After noticing the lack of resources for Ethiopian adoptive parents, Duni Zenaye, an Ethiopian adoption professional and her husband Abenet Tesfaye founded EthioStork, an organization that educates adoptive parents and adoption professionals about Ethiopian culture and the challenges of transracial adoption. EthioStork also provides practical tips concerning travel, dos and don'ts while in Ethiopia, and information regarding other issues on adoption from Ethiopia. Duni and Abenet have an 8-month old son Kaleb. They live in Alexandria, Virginia.

Provide Cultural Training
Learning about Ethiopia and her rich history prepares adoptive parents to impart positive information to their adopted children. Studies show that children adopted by parents of different race can have identity issues that need to be addressed. One of them is a shame-based identity that stems from their mixed emotions about their ethnicity, race, or birth country.

We educate families about culture and race to show them how to help their children build healthy self-esteems and develop a sense of pride in who they are (black, African, or Ethiopian) rather than a sense of shame.

Another reason we do this is to ensure that adoptive parents pursuing Ethiopian adoptions have the same resources as those that are offered for other popular programs, like China. We recommend books about Ethiopia, give a background on culture, and so on.

It is exciting for families to meet someone like Duni, who is Ethiopian, but also very much American (your adopted child will one day be just that), but also has a background in psychology and adoption. Join us for our next seminar.

Provide books, DVDs and other resources
EthioStork partners with Abshiro Kids to bring you fun books and Ethiopian cartoon videos for you and your child to enjoy. You wouldn’t find these fun tools anywhere else!

Walk with You through the Process and Beyond
We want to be there to answer any questions during the paper work and after you bring your child home. Call us for references for a counselor or for a good hairdresser that knows how to manage your daughter’s hair.

Link to the Ethiopian community
We serve as a link between adoptive families and the Ethiopian community. We bring you news about Ethiopian events in your area.

Travel Planning

Let us help you plan your next trip to Ethiopia. We offer affordable travel packages. We arrange your stay at luxurious yet affordable hospitality homes that are set up with adoptive families in mind. Please send your inquiries to travel@ethiostork.com