-to-be mother of two Ethiopian sisters aged 12 and 14.

"Sibling groups are harder to place because they try not to split them up, which is why we adopted sisters," added the Australian national.

She said: "In my family, education is really important. We believe education is the way to solve poverty. When we read statistics about Ethiopia, we wanted to adopt girls from a vulnerable situation and help them."

The parents, who are also hoping to adopt another eight-year-old Ethiopian girl, said that they believe adoption is a calling for them. "It is something that has always been in our hearts, but it was only recently that we realised that now was perfect time for us."

Even with the time-consuming process, the mother said that they "have not found it challenging at all. We were firm in our conviction so we knew what we were doing was God's will."

They are still undergoing the adoption process, which so far has included: ten hours of adoption counselling with a psychologist, a home visit as part of the home study, travelling to Ethiopia, meeting with the orphanage director and lawyer, meeting the children themselves and discussing their future with them.

The mother said that the meeting with their girls was an emotional experience at the orphanage. She said: "I do not understand how it is possible to fall in love with a child from a photograph, but we did. It is something that is commonly spoken about in adoption circles. We are very blessed that our four older children were all very excited and supportive."

Although they were not very familiar with the adoption policies in the UAE, especially because the situations vary from one nationality to another, they researched the information they needed. With the help of the Adoption Support Group in Dubai, they were able to get the majority of information they needed.

Speaking of the process in the UAE, she said: "I find the process alarmingly easy. It was not hard and it was just a process we needed to go through."

A UAE resident for three years, the mother finds that the lack of knowledge on adoption opportunities is what keeps more parents from considering it.

"I cannot imagine how anyone can live in the modern world and not be aware of the plight of orphans all over the world. But more knowledge about orphans should be made public. It seems to us that countries seem to be ashamed of the fact that orphans exist," she said, in hopes that more people would become aware of the struggle orphans face.

Group made for adoptive parents and children

Without the proper information, adoption can be an even more complex issue, which one group of parents realised. In 1990, this group of parents came together to form a support group in Dubai called Adoption Support Group (ASG).

Each of the parents had adopted a child from overseas, but when they first started they had very few members.

Gerlinde Krupp, who is the current contact person for ASG, said that the number of people in the group has been steadily growing. There are now over 300 families on the group's mailing list.

When Krupp was adopting a child from Ethiopia two years ago she said that there was little information available about the adoption process for that country.

She said: "Information, such as where to get the adoption forms and how to properly stamp the papers is complex." After her family successfully completed their adoption process, she put together a manual to provide for other parents planning to adopt from Ethiopia.

Once a month, Krupp holds a newcomers meeting for people who are in need of guidance during their adoption procedure. "I guide them through the process. I help specifically with Ethiopia. There is another volunteer who helps families looking to adopt from Mexico, as well," explained Krupp.

The group also holds family days on the first Friday of every month to give all the families a place to interact and socialise together.

For more information about the group, visit www.groups.yahoo.com/group/asgdubai and register with the group to receive meeting invitations and ask questions.